Achievements of three local groups honoured by council
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Peter Burke, TD, Minister of State, Billy Conway, Brian McCarthy, Annette Barr Jordan, Westmeath County Council, Riona Rooney, Cllr John Shaw, Catherine McEntee, Amanda Wilton-Scally, and Robert Troy, TD.Image 2 of 2
Cllr John Shaw, cathaoirleach of the Municipal District of Mullingar Kinnegad, presented an address of recognition to Mullingar Tidy Towns for winning gold in the Pride of Place, Category 5, Community Awards 2022. Present were, Peter Burke, Minister of State, Peter Burke, Tony McCormack, Westmeath Community Development; Annette Barr Jordan, Westmeath County Council; Sean Doran, sign manufacturer; John Bawle, coordinator, Mullingar Tidy Towns; Rosie McCormack, Westmeath Community Development; Isolde Dingerkus, horticulturist, Mullingar Tidy Towns; Bill Collentine, chairperson, Mullingar Tidy Towns; Cllr John Shaw, Jason McKevitt, historian, Mullingar Tidy Towns; Andy Boyle, fishing tutor for Mullingar Tidy Towns; PJ Fitzpatrick, Mullingar Tidy Towns, and Crann - Trees for Ireland; Aisling Coleman, Mullingar Chamber; and Robert Troy, TD.Cllr John Shaw, cathaoirleach of the Municipal District of Mullingar Kinnegad welcomed representatives of three local groups to a formal address of recognition at Áras on Chontae on Thursday evening.
Mullingar Harriers athletes were recognised for their achievements in representing their club and country at international level in athletics; Mullingar Tidy Towns for winning gold in the Pride of Place Community Awards 2022; and Grange Housing Estate for winning the ‘Best Housing Estate’ Award at the Pride of Place Community Awards 2022.
Cllr Shaw acknowledged the council staff who had organised the event, and fellow councillors present, Emily Wallace (Harriers) and Bill Collentine (Tidy Towns), and praised the three groups for their efforts on behalf of the community.
He said the Grange community have been doing fantastic work for years; and you “only have to look around Mullingar” to see how much work the local Tidy Towns volunteers do. Referring to the Harriers, he said he had been at the Schools Cross Country at Belvedere the previous afternoon and enjoyed seeing the “hive of activity” and saw “the joy that the simple act of running gives to people”.
The Harriers have provided a great environment for young and old over countless years, he said, and as well as acknowledging the success of their members at international level, the council were acknowledging the work they have done at all levels.
“We’re proud as elected members to acknowledge these three groups. The idea was discussed at meeting a number of months ago and these three groups emerged for special attention. I look forward to presenting them with their scrolls, and best wishes for the future.”
Speaking after the presentations to the Westmeath Examiner, Margaret Daly, chairperson of Mullingar Harriers AC, said she was honoured to receive the scroll on behalf of the club “to represent all the different members, those who are here this evening and those who couldn’t come”.
“It’s an honour for the club to be recognised as doing so much for the town, and so much for everybody around the whole area.”
Catherine McEntee (secretary) received the award on behalf of Grange Community Group, and she told the Examiner they were surprised to be overall national winners of the ‘Best Housing Estate’ (more than 400 houses) category in the Pride of Place last year. “It was a brilliant achievement, and in fairness there’s big thanks for Westmeath County Council, because they help us with funding and services; Mullingar Youth Project are the anchor tenant in the community centre, and they put a lot of effort into it. A lot of work goes in from the residents, young people and older people, and it’s well deserved.”
Cllr Bill Collentine was present on behalf of Mullingar Tidy Towns and he said it was great to have won their Pride of Place Community Award and a great deal of work went into that. “I want to say thanks to all the people who helped out, from the council to the businesses, the committee, the public and the many different groups – I can’t name them all as there are too many, but we appreciate their input.
“It was a 32-county award, but we came up trumps; it shows Mullingar’s in good shape, it has a lot for us who live in Mullingar and for our visitors.”