Two groups up for Pride of Place awards

Next month, judges from Co-operation Ireland will visit the district in order to meet representatives from both groups and learn about the positive impact their work has had on local people and the district.

The Royal Black Perceptory 1000 has been nominated in the ‘Cultural Tourism’ category for organising the annual Sham Fight in Scarva. This event is a symbolic re-enactment of the Battle of the Boyne of 1690 and marks the clash between two rival claimants of the English, Scottish, and Irish thrones – the Catholic King James and the Protestant King William.

Every year some 3,000 members of the Royal Black Institution parade through the village accompanied by about 80 bands. This event is now recognised as one of the biggest cultural events in Northern Ireland attracting up to 100,000 people.

Laurencetown, Lenaderg and Tullylish Community Association has been nominated in the ‘Previous Prize Winners’ category. This group organises a variety of activities in Laurencetown Community Centre aimed at meeting the health, social, recreational, educational and welfare needs of local people.

Originally nominated in 2007, the group has since gone on to develop several new initiatives including an oil-buying syndicate, a youth heritage project, a bi-weekly over 50’s luncheon club and a graffiti project. These new activities complement its ongoing existing activities such as a parent and toddler group, an after-schools youth club, bowling, classes and a community pharmacy project to name but a few.

Speaking about the nominations, Council Community Development Officer, Robert Stockley, said: “Every year the Council has the opportunity to recognise groups who do excellent work by nominating them for this competition. We have nominated various groups in recent years and this year we are delighted that these two groups have been chosen to represent the great community work that goes on in the district.”

Now in its tenth year, the Pride of Place competition continues to grow in terms of its prestige and popularity. The competition is run by Co-operation Ireland in partnership with the All-Island Local Authority Steering Forum, a forum which encourages strategic and sustainable approaches to cross-border co-operation by local authorities.

Members of the public will be able to show their support each group’s work on Wednesday 8 August 2012 when judges from Co-operation Ireland carry out an assessment visit.

For more information contact the Council’s Community Development Officer on 4066 0643.