Ennis town was honoured at the annual Co-operation Ireland Pride of Place awards in Kilkenny on Saturday evening.
Ennis placed runners up in the Best Town with a population over 5000.
Sponsored by IPB, the Pride of Place competition was initiated 18 years ago though a Co-operation Ireland programmes to acknowledge the invaluable work undertaken by volunteers and those involved in local community development.
It has grown into the largest competition recognising community development achievements on the island of Ireland.
Two separate projects had been nominated by the Rural Development Directorate of Clare County Council (Bunratty Local Development Association, Ennis Tidy Towns) to participate in annual all-island competition, which is run by Co-operation Ireland and aims to recognise and celebrate the vital contributions that communities make to society.
Ennis Tidy Towns had been nominated to participate in Category 5, for towns with a population of over 5,000 people. Now one the longest serving Tidy Towns groups in the country, the group has for 30 years championed community-led projects which foster a sense of place, promote engagement, all of which makes Ennis a wonderful place to live, work and visit. Current activities include community arts initiatives, clean-ups, climate change campaigns, sustainability and waste management projects and enhancing local green spaces for pollinators and biodiversity.
Mayor of Clare Cathal Crowe after being at the event has said that Ennis tidy towns should be so proud to be recognised at such a prestigious award’ he hopes that they ‘continue their hard work and dedication to their town as it brings the community together in making their town a home’.
Pride of Place founder and Chairman Tom Dowling said; “These Awards continue to be as important as ever after all these years and the purpose of the awards has never changed. They are about recognising and celebrating the extraordinary, inspirational tireless work being done by communities all over the Island of Ireland as they strive to make their place a better place in which to live.”