Kilkenny community group wins IPB Pride of Place award
The Graignamanagh Town Team won the Population Category (1000-2000) at the all-Ireland Pride of Place community awards, with the judges praising their dedication to their community
Graignamanagh Community Group was honoured at the all-Ireland Pride of Place community awards at the Dublin Convention Centre.
Kilkenny County Council nominated four groups to represent County Kilkenny for the IPB Pride of Place Awards. The four community groups nominated were from Graignamanagh, Slieverue, Muckalee and the Kilkenny Older Peoples Council.
The Graignamanagh Town Team entry won the Population Category (1000-2000). The judges praised the ethos of the Graignamanagh Town Team and said that; “Graignamanagh established a Town Team in 2024, which has played an important role in bringing the community together, working to enhance the town’s appearance, promote its rich heritage while creating a welcoming environment for residents and visitors alike. This win is recognition of their dedication to their community and the pride they have in their town.”
Kilkenny County Council has worked closely with the Graignamanagh community to support a range of projects that have enhanced the town’s amenities, heritage, tourism, and sporting facilities. Key initiatives include the 400-metre Silaire Wood Boardwalk along the River Barrow, the development of a heritage trail and visitor information resources, and funding support for improvements at the local GAA club and rowing club. The community has also transformed a riverside site into the Barrow Valley Activities Hub and Motorhome Aire, a significant outdoor recreation and tourism hub, providing motorhome and camping facilities, while creating a valuable space for community events and visitors alike.
Slieverue Community won a ‘Runners Up’ prize for the Community Wellbeing category. The judges commented “Slieverue Community demonstrated a strong community spirit, dedication of their volunteers and commitment to their community.” The judges visited the village in July 2026. The ‘Simply Singing’ choir and the Toner Academy of Dance provided the entertainment on the day of judging. The community groups of Slieverue were all represented at the community centre. The community gave an escorted tour of the village to include the local GAA club, Slieverue Linear Park and the local community childcare facility.
Muckalee Community Group were nominated under the Inclusive Communities Category. The judges were welcomed with a presentation about the village and were taken on a guided tour of the community centre. The judges visited the local community creche, the local school and St. Martins GAA club. The Judges concluded with a tour of the community café, which has become a central focal point for the community. This cafe encourages social interaction and inclusivity among the wider community.
Kilkenny Older People’s Council were nominated under the Age Friendly Community Category. The Older People’s Council gave a presentation on all of the Age Friendly Initiatives being undertaken through the county. This was followed by tour by road train to MacDonagh Train Station which became Ireland’s first Train Station to achieve Age Friendly Status in collaboration with Kilkenny County Council and Iarnród Éireann. The tour included a visit to MacDonagh Shopping Centre and St Luke’s Hospital where a number of age friendly initiatives have been introduced to assist older people.
The awards, hosted by Joe Duffy, took place in Dublin Convention Centre, with 500 community volunteers in attendance. Sponsored by IPB Insurance, the Pride of Place competition was initiated 24 years ago through a Co-operation Ireland programme to acknowledge the invaluable work undertaken by volunteers and those involved in local community development and has grown into the largest competition recognising community development achievements on the island of Ireland.
Paying tribute to the Kilkenny communities who were honoured on the evening, Cathaoirleach Joe Malone said “I congratulate Graignamanagh, a fantastic and well-deserved win. It is a great tribute to their hard work and dedication to their town and I hope they enjoy the celebrations. I must also acknowledge our runners up from Slieverue, another fantastic achievement for the village in the community wellbeing category. I want to also congratulate Muckalee and the Kilkenny Older Persons Council, it is a great honour to be nominated, all the groups are winners here tonight."
Lar Power, Chief Executive of Kilkenny County Council commented “Winning a national IPB Pride of Place Award is a tremendous achievement for Graignamanagh and a fitting recognition of the dedication, community spirit and hard work of the Town Team members and the many volunteers. I would also like to congratulate Slieverue on its achievement as runner up, and to acknowledge Muckalee and the Kilkenny Older Persons Council for the outstanding work they do in their communities.”
Anne Marie Shortall, Senior Executive Officer in the Community Department of Kilkenny County Council, added “It is a tremendous achievement to be nominated for Pride of Place competition. All the groups that were nominated to represent their communities have achieved so much and should be very proud. I would like to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of all the communities and volunteers and the work they continue to do throughout County Kilkenny.”