Reflecting on entering the Pride of Place competition Noreen Duignan, Chairperson of Ballintrillick Environmental Group Ltd. said ‘Our experience with the Pride of Place competition has been thoroughly positive.  From the hard graft of the written presentation to our day with the Judges and our oral presentation, through to our wonderful night at the finals in Trim, we feel we have been recognised by our peers and by the Co-operation Ireland judging panel.  We are proud of our achievements and are glad to get national recognition for our work.’ 

 

“Entry and participation in the 2009 Pride of Place Competition for Belt Torc Company, Moylough was a very positive and enriching experience. We endeavoured to detail some of our achievements, and realised in the process how much we had achieved in recent years.” Brian Cahill 

 

Anne Marie Kelly, CRIB/Foróige speaking about the experience of the youth organisation in the Youth Category in 2009 says “Making our presentation to the judges at local level was an interesting and enjoyable experience. Even though we did not in the end win a National Award, we learned a lot from attending the Awards Ceremony in Newcastle, Co.Down. The sheer breadth and scope of voluntary achievement in Ireland is amazing, and gives encouragement to us all to continue with our efforts.

Being involved in Pride of Place gave us, the staff, volunteers and young people of the C.R.I.B. the opportunity to really stop and reflect on all that we do here. It made us recognise how much each individual project does, but when interconnected creates something even greater than any one by itself. We had to profile all aspects of our work and did this through words and pictures. Having to detail all aspects made us realise how much actually happens here! We were well supported and encouraged by staff in the Council and developed new relationships which opened new opportunities of working together. All in all, Pride of Place was a positive experience and we were very privileged to represent Sligo nationally and take home a runner-up prize in the Youth Section!"

  

“Ballintogher Community Enterprises took part in the Pride of Place Competition in 2009.  It provided us with an opportunity to showcase many of the positive developments in our community over recent years.  A significant number of people were involved in the review we conducted and this review has prompted the development of plans for the coming years.  We were delighted to have been runners up among the prizewinners at national level”, said Seamus McCormack.