Limerick community groups, CareBright, Killeedy Community Projects and Southill HUB have been entered in the following categories for this year’s IRB Pride of Place awards 2023.
- Community Wellbeing Initiative – CareBright , Bruff
- Population <500 – Killeedy Community Projects
- Urban Neighbourhoods/ Villages <3000 – Southill HUB
The IPB Pride of Place 2023 awards are presented in association with Co-operation Ireland. This is the 21st consecutive year of the competition, which has enjoyed tremendous success and continues to grow in terms of prestige and popularity.
The purpose of the competition is to acknowledge and celebrate the work that communities are doing all over the island of Ireland.
The competition is based on communities or groups demonstrating the pride they have in their place. It is also important they demonstrate real partnership with their local council and show that all sectors of the community are included.
The All-Island competition is run in conjunction with local authorities North and South and is supported by IPB. It aims to recognise and celebrate the vital contributions that communities make to society along with generating awareness, respect and inclusion for every facet of society.
Each group holds a special festival day showcasing the work of the group and its impact on the community for the visiting judging panel. The judging will take place on 30th and 31st August.
Congratulating the three Limerick groups, Mayor of the City and County of Limerick Cllr. Gerald Mitchell said, “it is great to see the work of these groups recognised with being entered into the Pride of Place awards for 2023. Limerick is a massive network of communities and the good work being done always starts at home, locally, on the ground. These groups have shown that working with people towards a common, local, goal is the key to success. My best wishes to them all. Good luck.”
Eileen Humphreys, Community Development, Limerick City and County Council said, “the Pride of Place competition acknowledges the daily efforts and endeavours of communities and provides an opportunity to showcase the unique community spirit which exists throughout the county. Limerick City and County Council is delighted to be taking part in the IPB Pride of Place competition again in 2023. I wish to acknowledge the great efforts the three groups chosen have made. There is no doubt they will do Limerick proud and I wish them the very best of luck.”
Limerick has an impressive track record in the competition, with the following groups winning in previous years;
- 2022 – West End Youth Centre, Ballinacurra Weston, First Place Winner in the Community Based Youth-Led Initiative, along with Runners-up awards for St Munchin’s Community Centre Killeely / Thomondgate in the Community Resilience category and Glenroe/Ballyorgan Community Council CLG in the Community Population 300-1,000 category
- 2021 – Draw Out Limerick, Runner-up in the Creative Place Initiative category and Lough Gur Development Co-operative Society, Runner-up in the Community Tourism Initiative category
- 2020 – Rathkeale Pre-Social Cohesion Project, First Place Winner in the 1,000-2,000 population category
- 2019 – Abbeyfeale Community Council, Runner-up in the 2,500-5,000 population category
- 2018 – First Place Winner, The Children’s Grief Centre under the Communities Reaching Out Initiative, along with Runners Up awards for Limerick Civic Trust in the Creative Place Initiative and Kilmeedy in the 0-300 population category.
The 2023 winners will be announced at an Awards Ceremony to be held on 10th November 2023 hosted by Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council in the Armagh City Hotel.
Source: Limerick City & County Council
