Gleno and Glynn could be the next to bring glory to borough

Just a few weeks ago there was success for the borough in this year’s Translink Ulster in Bloom contest and the SuperValu Best Kept Health and Social Care Facility Awards, the two villages are battling it out to bring more glory to the borough.

To begin with, picturesque Gleno is in the running for an award in the Northern Ireland Calor Village of the Year competition.

The battle for the top spot is hotting up with 10 villages selected to go forward in a bid to win the coveted title and a share in a prize funda valuable cash prize.

The competition celebrates vibrant, enterprising and caring rural communities and the vital role they play in life in Northern Ireland. Run in conjunction with the Rural Development Council, it is open to all rural communities and villages with a population of less than 4,500.

Gleno has been shortlisted along with five other villages - Ballintoy, Gortnaghey, Seaforde, Seapatrick and Swatragh - in the ‘Small Community’ title, with a cash prize of £3,500.

A team of judges has recently visited each village to meet local representatives, who had the opportunity to present their village and demonstrate why they feel they should win. Winners will be announced at a major awards ceremony later this month.

Glynn, meanwhile, is on the shortlist in the Best Kept Small Village section of the 2011 SuperValu Best Kept Town and Village Awards.

These awards are organised annually by the Northern Ireland Amenity Council (NIAC) in partnership with independent retail group SuperValu - rewarding towns, housing areas, healthcare facilities and schools for their work to protect and improve the natural and built environment.

Doreen Muskett MBE, President of NIAC said; “The SuperValu Best Kept Awards recognise Northern Ireland’s cleanest and greenest places, where communities have an obvious pride in their shared surroundings. With these awards we are able to acknowledge communities that work together to preserve and enhance the environment.

“On October 25 we will announce the winners of this year’s awards and we look forward to celebrating the success of our most beautiful and most cared for towns and villages.”