Rathanna and Carlow Regional Youth Services scoop Pride of Place awards
IPB Insurance chairman John Hogan presents Mary, Joan and Eric from Rathanna Village Group with the Pride of Place Award
RATHANNA Village Group took first place in the category for villages with a population of 0-300 in this year’s Pride of Place Awards, while Carlow Regional Youth Services was presented with a judges’ special award.
The awards acknowledge the invaluable work undertaken by volunteers and those involved in local community development.
They have grown into the largest competition recognising community development achievements on the island of Ireland, and their awards are much coveted among hard-working community groups.
It was quite a coup, then, for the tiny village of Rathanna, with just a handful of residents, to scoop the first prize in the small population category. The judges were generous in their praise for the efforts of the Rathanna residents.
They said: “Located at the foot of Mount Leinster, this small but vibrant village thrives with colour and activity year-round. With just 18 residents, a wider community of hundreds plays a vital role in village life. Untouched by the Celtic Tiger, the community is committed to preserving natural beauty while fostering wellbeing, social connection, and quality of life.
“The judges were particularly impressed by the professionalism and dedication of the dynamic voluntary group. The village is well loved and cared for, with strong evidence of the hard work of the volunteers and community within and adjacent to Rathanna.
“Particularly impressive is the community festival or Village Day which attracts 1,500 to 2,000 people, with 60 volunteers. The group is certainly an exemplar for other areas and proves what can be achieved by collaboration and community action. The vision and passion were evident and will undoubtedly have a long-term legacy for Rathanna.”
Commenting on Carlow Regional Youth Services, the judges said: “We were impressed with The Community Roots Programme, launched in October 2024 during Climate Action Week. It is a collaborative programme delivered by Carlow Regional Youth Services empowering young people with leadership, community engagement and civic experience.
“The programme engaged 51 young people across Carlow through hands-on workshops. The judges were impressed with the quality of interaction with the young people who were articulate, engaged, enthusiastic and eager to continue their involvement.” Elsewhere, Carlow town came runner-up in the category of a town with a population over 5,000, losing out to Donaghadee in Co Down.
The awards, hosted by comedian and broadcaster Dermot Whelan, took place in Limerick’s Strand Hotel, with 400 community volunteers in attendance.
Sponsored by IPB Insurance, the Pride of Place competition was initiated 23 years ago to acknowledge the invaluable work undertaken by volunteers and those involved in local community development. It has grown into the largest competition recognising community development achievements on the island of Ireland.
