High five for Garden County at Community and Council Awards
FIVE awards made their way back to the Garden County following the 2019 Community and Council Awards held at Croke Park last week.
The awards, which are presented by IPB Insurance and LAMA (Local Authority Members Association), celebrate communities and councils working together.
The KWETB’s Riverwalk Cafe Culinary Entrepreneurship Programme in Wicklow town won the award for Best Education/Training Initiative, while Bray-based Ó Cualann Cohousing Alliance won the Best Social Housing Initiative for Baile na Laochra Cooperative Affordable Housing in Ballymun.
Three silver awards were also awarded to Co Wicklow groups: namely to Ray of Sunshine After School Services in the Best Business Working with the Community category; to the Summer in Bray campaign in the Best Arts/Culture Initiative (including festivals and events) category; and to Bray Air Display in the Best Tourism Initiative.
Now in their 13th year, the awards attracted over 150 nominations, with over 100 projects from 22 counties shortlisted across 25 categories.
Wicklow man George Jones, chairman of IPB Insurance, which was a headline sponsor for a fourth year, said supporting these initiatives is more important than ever.
‘Now more than ever, it is important that we promote volunteerism and community citizenship in ensuring that we not only build on our economic progress but, more importantly, that we encourage and support community spirit and social development,’ he said.