The twenty-ninth Pride in Your Place Awards Ceremony 2024 took place in Naas recently

Kildare County Council hosted Community groups from across the county at the Osprey Hotel in Naas last night to celebrate their achievements and receive their awards at the annual Pride in Your Place Awards Ceremony. 

Now in its twenty-ninth year the awards seek to recognise the tireless efforts of residents’ associations, community groups and young people in Local Authority and Approved Housing Body estates in Kildare. 

Over thirty estates from all corners of the county entered the competition with almost half of those coming away with top prizes in their categories. 

This year also saw five young people receive a Youth Participation award. This is the twenty-first year of Kildare County Council’s youth award scheme which sees young people’s contributions to their local communities being recognised.

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Sonya Kavanagh, Chief Executive, Kildare County Council and Marian Higgins, Director of Services, Economic, Community & Cultural Department, Kildare County Council thanked the groups and individuals who had taken part for their work and achievements in their communities. 

Awards Category and Prize Winners:

Best Kept Garden and Best Pollinator Friendly Garden Awards 

These awards are a chance to reward the work put in by individuals and recognise the impact that it has within their communities.  People stop to admire the displays, see the wildlife and smell the flowers which lifts their spirits and enhances their estates. 

Best Kept Garden Award (11 Entries):

3rd Place:  Mary Gibney, Dunmurray Rise, Kildare Town

2nd Place – Rose Connolly, St Bridgets Terrace, Sallins

Winner:  Patrick Hickey, Bishopsland, Kildare Town

Community Development Project (13 Entries):

3rd Place:  Ashgrove, Derrinturn

2nd Place:  Anne Street, Prosperous

Winner:  Loughnamona, Leixlip

Age Friendly Project (8 Entries):

3rd Place:  Loughnamona, Leixlip

2nd Place:  Old Clonmullion, Athy

Winner:  Anne Street, Prosperous

Climate Action Project (12 Entries):

3rd Place:  Bishopsland, Kildare Town

2nd Place:  Millview, Milltown

Joint Winner:  Ashgrove, Derrinturn and Old Clonmullion, Athy

Integration Category (13 Entries):

3rd Place:  Ashgrove, Derrinturn

2nd Place:  Old Clonmullion, Athy

Joint Winner:  Anne Street Prosperous and Loughnamona, Leixlip

Category 1 (1 – 40 Houses) (3 Entries):

3rd Place:  Old Clonmullion, Athy

2nd Place:  Millview, Milltown

Winner:  Corra Choill, Prosperous

Category 2 (41 – 80 Houses) (8 Entries):

3rd Place:  Ashgrove, Derrinturn

2nd Place:  Dunmurray Rise, Kildare Town

Winner:  St Patricks, Kill

Category 3 (80 + Houses) (5 Entries)

3rd Place:  Anne Street, Prosperous

2nd Place:  Liffey Heights, Ballymore Eustace

Winner:  Bishopsland, Kildare Town

Special recognition award (3 Awards):

These awards have been introduced for projects that have stood out to judges, but they do not necessarily fit into a category 

First award goes to Freda Murray, Liffey Heights, Ballymore Eustace for her ability to make flowerpots from old towels.  This was a great way to recycle and repurpose.

Second award goes to Bishopsland for their Memorial Garden.  This garden is so highly thought of throughout the estate and provides a sense of peace within the area.

Third award goes to a young biodiversity group in Dunmurray who are doing exceptional work in the estate 

Youth Participation Award – Prize Winners:

Millie Tyrell 

Nominated by Ashgrove Residents Association, Derrinturn

Millie demonstrates strong leadership in our clubs by being the first to volunteer and ask questions. Millie makes suggestions for our arts and crafts and always helps the younger kids. She is always first to arrive and last to leave she helps to set up and clean-up any kids club we are doing on the day. A lovely, pleasant, mannerly girl and is always a pleasure to work with.

Molly Hogan 

Nominated by Dunmurray Rise, Kildare 

Molly has been working hard this spring with the estate. Her and her friend have designed and done a mural in the estate to show our diverse community. She has helped paint benches, planted flowers and cleaned up on days when needed. A great help and strength in the community.

Brooke Walker 

Nominated by Dunmurray Rise, Kildare

Brooke has been working hard this spring with the estate. Herself and her friend have designed and done a mural in the estate to show our diverse community.

She has helped paint benches, planted flowers and cleaned up on days when needed.  A great help and strength in the community

Taylor Walsh 

Nominated by Leixlip youth project, InSync

Taylor, is without doubt a wonderful support through her Junior Leadership in our community centre.

Taylor runs many activities for the groups, she is reliable, enthusiastic and innovative in her approach.

Chloe “Coco” Stanley 

Nominated by Leixlip Youth Project InSync

Coco is an amazing junior leader. She has taught young people in our group the skills she has learned over the years, she is very active in sport including boxing and inspires young people to follow their dream and reach their full potential. She is very aware of her community and the importance of having an importance impact. Chloe likes to make a difference and help people.

Hailey Dunne Doyle

Oakwood Park Residents Association, Derrinturn

Hailey is a cheerful, well-mannered young lady who is always on hand to assist both her peers and adults alike.

Youth Group of the year Winner

St Conleth’s Community College Newbridge. 

Transition year class of 2023/2024. 

The TY class took part in the Awareness Training Programme with the Disability & Equality Specialist Support services.  Over six weeks, this large group of TY students split into groups and in conjunction with members from both Newbridge Disability Access group and KARE, they carried out an Accessibility Audit of the town. They reviewed all access routes to public buildings in the town and their findings were presented to the groups as well as some local Council members. This audit can now be used to assist in making Newbridge a more disability friendly town 

Music provided on the night by the Naas Men’s shed band along with the SING YOUTH INTEGRATION GROUP 

This integration programme was created through music and specifically designed for young people to provide opportunities and support for social inclusion, personal development, and empowerment. This happened by embracing youth work methodologies and was facilitated by Gary Lawlor and Mick O Brien.

What started as a gathering of young people from all backgrounds and different lived experiences blossomed into a vibrant community filled with creativity, collaboration and unforgettable moments.