Moynalty is cream of the crop at Pride of Place awards

Community workers from across the county gathered at Warrenstown College on Friday evening for the sixth annual Pride of Place Awards run by Meath County Council. Moynalty, so often a prizewinner in the national Tidy Towns competition and consistently the tidiest village in Meath, was named as the overall winner of the local competition. The Pride of Place initiative is a series of competitions that encourage people to buy into the simple but powerful idea that they can make a difference to their own areas, and make those areas a better place to live, work and to visit. From the smallest and most remote communities in the county to the larger urban towns, the competition brings communities together, harnessing their community spirit, goodwill and their 'pride" in their place. The voluntary groups take action on a vast range of activities, creating and enhancing a quality living environment for themselves, their families and their communities. Cathaoirleach of Meath County Council, Cllr Liz McCormack, herself a stalwart of Athboy Tidy Towns committee, thanked all of the groups who participated in Pride of Place 2008, commenting: 'I know first-hand the large volume of work involved when you participate in these competitions, and the large amount of personal time which you must give up to take part, and on behalf of Meath County Council I would like to thank you sincerely for this.' She added that there is a great sense of achievement when the groups taking part look back at what they have done, and feel that great sense of community cohesion which this type of activity generates. County manager Tom Dowling also paid tribute to the volunteers and to the elected representatives whose commitment and support for this competition has allowed this partnership between members of the public and the local authority to flourish. Paddy Cole and his clarinet provided wonderful rich sounds and entertainment to the 500-strong crowd into the early hours. Other results were: Centres with 0-500 population: 1, Kilskyre; 2, Castletown; 3, Batterstown; centres with 501-1,000 population: 1, Moynalty; 2 , Julianstown; centres with 1,001-2,000 population: 1, Athboy; centres with over 2,000 population: 1, Trim; 2, Dunshaughlin; 3, Navan. Harvest Miles Competition: 1, Simonstown Lane, Navan; 2, Enfield Environment Group. Best Community Effort: Oldcastle Tidy Towns; Best New Mile: Killyon, Hill of Down; Cleanest Mile: Dunsany Pride of Place; Most Potential: Rathfeigh, Tara; Special Award: Broomfield and District. Community Participation Awards: 1, Castletown; 2, Ballinlough; 3, Fordstown. Waterways Awards: 1, Killyon Community Development Association; 2, Enfield Environment Group. Youth Project: Athboy No Name Club; Derelict Site Improvement Project: Johnstown Way, Enfield; Most Improved Community: 1, Batterstown; 2, Ballinlough; Best Approach Road: 1, Dublin Road, Trim; 2, Kilskyre Road, Crossakiel; 3, Summerhill Road, Rathmolyon. Individual Achievement Award: Old Garlow Cross. Church Floral Competition: 1, Walterstown Church; 2, St Mary"s Church, Grangegeeth; 3, Church of Assumption, Batterstown; 4, Kilskyre Church; judges" award: St Patrick"s Church, Stamullen. Housing estates: 1, Abbeylands, Duleek; 2, Seachnaill Place, Dunshaughlin; 3, Meadowlands, Athboy; 4, St Michael"s Terrace, Rathmolyon. Best overall housing estates: joint winners, Athlumney Abbey, Johnstown, Navan, and Garden City & Crestwood, Ashbourne; 2, Hillview, Dunshaughlin; 3, Highfield, Athboy; 4, Termon Hall, Kells.