Judges impressed by south and west Sligo at Pride of Place judging
Pride of Place judges William Beatty and Donal Connolly were impressed by an exceptional presentation from South & West Sligo Tourism at Castle Dargan Hotel last Monday (10 th September 2018). More than 50 members turned out first thing in the morning to show their support for the tourism network which has gone from strength to strength over the last two years. Before the judges had even arrived, traditional music from Junior Davey and Fiona O’Doherty filled the air creating a lively atmosphere and setting the scene for the presentation to come.
South & West Sligo Tourism have entered the Community Tourism section of the national awards and are hoping their name will be one of those called out at the IPB Pride of Place Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony in November. The tourism network is a shining example of what can be achieved when people from small and rural communities join together and use their collective efforts to improve business for all.
Led by Paul Taylor, Chairman of South & West Sligo Tourism, a carefully choreographed slideshow and videos showcased how members have worked together to develop and unveil the hidden gems and treasures in the locality. Marie Brouder (Brouder Marketing), Louise Kilbane, and Lesley Emerson (PR West) outlined the extensive range of activities, heritage and historical sites, walks and trails, accommodation, food, drink and attractions are available in South & West Sligo and the surrounding areas. They spoke of how the members work together and collaborate to provide a range of experiences attracting visitors with different interests. The online ‘#My Sligo’ campaign was highlighted as its success in promoting the region as a tourist destination continues. Fintan Kennedy and Marie Flannery spoke of the broad range of festivals attracting visitors from all over the country. The judges were also treated to “Sligo Hidden Gems” booklet and a first glimpse of the new South & West Sligo Heritage Sites brochure and video.
The formal part of the presentation concluded on a high note with a virtuoso performance by Geraldine Lundy from the Cloonacool Players effectively illustrating the strength of the drama scene in the area. The two judges then took a whirlwind tour of Castle Dargan Golf Club, passing Tommy Taaffe’s Vintage Car display en route. The element was bringing them to Eagles Flying where Lothar, Bettina and Alex Muschketat welcomed them to one of the exhilarating bird of prey displays. Both judges had their phones out taking photos and were clearly both entertained and impressed by the experiences on offer.
The IPB Pride of Place Awards is an all-Ireland competition, which started in 2003. It celebrates local group contributions to the community and the creation of civic pride. The aim is to acknowledge the work being done every day by communities all over the island of Ireland. The judges focus on people coming together to shape, change and improve daily lives in their communities. www.southandwestsligo.ie #MySligo