North Cork projects are ‘going for gold’
A NUMBER of North Cork projects will be ‘going for gold’ in a prestigious competition aimed at recognising the world undertaken by the often ‘ unsung heroes’ within their respective communities.
The projects have been short-listed in the annual All-Ireland Community & Council Awards, the winners of which will be unveiled at a gala bash in Dublin’s Croke Park next month.
Now in their 14th year the awards, presented by IPB Insurance and the Local Authorities Members Association (LAMA), highlight how communities and local authorities work together to achieve shared goals that might otherwise go unheralded.
Under the initiative, Cork County Council nominated projects across 20 separate categories that have each demonstrated their unique value within their respective fields and that have made a real and lasting contribution to their communities.
Hundreds of projects from across the country were nominated for this year’s awards, with judges whittling down the entries to the finalist in each of the 19 award categories based on their achievements over the past year.
A total of eight projects from Cork made it through the rigid selection process – with half of those based in the North Cork region.
Among them was the Mallow Community Health Project, one of the 10 finalists in the ‘Best Community Health Initiative’ category. Based at the Le Cheile Family Resource Centre on Fair Street, the project provides opportunities for people from the Mallow area to access to a wide variety of community initiatives aimed at improving overall health and well-being.
Nominated in the ‘Best Environmental/Ecological Project/Initiative’ category the Mallow ‘ Neighbourwood Scheme’ was established to create a new ‘ wooden heart’ for the town though the development of a 25-acre woodland facility beside Mallow Castle and along the River Blackwater.
The ongoing re-development of the stately 18th century Doneraile Court building, which last summer opened up its ground floor to the public after undergoing a major refurbishment, is one of four finalists in the ‘ Best Heritage Project’ category.
Meanwhile John Feeney, one of the key driving forces behind Coolagown’s repeated success in the national Tidy Town’s competition, will go up against five other finalists for the prestigious ‘Community Volunteer of the Year’ accolade.
The other cork finalists are: Mayfield Men’s Shed (Best Community Based Initiative), Ironman Cork (Best Tourism Initiative), SeaFest 2019 (Best Arts/Culture event) and The Sanctuary Runners (Best Sports Team Club).
The Cork finalists will also be in the running for the prestigious Grand Prix Award, which will be presented to the project that has most impressed the competition judging panel.
Event manager Michael O’Donogue said all of the finalists deserved recognition for their outstanding contributions to their respective communities.
“The awards ceremony on February 14 will be a night to remember as the unsung heroes are recognised for their outstanding contribution to their communities,” he said.
For more about the awards visit www.lamaawards.org.