21/05/2010 -

2010 Pride of Place

 Three groups have been selected to represent Sligo in the All-Island Co-operation Ireland Pride of Place Competition 2010.  The groups were honoured for their hard work to date at a presentation ceremony held recently by Sligo County Council in County Hall.

Pride of Place celebrates and showcases community group activities and contributions to society (for additional information please see: www.cooperationireland.org/).  The focus is on people coming together to shape, change and enjoy all that is good about their local area. A spokesperson for the Community and Enterprise section of Sligo County Council, which co-ordinates the local event, says ‘The tremendous time and effort that people put into community activities on a purely voluntary basis is often overlooked. This competition recognises and rewards people for their vital contributions to their local community and gives them the opportunity to showcase their achievements at a local and All Ireland level.’ 

The three groups selected to represent Sligo in this prestigious competition are:

• Western Drama Festival and Phoenix Players in the category of 'Community Arts Initiative'
• Ballintrillick Environmental Group in the category of Community 'Response to Unemployment'
• Ballinafad Development Development Association in the category of 'Population - Up to 200'

Western Drama Festival and Phoenix Players

Contributing to the vibrant Arts culture in Sligo, the Western Drama Festival and Phoenix Players have been entertaining the people of Tubbercurry, Sligo and beyond since the early 1940’s. The Western Drama Festival organises the Annual Three Act Drama Festival in March of each year and has recently revived the One Act Drama Festival held annually in November.

The Phoenix Players produce plays annually for the Drama Festival Competitive Circuit always with great success. In addition they produce ‘big shows’ and in recent years have an active Youth Theatre Section. The group has been an important factor in the development of amateur drama and has brought many people from different backgrounds together through the medium of drama. The recently renovated St. Brigid’s Hall, Tubbercurry which is their base is an ideal venue which can cater for up to 330 people.

Western Drama Festival & Phoenix Players Group being presented with their Pride of Place Certificate 2010 by the Leas Cathaoirleach Councillor Veronica Cawley.

Ballintrillick Environmental Group

Ballintrillick Environmental Group through the Benwiskin Centre provides both full-time and part-time employment in the area of Ballintrillick, Co. Sligo.  In 1996 the group participated in a FÁS sponsored Community Enterprise Development Programme and identified the renovation of the old Vocational School as a viable project.  Funding secured from many sources helped to establish a hostel on site.  The Centre opened in 2000. The Centre welcomes both national and international visitors and has been awarded the EU Flower Ecolabel Certification by the European Commission.

The basic premise of the Centre is that it is a Community Centre with classes, functions, entertainment and a place for the local community to use for meetings and socials.    It also offers self-catering tourist accommodation for 28/30 guests, which is the main revenue generator for the building.  All profits from the Centre are used to provide further developments by BEG in the Centre and Community.

 
Ballintrillick Environmental Group being presented with their Pride of Place Certificate 2010 by the Leas Cathaoirleach Councillor Veronica Cawley

Ballinafad Development Association

Ballinafad is a picturesque village of Co. Sligo located at the foot of the Curlew Mountains overlooking Lough Arrow.  Ballinafad was once on the busy main Sligo Dublin road and has since been bypassed.  The community viewed this bypass as an opportunity to reignite the community spirit of the village and has worked to make this a vibrant population centre.  Groups active in the area under the banner of Ballinafad Development Association include Aughanagh Parish Council, Festival Committee, Tidy Towns, Playground Committee, Active Age, Youth Club, Arrow Community Enterprise, Aughanagh Celtic, and a Historical Society.

Following a successful St. Patrick’s Day Parade in 2009, the community were filmed for national television for their 2010 parade.  Future plans include the development of a playground and a sports area and further improvement in our Tidy Towns enhancements.  The community has also raised almost €40,000 for various charities over the last year.

Ballinafad Development Association being presented with their Pride of Place Certificate 2010 by the Leas Cathaoirleach Councillor Veronica Cawley

Judging for the All-Island Competition will take place as follows:

Tuesday 27 July 2010:  - Western Drama Festival & Phoenix Players and the Ballinafad Development Association

Wednesday 28 July 2010:  - Ballintrillick Environmental Group

An itinerary of two and a half hours duration is currently being prepared by each community for the area visits which will give groups the opportunity to showcase the tremendous work and community driven activities which have evoked civic pride in the area.  Unlike other competitions, judging for this competition is a very visible and community orientated event and therefore the active support and assistance of people living and working in these areas would be appreciated.

Sligo County Council and Sligo Borough Council would like to take this opportunity to wish all groups the best of luck in the Co-operation Ireland All-Island Pride of Place Competition 2010.

For further information please contact the Community and Enterprise Office on 071 - 9111800.