Judging in Annual IPB Pride of Place Competition in Fingal takes place next week

Image: Draíocht Dublin 15 Youth Theatre

Judging in the annual IPB Pride of Place Competition in Fingal takes place early next week when the three groups representing the county will showcase why they represent the best in Community Development on the island of Ireland.

Garristown Community Council, Broadmeadow Community Garden in Swords and the Draíocht Arts Centre in Dublin 15 will each represent the Council in three different categories when the judging team come to Fingal next Monday and Tuesday September 4th and 5th.

Now in its 20th year, the competition, organised by Co-operation Ireland, is part of a drive to foster better community relations on the island of Ireland. Pride of Place invites local authorities in Ireland, north and south to nominate the groups and communities which make a difference in making communities places to be proud of.

Fingal County Council has an excellent track record in this competition having  won the overall award for Best Urban Neighbourhood with Mountview in Dublin 15 earlier this year, when the 2022 Competition Awards were announced at an event in Dublin City Centre and having picked up the Local Authority of the Year Award in 2017.

The community of Garristown in North Fingal is entered in the populations of 500 to 1500 persons Category and the community council has been busy all summer working on its presentation and engaging in community events to bring all facets of the local community together, in partnership with the Council.

Broadmeadow Community Garden group in north-west Swords is representing Fingal in the new category of Climate Action and Biodiversity. This very active group has linked in with other local community and voluntary organisations in the area and is blazing a trail for the environment in this expanding corner of the county town of Swords.

Representing Fingal in the Creative Place category is the Draíocht Arts Centre in Dublin 15. Draíocht will showcase the specific work it does with youth and families in the fast-expanding greater Blanchardstown area.

Speaking ahead of the judging, Mayor of Fingal Cllr Adrian Henchy said, “I want to wish the three Fingal groups who are taking part in Pride of Place next week the very best of luck and hope to see them follow on in the strong tradition of doing Fingal and the Council proud in this competition which recognises the huge importance of the community and voluntary sector in the life of the county”.

Chief Executive of Fingal County Council AnnMarie Farrelly added; “The great work of our voluntary groups, and the strong support they get from our Community Development Office is crucial to the community wellbeing of the county, and I sincerely want to wish all three groups the very best of luck with the judging next week. “

The finals of the 2023 IPB Pride of Place Competition will take place at an event in Armagh city on November 10th. For more information on Pride of Place you can contact the Council’s liaison officer, Rafe Costigan at 087-2203944 or at [email protected]

Imgage: Broadmeadow Community Garden group