Kinvara and Williamstown were placed under the Pride of Place spotlight last week when adjudicators for the 22nd annual all-island competition visited County Galway.

The communities are seeking to emulate the county’s longstanding track record of success in the competition, which is run by Co-Operation Ireland to recognise and celebrate the vital contributions that communities make to society.

They will be hoping to secure a place on the winner’s podium at the overall IPB Pride of Place Gala Dinner & Award Ceremony at the Hillgrove Hotel in Monaghan on November 2.

Located in the northeast of the county on the Galway/Roscommon border, the picturesque village of Williamstown has been selected by Galway County Council to represent County Galway in the ‘0-300 Population’ Award category.

Visiting judges learned about Williamstown Heritage Society’s 25-year investment in the restoration of Williamstown Mill and Millers Cottage and the delivery by Williamstown Development Company of a looped 3.3km walkway with accompanying boards and biodiversity signage on the Bog Road, as well as a safe walkway linking the primary school to the GAA grounds.

The adjudicators also heard about the strong partnership between Williamstown Tidy Towns and the local primary school in developing biodiversity and environmental initiatives, as well as the community’s focus on inclusion through the hosting of childcare and active retirement activities in the Community Centre.

Kinvara Tidy Towns has been selected by Galway County Council to represent County Galway in the ‘Climate Action and Biodiversity’ Award category, which was won by Creggs Rural Development Group in 2023.

During last week’s visit by Pride of Place judges, local representatives outlined how the collaborative efforts of the wider community towards climate action and biodiversity have culminated in the development of the Biodiversity Action Plan 2021-2024, which was developed in partnership with Burrenbeo and the Kinvara Ballinderreen Tree Gang.

The Plan has so far led to the planting of more than 9,000 native trees by local families, landowners, schools and community groups. The Community Climate Action grant application submitted on behalf of eight local groups was successful thus will facilitate the rollout of many biodiversity and climate actions throughout the community.

Further work highlighted during the judges’ visit included the development of a new Biodiversity and Heritage Plan for 2024-2027 and collaborative projects with Kinvara Hockey, Kinvara GAA, Kinvara Community Council, residents, schools and businesses to develop habitat mapping, a biodiversity trail, and a series of wildlife and biodiversity citizen science exploration projects with the local schools in conjunction with local Ecologists and Galway County Council.

Sustainability initiatives by Kinvara Plastic Free and Kinvara Tidy Towns were also outlined, including plastic-free awareness campaigns in schools and to communities first public realm water filling station to permanently reduce consumption of single-use plastic in the community.

All local groups are members of the Kinvara & District Sustainable Energy Group, which has completed a Master Energy Audit of the village to underpin large energy upgrades of community facilities.

Councillor Albert Dolan, Cathaoirleach of County of Galway said: “The effort and commitment displayed by community and voluntary groups in Kinvara and Williamstown to improving the quality of life for members of the local community is commendable.”

Liam Conneally, Chief Executive with Galway County Council commented: “County Galway is fortunate to have a wealth of community-focused groups and projects that provide services in keeping with the aims and objectives of Pride of Place.”

Pictured: Pride of Place judges pictured with community representatives from Kinvara during an adjudication visit on Friday (from left): Louise Vance (Kinvara Plastic Free), Linda Potter and Jacqueline Carroll (Galway County Council), Ruth Briggs, Tom Dowling and John Briggs (Pride of Place Judges), Theresa Donohue (Galway Council), Clare Ryan and Hilda O’Grady of Kinvara Tidy Towns, Michael Officer (CuanBeo), and Ramona Burke, Marie Mannion, Helen McGrath and Denise Feeney (Galway County Council). Photos: Galway County Council.