Groups nominated for 'Pride of Place' awards

This is the eighth year of this competition, which has enjoyed tremendous success, and continues to grow in terms of prestige and popularity across Ireland. The judges will visit both Groups tomorrow (Friday).

Martin Loughran, Chairperson of the New Meadows Community Partnership said that the group was honoured to be nominated for this competition.

He explained that the group was formed in February 2008 to improve the quality of life for the residents in the Magherafelt estates of Leckagh, Sperrin, Queens Avenue, Greenvale and Killowen.

This he said, is being achieved by organising a series of visits to museums, talks and fun days for the children in all the estates.

The visit to Messines, Belgium in August 2009, he said, was particularly useful as Catholics and Protestants were able to acknowledge their shared history in relation to World War I.

He said that the group has now partnered with the Inishowen Communtiy Group, which will have cultural and economic benefits for Magherafelt.

Jackie Graham, Chairperson of the Bellaghy Development Association, said that the association was formed in the early nineties with the aim of re-generating the Bellaghy village.

A 10 year re-generation plan was developed and the association has worked closely with Magherafelt District Council, the Department for Social Development and local residents to implement the programme of work.

The association, he said, has also worked closely with the Environment and Heritage Service on the restoration of the Bellaghy Bawn which now includes an exhibition of Seamus Heaney’s poems.

Last year, the association had a permanent piece of art created as a fitting tribute to Seamus Heaney on the celebration of his 70th birthday.

This depicts a man cutting turf and is something that the Bellaghy residents can relate to. Its positioning is symbolic as its sits in the shadow of the Bellaghy bawn and is an image of an ordinary man, someone of the land, almost standing guard at the gates.

Jackie Graham said that being nominated for Co-Operation Ireland’s Pride of Place Award in the Community Arts Initiative Category has given the association a great boost, and they hope to continue their re-generation work for many more years.