Nenagh Municipal District Council's volunteers and sporting heroes are honoured

Community groups, Tidy Towns committees, burial ground committees, sports stars and those involved in the arts and culture were honoured by Nenagh Municipal District at the the district's annual awards night this Monday.

Among those getting an award was Ireland international athelete Sharlene Mawdsley from Newport, who put in some fine performances at the World Championships earlier this year.

Also recognised were the Nenagh Players who mark their 80th anniversary this week with an exhibition opening at Nenagh Heritage Centre and the staging of their autumn production Boeing Boeing in Nenagh Arts Centre from this Wednesday  to Sunday.

Lough Derg RNLI was also honoured for saving lives on the lake and raising awareness around water safety.

The awards, along with Nenagh 800 medals, were presented to the winners at a ceremony in the Civic Offices, Nenagh, by Nenagh Municipal District Council Cathaoirleach Cllr John "Rocky" McGrath.

District Administrator Rosemary Joyce told the gathering that the awards were an opportunity to say thank you to all those who make their communities a better place to live, work and visit.

"The spirit of volunteering continues to be alive in Tipperary and the Nenagh Municipal District," she said. 

Their work made us aware of what can be done, she said, adding: "Ordinary people can achieve extraordinary things."

The full list of winners is:

Best Burial Ground / Burial Ground Committee

- Rockvale Cemetery Committee, Newport

- Templekelly Burial Ground Committee, Ballina

Best Presented Estates / Residents' Associations.

- Ard Coillte, Ballina

- Kilnasalla Estate, Nenagh.

Significant Contribution and Achievements Award:

- Nicola Welford: In recognition of her continuous significant contribution and dedication to community efforts in Boher and surrounding areas

- Nenagh Defibs for Life: In recognition of their efforts to make Nenagh a safer place through the installation of additional defibrillators throughout the town

Olena Arkhanhelska: In recognition of her continuous significant contribution and dedication to the provision of support to members of the Ukrainian community in helping them settle in their new environment

- Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat Station: In recognition of their dedication and commitment to saving lives and their spirit of volunteerism in contributing of their time and efforts to enhance water safety on Lough Derg.

Sporting Achievements

- Sharlene Mawdsley:  In recognition of her achievements in athletics and, in particular, her performance at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest. The award was accepted on her behalf by her former mentor Fr Bobby Fletcher

- Stephen Shoer: In recognition of his achievement in winning the 2023 National Senior Gents Strokeplay Championship at Riverdale Pitch & Putt Course in August 2023

- Margaret Hennessy: In recognition of her achievement in winning the 2023 National Ladies Intermediate Strokeplay Championship at Riverdale Pitch & Putt Course in August 2023.

Best Cultural / Heritage Group

- The Nenagh Players: In recognition of their significant contribution over 80 years to keeping amateur drama alive in Nenagh and their continued community spirit and generosity in sharing their time and their talents.

Tidy Towns

- Category A: Ballinderry Tidy Towns Committee

- Category B: Rathcabbin Development Association

- Category C,D,E: Ballina / Boher Tidy Towns Committee.

Nenagh 800 medals

- Stephen Slattery: In recognition of his commitment to Nenagh Town across many areas including campaigning for enhancement and promotion of Nenagh Castle and grounds, personal efforts to keep the streets of Nenagh litter free and his contribution to the retail sector as part of a long-standing family business

- Nora O’Meara: In recognition of her long-standing contribution to promoting genealogy and heritage in north Tipperary and her dedication to provision of information to those seeking to discover their roots

- Kitty Meagher: In recognition of her contribution over a long number of years to maintaining the streets in her area clean and litter free and her dedication and selflessness in giving of her time to helping other members of the community

- Ann Scroope: For her vision and dedication in the creation of Nenagh Tourist Office and Visitor Centre, which has been an inspiration and a catalyst for the I Love Nenagh brand.