This year’s Community Enterprise award goes to Kanturk Co-op Mart

THE roar nearly rose the roof of the marquee at the IRD Duhallow Business awards when Kanturk Co- Operative Mart Ltd was named as the best Community Enterprise.

Later on during the night, the roar of joy was repeated as they were named the best overall company. It was a delightful double whammy for all its strong team.

Accepting the Community Enterprise award, mart chairman John Cott said that IRD Duhallow as a “wonderful representation” of the region and he said it was “great to win this award.” He thanked all the staff and IRD Duhallow who do so much for their community.

Kanturk Mart was established in 1959 and it has served the farming community not only in Duhallow, but also in West Limerick, Kerry and from the four corners of the country.

At present, it is headed by 16 members who meet on a monthly basis and its vice chairman is Joe Noonan and mart manager is Seamus O’Keeffe.

The other shortlisted finalists were Macroom Food Festival and Cairdeas Childcare.

Macroom Food Festival began seven years ago when a group of local owners and volunteers joined forces to create an event that would promote the food, drink and musical heritage of the town. It now has over 20 local eateries, pubs and food producers involved along with a growing team of volunteers.

This year saw over 10,000 visitors to the town over its festival weekend. Their future aim is to rejuvenate and build on their wonderful heritage as a market town, promote and showcase the remarkable local food producers and eateries in the area and encourage ‘foodie’ visitors to explore Macroom and surrounding areas in late September, with the festival acting as an anchor event.

Ballyhass Childcare Facility CLG (Cairdeas) which has a staff of 24, is a community owned crèche and pre-school which was set up 12 years ago to support both the local community and national school. It operates from a large purpose built facility with a large outdoor play area and garden to the rear and large car park to the front.

It is located next door to Ballyhass NS and it caters for 120 families with 170 children attending its facility.

Cairdeas has a voluntary board of directors who support the manager in the management and strategic development of the service.

Billy Mangan and Noelle Foley of The Corkman pictured John Cott, Chairman of Kanturk Mart, the Best Community Enterprise Award winners. Also included are finalists Karen Bowles of Cairdeas Childcare, Ballyhass and Magali Bolger and Jo Lovell of Macroom Food Festival.