Trojan effort of local groups recognised at Kilkenny Community Awards

The trojan efforts of community groups across the city and country was recognised at a special awards ceremony at The Parade Tower on Wednesday.

Kilkenny County Council Cathaoirleach Fidelis Doherty welcomed all groups who attended the Kilkenny Council Council Community Awards Ceremony that recognises and  acknowledges communities from across the county for their endless dedication to projects and to their towns and villages.   

The Cathaoirleach congratulated all involved for their contribution to improving their local community.

"Community organisations play a key role in driving the overall prosperity and wellbeing in every city and town, in every county across the country.   County Kilkenny has a strong tradition of community cooperation and collaboration.  It is important to recognise and reward those communities who come together to work with the local authority and state agencies to contribute to this prosperity.  It has been a very difficult two years for all but despite this it is great to see communities continue to do great work in Kilkenny. The community awards event gives us the opportunity to pay tribute to you - groups and individuals -  who make a real difference and a valuable contribution, who go the extra mile and provide example and inspiration to others.   We congratulate you, along with all other community groups within the county.’’  

The very popular Kilkenny County Council Grants Booklet was also launched on the night by the Cathaoirleach. Kilkenny County Council has developed its 5th  Edition of the Community Grants booklet, that is also available to view online where you can access grant details on your mobile phone, home computer and with other remote devices. 

Kilkenny County Council CEO Colette Byrne also made a presentation on the night giving an overview of projects that were completed and underway throughout the county. Colette Byrne also  congratulated all the groups for all the great work in their local communities and for those who also assisted on the ground in helping the most vulnerable during the pandemic. 

Awards on the night were made to the following :

1st Award Pride of Place Awards

The IPB Pride of Place, is an all-island competition that rewards people and groups who come together to shape, change and improve daily lives in their communities. 

Three communities represented Kilkenny for the 2021 competition and they included  Windgap Village, the Older Persons Council and the KCAT Arts project. The national event was postponed last year due to the pandemic and will take place in Killarney on May 16. 

Award to the Older Persons Council  (Category - Community Wellbeing) 

Since July 2020, the Kilkenny PPN in conjunction with the Kilkenny Older Person’s Council has overseen and managed the delivery of Age Friendly tablets which are specifically designed to facilitate digital connection for older adults as well as mitigate social isolation which became more pronounced since the pandemic. Within this pilot scheme tablets have been provided to pilot groups and individuals around the city and county in Kilkenny with on average 3/4 users at each location receiving a tablet. With over 34 tablets presently in use, these tablets are provided to a host group and that host group supports the user to become confident and competent in using the tablet. These is truly a partnership approach where the Kilkenny PPN is working in conjunction with the, Age Friendly network, Family Resource Centres, the Social Prescribing Programme Co-ordinator, the ETB and the HSE. 

KCAT Callan  ( Category Creative Space)

KCAT, (Kilkenny Collective for Arts Talent) is an Arts Centre which has been in operation for twenty-one years. Over that time a community of creatives and artists has grown in reputation both nationally and internationally. 

Windgap (Category Population- Village )

In recent years a coming together of the various strands within the community has seen a revival within the village and this vibrant community spirit has enabled this community to embark on many exciting projects. 

2nd Award Tidy Towns (4 Groups)

Keep Kilkenny Beautiful, is the tidy towns group for Kilkenny City which was established back in 1980.  The committee works in partnership with the city’s communities, council, businesses and  voluntary bodies, enhancing the city and creating a wonderful place to live.  Kilkenny City has won the overall National Tidy Towns title twice, initially in 1985 and again in 2014.

Inistioge Tidy Towns, they are the oldest tidy towns group in the county, competing in the competition for over 67 years.  The village represented Ireland in the Entente Florale competition in 2018 and received a gold medal, and this evening we celebrate Inistioge being awarded their first gold medal in the national tidy towns competition.  

Tidy Towns, they first joined the competition in 1991 and through the work of the committee and local residents have transformed the village by nurturing local features and taking on some ambitious projects like the building of the Viewing Tower.  Tullahought Tidy Towns promotes it’s rich local heritage and is active participant of Heritage Week annually.  

Listerlin this group are relatively new to the competition won the County Endeavour Award in the national towns competition as they improved their marks by 7% on their previous entry, the highest % increase in the county.  They also scooped the SE regional Covid-19 Community Award.  

3rd Award (Tidy Estates Awards)

At local level, Kilkenny County Council Tidy Estates Competition aims to encourage residents to take an active role in improving the physical appearance of their estate.  The  winners of the 2021 competition under the Large, Medium & Small Estate Categories include the following. 

Large Estates  

1st Newpark Lower, Kilkenny 
Large
2nd Chapelfield, Urlingford
Large 
3rd Glenvale Ballyraggett

Medium Estates 
1st Mill Road, Inistioge 
Medium 
2nd De La Salle Place, Kilkenny 
Medium 
3rd Brandon Park, Graignamanagh

Small Estates 

1st Shamrock Grove, Kilmacow
Small
2nd Fr. Raftice Place, Moneenroe
Small
3rd St. Patricks Close, Mullinavat
Small