Clare Bus and Ogonnelloe Exchange are busily preparing for the judging stage of the 2016 IPB Pride of Place Competition which takes place on Tuesday June 28th next.
Nominated by Clare County Council, the projects will be hoping to emulate numerous local successes in the competition of recent years, including Doonbeg Community Development’s first place award in 2015, Killaloe and Tuamgraney’s Runner-Up finishes in 2014 and Miltown Malbay’s first place award in 2013.
Run by Co-Operation Ireland in conjunction with local authorities north and south of the border, the competition aims to recognise and celebrate the vital contributions that communities make to society.
“Judging day is a special occasion and represents an ideal opportunity for the people of Ogonnelloe and everyone associated with Clare Bus to show pride in their projects by supporting organised events”, said Cllr. James Breen, Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council. “The performance of our Pride of Place participants in previous years is evidence of the depth and breadth of voluntary activity underway in communities across the county. I am confident this year’s participants will maintain Clare’s impressive track record in the competition.”
Clare Bus and Ogonnelloe Exchange are representing the County in the 14th annual all-island initiative in the Reaching Out Initiative and Community Enterprise Initiative categories respectively.
Next Tuesday, both Clare projects will be assessed under the following criteria: ‘Impact on Community’; ‘Innovation’; ‘Sustainability’; ‘Local Leadership’; ‘Management’ and ‘Overall Impression’. Winners, runners up and special award recipients will receive a trophy and a small monetary prize at November’s awards ceremony, at a location and date yet to be confirmed.
Clare Bus is a registered business name of Clare Accessible Transport. It began operating in 2003 with one easy access bus operating in East Clare. Steady progress has led to a network of flexible services throughout Clare and parts of South Galway operated by 9 low floor buses. The entire fleet has been secured through funding from private sources and the HSE.
Ogonnelloe Exchange is a local community development organisation established in 2015.