Pride of Longford: ‘Co:Worx is a symbol of renewal and ambition for the entire county’

Edgeworthstown Enterprise Hub CLG was honoured at the All-Ireland Pride of Place community awards last Friday evening in Limerick. 

The Hub won the Creative Communities category for their Co:Worx project, with Dún Laoghaire Rathdown’s LBS Men’s Shed and Leitrim’s Bright Sparks initiative sharing runners-up spot.

Judges praised the ambition of the Hub.

“The Co:Worx project in Edgeworthstown was conceived in 2018, before the COVID-19 pandemic. Its objective was to foster economic growth and digital change in the community through the repurposing of a derelict bank building on the Main Street into a digital hub. Commencing with a zero budget and an ambitious vision, the team of eight volunteers secured funding of €1.2m to repurpose the derelict heritage building into a centre for future development.

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“Judges received a warm welcome and an excellent presentation. This was followed by a tour of the building and the town highlighting the interconnectedness of the many developing projects in the town.

“As a town that suffered economic deprivation for many years this project has been instrumental in making Edgeworthstown a better place to live and work.”

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 through a Co-operation Ireland programme 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.

Chairperson of the Edgeworthstown Enterprise Hub CLG Padraic Jones said, “This award is shared with our clients, Longford County Council, our local community, and our stakeholders— without their belief and ongoing support, Co:Worx wouldn’t be what it is today.”

Chief Executive of Longford County Council, Paddy Mahon said, “We are proud to have nominated Edgeworthstown Enterprise Hub CLG for this award. Their success reflects the strength of local leadership and the commitment of volunteers who have transformed this former bank building into a thriving hub for digital innovation and enterprise. This project will continue to deliver benefits for years to come.”

Cathaoirleach of Longford County Council, Cllr Garry Murtagh said, “This award is a fantastic achievement for Edgeworthstown and for County Longford. It shows what can be accomplished when communities come together with vision and determination. Co:Worx is not just a building; it is a symbol of renewal and ambition for the entire county.”

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Co:Worx represented Ireland at the European Enterprise Promotion Awards (2022) in Prague, placing runner-up. The hub has become a model of good practice nationally and across Europe, demonstrating how creative, community-led enterprise can revive rural towns. 

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme