Pride of Place triumph: Every reason to eulogise Lanesboro Ballyleague community spirit

Over the past number of weeks I have been extolling the virtues of our community and this past weekend goes to show that we have a community worth praising and to be extremely proud of. 

On Friday night last November 7 the Pride of Place winner announcements were made at a function in Limerick city hosted by Co-operation Ireland in association with IPB Insurance.

Pride of Place is an annual all-island competition that recognises and celebrates community efforts to improve their own area. 

With the support of their local authority, groups are encouraged to demonstrate their pride of community through their activities and culture. The community has to demonstrate through an oral presentation as well as a tour of their area.

Also read: Top award for Longford: Progressive Lanesboro Triathlon Club wins national accolade

‘The Abbey’ Cloontuskert as we know it were the local entrants in this year’s competition. It was fitting that they represented our community as well as the county of Roscommon as their continued development and consistently high marks and award winners in the SuperValu TidyTowns competition is nothing short of remarkable. 

Their pride of place is a model for everyone and following its continued development we see how the community advances and grows from one week to the next such is their work ethic, their passion and forward vision for their area. 

Friday last brought another accolade to this tremendously hard working community when they were crowned the outright winner from the entire 32 counties in the ‘Urban Neighbourhoods & Housing Estates’ category.

Their presentation and continued progress in both competitions starts with an acknowledgement of the people that came to work with Bord na Mona back in the 50’s, made ‘The Abbey’ Cloontuskert estate their home and they embraced their new community as if it were there from the start.

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

The legacy of those families still resonates throughout the community and the newcomers that have bought some houses in the estate since embrace and enhance the continued development. 

The entire community rightly basks in the glory of this fabulous award and it is a wonderful recognition of those at the helm at the moment driving it forward and all those that are remembered for giving so much to the ‘The Abbey’ Cloontuskert community from the very outset.

‘The Abbey’ Cloontuskert committee and community take a bow as you are worthy All-Ireland Champions.

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