Rathdrum is still celebrating Pride of Place victory Wicklow in the Dáil this week
RATHDRUM remains on a ‘high’ after being crowned the best Urban Neighbourhood/ Village with a population between 1,000 and 2,000 at the national Pride of Place awards on Saturday.
Speaking at December’s meeting of Wicklow County Council, Cllr Pat Kennedy thanked all the local volunteers for their efforts in helping to secure the prestigious prize.
‘It is a huge honour for the people of Rathdrum to be the first one in Wicklow to win in that particular category. We are all still on a high in Rathdrum. I have to thank all the volunteers from the different committees. We didn’t know what to expect but people put an awful lot of work into it. It was a full community effort, in partnership with Wicklow County Council,’ said Cllr Kennedy.
As chairman of the SPC, Cllr Jim Ruttle was also in Cork for the announcement of the winners in November.
‘I can’t underestimate the great community effort that took place in Rathdrum. It’s a wonderful boost for Rathdrum’.
Cllr Ruttle also congratulated Wicklow Hospice for receiving a special award in recognition of its work at the Pride of Place Awards.
Arklow has also received national recognition recently as it won the 2018 Bank of Ireland Enterprise Town Award for Town Initiative of the Year for the Town of Gardens initiative.
Arklow Municipal District cathaoirleach Cllr Miriam Murphy said: ‘It was great to see and it was all down to the volunteers and the hard work of the council administration. I just want to thank all the people who took part and highlighted what we have to offer’.
THE greyhound industry must change its approach to avoid any danger that it will repeat the mistakes of the past, Minister of State Andrew Doyle told the Seanad.
He told senators that the new board is responsible for regulating the industry, unlike Horse Racing Ireland, where the Turf Club carries out the regulatory controls, and will be responsible for drafting regulations to give effect to provisions set out in new legislation.
Speaking during the final debate on the Greyhound Racing Bill 2018, he said it would, therefore, appear to be wholly inappropriate for 66%, or indeed 50%, of the board to be made up of representatives of those to whom those regulations will apply.
‘I accept, however, that there should be some industry representation on the board,’ he continued. ‘I am, therefore, proposing an amendment to allocate one or more places on the board to persons with detailed industry knowledge, which would allow for some flexibility while maintaining a balance in favour of a skilled board.
‘Owners, trainers and members of the various stakeholder groups have the ability to become members of the board. In the past, they have come through the Public Appointments Service, PAS.’