Tullow scoops Pride of Place category win
Tullow Pride of Place committee picturd at the gala awards at the Convention Centre, Dublin. Sitting L-R: Mary Walsh, Mary Doyle. Standing L-R: Nicola Brennan, Peg Ryan, Eileen Doyle, Denis Ryan, Sue Tracey, Nicola Timmons, Kathy Walsh and cllr William Paton
TULLOW has claimed a major national honour at the IPB Pride of Place Awards gala ceremony at Dublin’s Convention Centre at the weekend.
The town won the category for populations over 5,000, repeating its success of 21 years ago.
The all-island competition, run in association with Co-Operation Ireland and IPB Insurance, recognises civic pride, inclusion and commitment to improving communities.
Judges Colette Byrne and Brendan McGrath visited Tullow in July, exploring biodiversity, heritage, youth work, social inclusion, sport and recreation.
Stops included Tullow Youth Project, Forward Steps Resource Centre at Bishop’s House and Tullow men’s shed biodiversity garden.
Ten representatives of organisations on Tullow’s Pride of Place committee attended the ceremony on Saturday, along with four representatives from the Ballymurphy committee, who were nominated in a separate category.
Many Pride of Place committee members also serve with Develop Tullow Association and Tullow Tidy Towns and climate action committee. At the previous day’s national tidy towns awards, Tullow scored 377 marks, up 18 on last year and only one short of bronze.
Cllr William Paton, Tullow Tidy Towns chairman and Pride of Place committee member, described it as a “hell of a weekend”.
“It is 30 years of hard work, going back a long time, with very many volunteers who put their heart and soul into Tullow and the tidy towns,” he said.
The committee “didn’t have a clue” it was among the frontrunners.
“We knew we had done well on the day of the judging and it obviously left a huge impression on the judges that came to visit, but the best praise came from the townspeople who said how well the town looked and how well everybody was working together and that spirit of co-operation is still continuing,” Cllr Paton said.
He particularly praised the involvement of young people.
“I was bowled over by the enthusiasm of the young people of Tullow, particularly those working through the Tullow Youth Project,” he said, highlighting their painting, litter picking and Bridge House murals.
On the committee’s behalf, he thanked Tullow’s business community and Davin Power, Gavin Whitney and Margaret Moore of Carlow County Council’s community department for their support.
Full tidy towns awards coverage in next week’s issue.
