Pride of Place

The Pride of Place Competition recognises the effort and hard work of local people to improve their community.

It celebrates ‘community spirit’: when people come together to enhance and change parts of their area for the good of the whole community.

Sligo County Council and Sligo Borough Council have worked together to run this highly successful competition. The development and promotion of civic pride is enshrined in the 10 year Strategy adopted by the Sligo County Development Board; which is a ready illustration of the significance of this initiative.

Sligo Pride of Place competition

This year entries were submitted from a broad spectrum of community interests and activities (environmental, heritage, educational, cultural or social) linked by the common objective of creating or restoring a sense of pride in an area. This competition encourages people to take initiative and drive specific projects which will have a long lasting and positive effect on the locality.

Five overall category winners were selected; these winners then represented Sligo in the Co-operation Ireland National Pride of Place competition. One entry per population category can be selected from Sligo for entry to the All Ireland Competition. This year 9 applications were received from groups involved in a broad range of community based activities.

All entrants received a certificate in recognition of their ongoing community work and a prize of €950 was awarded to the winners in each category, and all the other groups were awarded €300 in recognition of their outstanding work in their areas.

Category 1 (population up to 500):

Aclare Development Council Ltd

Category 2 (population between 501 and 1,000):

Coolaney Development Council

Category 3 (population between 1,001 and 2,000):

Enniscrone Community Council

Category 4 (population between 2,001 and 10,000):

Cranmore Community Platform

A new category was introduced by Co-operation Ireland for the 2006 competition – Single Issue Entrant, the theme of this entry is quite broad and can be very diverse, anything from a heritage project to a childcare facility but it must be developed in an innovative and participative manner by the local community.

The winner in this category was Easkey Community Council Ltd

The presentation of the Sligo Pride of Place awards took place in the Council Chamber, County Hall, Riverside on 16th May 2006.

Judging for the National All-Ireland Pride of Place Competition took place on 3rd and 4th July. 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 is very much appreciated.

National Pride of Place Awards Ceremony

The Co-operation Ireland Pride of Place winners were announced at a gala ceremony in the Mount Wolseley Hilton Hotel on 14th October 2006. Over 450 people from throughout the country were in attendance to hear the result including representatives from Cranmore, Easkey and Aclare. Although Sligo did not receive an overall award this year, Aclare Development Council Ltd. was shortlisted in its population category.