Lusitania
Museum/Old Head Signal Tower Heritage Group
Win Pride of
County Cork Award 2018
The groups that
participated in this year’s Pride in Our Community Competition came from all
corners of the county to attend the Awards in Oriel House Ballincollig. The
judging team were very impressed this year with the high standard of the
projects that were involved and found it very difficult to choose an overall
winner but the Lusitania Museum/Old Head
Signal Tower Heritage Group won the Pride
of County Cork Award. Their project was the
restoration of the Signal Tower and the construction of a Lusitania Memorial
Garden with iconic sculpture.
Cllr Daithi O’Donnabhain praised Pride of County Cork Winner, Lusitania Museum/Old
Head Signal Tower Heritage Group, all the winners of the other categories and
all those who entered the competition this year. He said that it was great to see the effort
being put in by community groups in developing projects that highlight the
wonderful county we live in. He thanked Muintir na Tire for organising the
competition and said ‘this great competition
rightly recognises and rewards community groups who develop and maintain locally-based Amenity/ Projects which are of long-term
benefit to the local community’.
Mr Sean Holland
Chairman of the organising committee pointed out that the competition also
seeks to make local people conscious of their local environment and promotes
litter free communities. He said the competition is
open to all voluntary groups in County
Cork . Sean added that the
organisers had simplified the competition after consulting with local groups. He
urged any group that were planning a project or were maintaining an existing
project to consider entering the competition
Sean Murphy President of Cork County
Federation Muintir ná Tíre said these projects highlight the important link
between our surroundings and our quality of life. It is no co-incidence he said
that people travel the length and breadth of the county, visiting beauty spots
– beautiful scenery that lifts their spirits and hearts. The impact that
amenity projects developed are enormous he added. He said community projects like
those developed by the Lusitania Museum/Old Head Signal Tower Heritage Group
make towns and villages much better places to live.
He thanked Cllr O’Donnabhain and Cork
County Council for providing support for all of the groups in bringing this
principle home. He said these projects also
brighten up communities and enhance the natural beauty of the surroundings in
which we live as well as attracting tourists.
Full Results and Details of Projects Below
Full competition details are available from
Cork County Muintir ná Tíre 8 Sidney
Place, Wellington Road, Cork City
Tel: 021-4500688 or email admin@muintircork.com
Pride in Our Community
Awards 2017
Best Project in Large Town South Cork.
_________________
Best
Project in Large Town West Cork……………….
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2nd Place
Cobh Tidy Towns who designed, produced and erected
signs on the approach to Cobh to help counteract the litter problem in the
area. They also refurbished
the 32 seats along the walkway by replacing the existing rotting wooden
structures with recycled and maintenance free plastic structures.
Winner
Carrigaline Tidy Towns who developed a seating area
in Bumblebee Plaza alongside a Community Herb Garden which is pollinator
friendly
__________________________________
Joint 2nd
Place
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Dunmanway Community
Council Who in an estate comprising of 20 houses, developed low maintenance
flower beds, maintained open grassed areas, regularly cleaned the roads and
paths. The retaining feature wall of the estate and 300 metres of handrails
were painted
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Kinsale Tidy Towns who
restored some Nautical Artefacts and placed them around the museum.
Winner
Ballincollig Tidy Towns
who built a permanent composter for composting of leaves, grass and green
materials.
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Heritage Project Awards
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Commended
(1) Oysterhaven
& Nohoval Residents Association who upgraded the Ship's Anchor situated
at the entrance to the beach in Oysterhaven.
(2) Bandon
Tidy Towns who enhanced a site on the
edge of the main road
2nd
Place
Rathbarry Tidy Towns who erected a Wildlife
Information Sign on the river walk and provided new Picnic Tables.
Winner
Killeagh/Inch Historical Group who are developing a Heritage Trail in Killeagh
with the erection of Information Boards at the Medieval Graveyard, Barrack
House and the Old Mills.
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Eco
Friendly Awards
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Commended
(1) Transition
Town Kinsale who developed a Community Orchard by planting fruit and nut
trees, soft fruit bushes, native hedging, herbs and flowers. Their aim is to
provide a sanctuary for biodiversity and to create a space for learning.
(2) Conna
Tidy Towns who developed a new village cross with parking, seating,
sculpture, wheelchair access and sustainable planting. Installed a bee and
butterfly garden. Erected new village signs. Refurbished the church car park
and refurbished the outdoor ball alley.
(3) Banteer
Tidy Towns who cultivated a wild flower bank to encourage birds, bees and
insects to inhabit the area.
2nd
Place
Coolagown Community Association who planted a
Pollinator Friendly mini orchard consisting of native fruit trees and other
wildflowers.
Winner
Berrings Community Association who
planted a wildflower garden, installed seats and planted shrubs. They also cleaned
a local stream of silt and installed
natural cobbles to prevent erosion and erected signs
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Social
Inclusion Awards
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Commended
(1) Dunmanway
Community garden who further developed the Dunmanway Community Garden by
adding a wheelchair accessible polytunnel, wheelchair accessible raised beds,
sensory pergola and touch beds.
2nd
Place
Cobh Playground who set a goal of raising
€180,000 to build an all purpose multi functional playgroung.
Winner
Mournabbey Community Council built an astroturf
pitch and a new playground for the community. All this was achieved without
incurring debts.
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New
Entry Awards
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Commended
(1) Newcestown
Community Association who developed signage in the
village to assist in road safety. They are in the process of developing a
footpath and walking trail around the village.
Joint 2nd
Place
·
Kilmeen & Castleventry Development
Association who developed Gearagh Park by adding picnic benches and seating
to this beautiful and peaceful area.
·
Castle Close Residents Association who planted a
shrubbery at the entrance to the estate and erected a sign to Blarney by the
local scout hall.
Winner
Glanworth Community Development Group who developed
a children's playground in the village. This is the first phase in an
ambitious three-phase development to increase outdoor participation amongst
all generations in the community.
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Tourism
Awards
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Commended
(1) Croi na
Laoi Inchigeela who mapped 7 local
scenic routes by erecting signposts along each route and a large map board in
the village and also printed
information leaflets.
(2) Schull
Tidy Towns A co-operative effort between Tidy Towns
and Community Council, Creation of a series of looped and Linear Walks to
cater for the needs of young and old, active and less active, Thousands of
international flyers were also designed printed and distributed.
(3) Baltimore
Tidy Towns who changed the colour scheme of the old pump at Freak Terrace, painted the pump black and the background
wall green. And planted red geraniums
in tubs and continued this theme throughout the village
(4) Brand
Blarney developed a website and a heritage webtrail, which shows all that
Blarney and district has to offer.
2nd Place
Waterloo Renewal Group who erected a series of
directional walking signs to encourage an increase in walking around the
area.
Winner
Roscarbery Tidy Towns who erected a new name
stone on the approach to Roscarberry and placed a sculpture nearby made of
upcycled material. These are lit up at night by power from a solar panel, they
also planted a sustainable shrub and flower patch at the base.
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Best
Maintained Project
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Commended
(1) Ballygarvan
Community Association who cleaned up the village and planted flowers
throughout the area, expanded the
range of activities in the Community Centre to meet the needs of the whole
community and developed a village website and linked it to Facebook.
(2) St.
Joseph’s Church Glanmire for developing and maintaining their beautiful
church Grounds as an impressive feature overlooking the main road between
Sallybrook and Glanmire
2nd
Place
Dripsey Tidy Towns who erected new signage to
Model Village and Dripsey Castle. Coachford approach Road-The Cottage.
Winner
Saleen & District Residents Association
Who installed a seat at Jamesbrook strand to encourage
community spirit and social interaction and to facilitate walkers and surfers
in their enjoyment of the local scenery. This is part on an ongoing project
to develop and promote their beautiful location.
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Healthy
Village Awards
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2nd
Place
Rostellan Development Association upgraded a
section of the people path from Lower Aghada to Whitegate
Winner
Kildorrery Community Garden Group who further developed the Community Garden by
extending the composting area to facilitate taking grass cuttings from the
Senior Citizen's Complex and Village Park and balancing it with cardboard and
waste from the local restaurant.
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Most
Creative Award
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Commended
Grenagh Tidy Towns who developed
a sensory garden in honour of a late teacher of the school, Ms.Mccarthy.
2nd Place
Ballineen & Enniskeane Tidy Towns A replica
train and carriages was installed which represents the social and economic
history of the village.
Winner
Carrigtwohill Tidy Towns who restored the old
Village Well by building a natural stone setting around it, which both
protected it and enhanced it as a feature.
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Youth
Projects
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Commended
(1) The 105th
Glanworth cubs created a garden at back of community centre in memory of
Michael John Shinnick, who was chief scout of Ireland and from Glanworth, The
garden aims to attract wild life, has a rain water harvester and a herb
garden
Winner
Bantry Tidy Towns. An overgrown area was
reclaimed and a retaining wall was erected. The area was then planted with
low maintenance shrubs and the area was finished off with wood chippings
again for low maintenance. A feature stone placed in the centre was inscribed
by local students who helped with the project.
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Best
Small Village Awards
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Commended
(1) Baile
Roisin Tidy Towns who enhanced the area near the Bus Stop by erecting a Failte
Sign and placing seating that can be enjoyed by all, maintained all the
planters on the approaching roads and planted summer bedding plants.
(2) Glanworth
Community Council developed the
friendship garden, for young and old to sit and chatsat a , Christmas tree in
the garden in remembrance of deceased members of all clubs and groups
who use the community centre.
(3) Knockraha
Community Association who cleared a derelict site to make it ecstatically
pleasing to the eye.
2nd
Place
Ballincurrig Tidy Village Group who added wire
gambions filled with locally quarried old red sandstone to improve the
maintenance of the existing structure. This is the current phase in an ongoing
project.
Winner
Ballinora & District Community Council who
developed a Heritage walking trail in their parish and erected an information
board and map in the village and further information plaques at each heritage
site.
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Pride
of County Cork
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Winner
Lusitania Museum/Old Head Signal Tower Heritage
Group who restored the Signal Tower and constructed a
Lusitania Memorial Garden which features an iconic sculpture.
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Special
Awards for 2018
Blian na Gaeilge Award
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Winner
Glounthaune Tidy Towns who erected
Irish Language Signs around their beautiful Village
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Community
Champion
Award
Gary
Dunlop Conna
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Gary
is our Lottery and Tidy Towns Chairperson and sits on the Finance &
Fundraising sub-committee.
His
work these last three years has been tireless in setting up
the Community Lottery which provides much needed income to help
fund these incredible projects in our village.
He
singlehandedly designed the new Village Green, the Butterfly & Bee Garden
and Church Car Park renewal as well as working closely with the County
Council to secure grants and funding.
And
Much More
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Community
Champion
Award
Michael
Looney Berrings
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Founder
Member of Berrings Tidy Towns and first Chairperson of Community Association
Actively
Involved in Community for over 30years.
Organises
Annual Vintage Car Run
Main
Driver of Berrings Crossroads Dancing
School
Board of Management
Weekly
litter Picks and other work for Tidy Towns
Fundraising
for Defibrillator
And
Much More
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Community
Champion
Award
Elaine
O Regan
Ballygarvan
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Elaine
volunteers so much in the community. She is the Treasurer of the Camogie Club
and secretary of the Ballygarvan Community Association.
She
works tirelessly on a voluntary basis every day.
She
successfully lobbied for a bus in Ballygarvan and it will start in September.
She has successfully lobbied for traffic
calming measures in the community.
She
doggedly and single-handedly chased down donations of supplies and labour for
the renovation of one side of the centre.
And
Much More
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Community
Champion Award
Margaret
Lynch
Kinsale
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Margaret
has been a member of Kinsale Tidy towns for 37 years and goes out four times
a week
Picking
Litter Deadheading flowers.
Planting
and weeding in the summer months.
She
is involved with School’s Awareness Programme
She
is an amazing worker, a great motivator and always manages to get things done
She
is also a member of the Historical Society Kinsale Regatta and the ICA And Much More
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