Leitrim to be showcased in Pride of Place 2017 by Manorhamilton, Carrigallen and Bornacoola.
The Pride of Place Competition was set up 15 years ago to recognise the outstanding contribution people make to society. It gives local authorities a platform to acknowledge the work local groups are doing and each year, practically every local authority on the island nominates groups who they see as doing exceptional work in their areae.
This year, Leitrim will be represented in this all-island competition by Manorhamilton , Carrigallen and Bornacoola.
Teams of experienced judges will visit communities all over Ireland.
In Leitrim, Manorhamilton will be first up on Thursday 10th August and Carrigallen and Bornacoola will follow on Friday 11th August.
The judges will be expecting a big turnout in each community, with people eager to show everything that makes them proud about where they live.The winners will be announced at an Awards Ceremony, which this year will take place on 2nd December in Letterkenny. The three communities in Leitrim are working extremely hard to be ready for the visit by the judges and are being supported by Leitrim County Council in their wonderful endeavours.
Manorhamilton will showcase the Creative Arts Network. Over the past twenty years it has welcomed a wide spectrum of artists, craft-workers, actors, musicians, poets, writers and creative industries who have all expanded, integrated into and diversified the local economy. The Creative Arts Network boasts 28 organisations and partners, centred around key organisations such as the Leitrim Sculpture Centre, The Glens Centre, the Bee Park Community Centre, the North Leitrim Men’s and Women’s Groups and the FabLab (all operating within the town). The network’s ethos is ‘creativity for all’. It has developed an impressive array of international arts and crafts residencies, collaborative schools and youth projects with over 50 creative workshops for the public and a wide range of exhibition and performing arts events.
Carrigallen is competing in a community category. It is located in one of the finest fishing areas in the country. Carrigallen Development Company Ltd will show how it has promoted the village to overseas anglers and that the town is now popular angling destination. There is the added advantage of the ‘Town Lake’, providing a very scenic backdrop. The town is also very well known for the Cornmill Theatre. It is an outstanding facility that can accommodate 170 persons and is famous for its drama productions. It has a great programme of events and there is a thriving youth theatre aswell as the Community Players who are well known on the drama festival circuit.
Bornacoola will showcase its strong sense of community. The Community Centre is in the heart of the community and hosts Drama Group, Youth Club and Active Age Group. Bornacoola has a range of community groups with Bornacoola Development Association being the umbrella group. They run the very successful Lough Rynn Harvest Festival and Vintage Day now in its 23rd year which funds many other community groups within the parish. Almost every person in the parish is involved in the running of the festival, and it is a great community event, and very popular with visitors. Bornacoola GAA are particularly active within the parish, having just built a Club House and Gym and more importantly enrolled 120 children for this year’s training season. The future looks bright for the club. The Youth Club has 80 members and is very active meeting twice weekly in its purpose built facility. The Drama Club is renowned for its thought provoking performances.
Leitrim has always been well represented in the Pride of Place Competition and brought home some top awards. We wish our 2017 representatives the best of luck in the competition.