Community groups from across County Galway gathered last night at the Meadowcourt Hotel in Loughrea for the Cathaoirleach’s Community Awards 2023.
Held in conjunction with the Cathaoirleach’s Ball, the awards ceremony was organised by Galway County Council in partnership with Galway County Public Participation Network and was hosted by the Cathaoirleach Cllr. Michael Maher and MC for the evening Bernadette Prendergast of Galway Bay FM.
Introducing the Cathaoirleach’s Awards, Cllr. Michael Maher commented, “Each year these awards acknowledge the contribution of volunteers across a wide range of local activity and the significant impact their actions have on quality of life. Tonight’s awards will honour the work of groups across a range of activities which all serve to make our local areas better places to live, work and visit”.
Liam Conneally, Chief Executive of Galway County Council, said, “These awards provide an opportunity for Galway County Council and Galway County PPN to recognise the unique value and contribution of volunteers to our County, and acknowledge their impact on community wellbeing and quality of life, and the pride of place instilled by their activities”.
Alan Farrell, Director of Services, Economic, Rural and Community Development of Galway County Council, stated, “The Community Groups and Voluntary Organisations contribute immensely to their communities and further afield and these awards are an opportunity to celebrate their achievements and I hope that it will inspire all involved to achieve even greater things in the future.”
The winner of the Arts and Culture Award, which recognises groups who enhance their local area by promoting arts and culture, was Glenamaddy Theatre Festival. Glenamaddy Theatre Festival has been in existence for over 60 years and has hosted the All-Ireland Drama Finals for the last three years. These finals have been instrumental in advancing and promoting the exceptional interest from people from the locality and has allowed Glenamaddy to demonstrate the fantastic artistic talent within the community.
The winner of the Best Contribution to Heritage Award, which recognises the efforts of Groups who promote the heritage of their local area, was Milltown Heritage Group. The Group have worked collaboratively to embed their cultural heritage into the fabric of their town through various initiatives such as a “Special Letter Collection” which were launched as part of Heritage Week where people could come along and read the letter and listen to audio recordings.
The winner of the Environment & Climate Action Award, which recognises Groups or Schools who have worked within the community to improve the environment around them or reduce their impact on the environment, was East Corrib Alliance. This group has brought together a number of angling groups on the east side of the Lough Corrib who carry out practical measures to improve water quality and habitat for salmon and trout. They work closely with a number of agencies such as the Inland Fisheries Ireland and engage with local landowners and groups in the catchment area. The group facilitate peer to peer learning and host a number of field trips to educate people on the work they are carrying out.
The winner of the Social Inclusion Award, which recognises Groups or Community Facilities which support all people within the community to participate in social and community activities, was CURVE. This group represents Ukrainians in Esker and the surrounding areas. CURVE coordinates a number of supports such as clothing and essential items, advocacy around school transport and accommodation and linking the Ukrainian Community with essential services locally and across the county. CURVE have also established a number of clubs such as a Garden Club, and a Choir. CURVE have also set up a Bike Shed from local donations, these bikes are refurbished and utilised by the Ukrainian Community to help with their health and wellbeing and to help to give the Esker residents independence and an opportunity to access employment.
The winner of the Sports Award, which recognises the efforts of Groups or Schools to increase participation in sport, particularly from groups with low participation rates, was Tuam Women’s Shed. Tuam Women’s Shed gives its members opportunities to take part in a variety of physical activity programmes such as Activator Poles and Boccia. The group have also taken part in a number of Leader Training Courses so that they can run their own physical activity programmes in a sustainable way and drive the benefits of physical activity from within the group. Tuam Women’s Shed have taken part in several Physical Activity events throughout the year which offers member s an opportunity to meet other groups and to also have some friendly competition!
The winner of the Heritage Publication Award, which recognises the efforts of Groups or Schools to research and record the heritage of their area, was Emma Laffey – “An Bhean Ghlúine” -Midwife – Woman of the knee – Handywoman. Emma’s research and work has brought the often-forgotten role that midwives played in health and care of children and mothers. The publication introduces us to some of the wonderful woman who were midwives during the early part of 20th century, when they were known as a ‘handywoman’. One lady, Mrs Anne Kilcommins from Mountbellew, was known as ‘Mrs come quick’!
The next award presented on the night was the Gaeilge Award, which recognises what groups are doing to preserve, promote and strengthen the use of the Irish language. The winners of the award were Ceoltoirí Oga Cois Fharraige for their work to promote and popularise the Irish language and musical traditions. They also work with young people to strengthen their interest in music. In addition to this, a collection was posted on their new website at www.taiscecf.ie.
The winner of the Tidy Towns Recognition Award which recognises the achievements of Tidy Towns Groups in the National Tidy Towns Competition and the impact that their work has on making our towns and villages attractive and welcoming places to live, work and visit was Abbey Community Development Association. Abbey Community Development Association consistently achieve the highest marks in Tidiness and Litter Control at county level and have been selected to represent the South in ‘Best Kept Towns Competition 2022’ where they were shortlist as finalists of this competitive All-Island Competition.
Pride of Place Awards were presented to the 2 Groups who have been selected to represent County Galway in the IPB National Pride of Place Competition 2023, which is an All-Island competition to acknowledge and celebrate the work of communities to create civic pride in their area. Gort River Walk Group are the County’s nominated entry in the Community Wellbeing Initiative, for the continuing development of Gort River walk which is a 3km beautiful, looped walk which encompasses amazing biodiversity, rest areas, and a new footbridge. Creggs Rural Development are the County’s nominated entry in the Climate Action and Biodiversity for their commitment to promote, educate, raise awareness and enhance biodiversity within the village.
Cathaoirleach Michael Maher concluded the evening by announcing he had a special award to recognise the achievement of the Aleen Cust Memorial Society. Aleen Isabel Cust was the first woman in Britain and Ireland to become a veterinary surgeon (vet). She became a vet at a time when it was not considered a suitable role for a woman. Aleen’s struggle to be accepted as a member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons took over 20 years and it was only through her determination and love for animals that she succeeded.
The Cathaoirleach presented each of the Groups with a specially commissioned award designed and hand-crafted by Sean Mahony. Each group also received a Certificate and a cash prize of €500 to use for their work. The Cathaoirleach stated that the Award Winners during the night demonstrated the amazing quality of community and voluntary work happening around the County.
The Awards for 2023 have been designed and hand-crafted by Sean Mahony, a local craft producer from Craughwell. Each award is unique and is hand-made to resemble a Galway Hooker, with the sails made from spalted beech and the wood for the base blackened using an old Japanese method of burning wood. The Awards are Galway sourced and made, and with a nod to re-use of materials, have been crafted from trees which have been knocked down during storms.
Obair na nGrúpaí Pobail aitheanta ag Gradaim an Chathaoirligh 2023
Reáchtáladh Gradaim an Chathaoirligh 2023 mar aon le Ball an Chathaoirligh Dé Sathairn 27 Bealtaine. D’eagraigh Comhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe na Gradaim i gcomhpháirt le Líonra Rannpháirtíochta Phoiblí Chontae na Gaillimhe. Rinne an Cathaoirleach Clr. Michael Maher agus an reachtaire don tráthnóna, Bernadette Prendergast ó Galway Bay FM, na Gradaim a óstáil agus cuireadh fáilte mhór roimh gach duine chuig an Óstán Meadowcourt, Baile Locha Riach.
Ag cur i láthair Gradaim an Chathaoirligh, dúirt an Clr. Michael Maher: “Gach bliain, aithníonn na gradaim seo an méid atá déanta ag na hoibrithe deonacha thar réimse leathan de ghníomhaíocht áitiúil agus an tionchar suntasach a bhíonn ag a ngníomhartha ar cháilíocht na beatha. Tabharfaidh Gradaim na hoíche anocht onóir d’obair na ngrúpaí thar réimse gníomhaíochtaí a dhéanann ár gceantar áitiúil níos fearr le maireachtáil, le hoibriú agus le cuairt a thabhairt orthu.”
Dúirt an Príomhfheidhmeannach Chomhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe, Liam Conneally; “Tugann na Gradaim seo deis do Chomhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe agus do LRP Chontae na Gaillimhe luach leithleach agus cúnamh na n-oibrithe deonacha dár gContae a aithint, agus aitheantas a thabhairt don tionchar atá acu ar fholláine an phobail agus ar chaighdeán na beatha, agus don mhórtas áite a spreagann a ngníomhaíochtaí”.
Dúirt Alan Farrell, Stiúrthóir Seirbhísí, Forbairt Eacnamaíochta, Tuaithe agus Pobail Chomhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe: “Cuidíonn na Grúpaí Pobail agus na hEagraíochtaí Deonacha go mór lena bpobail agus níos faide i gcéin agus is deis iad na gradaim seo lena n-éachtaí a cheiliúradh agus spreagfaidh siad gach a bhfuil páirteach rudaí níos fearr fós a bhaint amach sa todhchaí.
Ba í Féile Amharclannaíochta Ghleann na Madadh buaiteoir an Ghradaim Ealaíon agus Cultúir, a thugann aitheantas do ghrúpaí a fheabhsaíonn a gceantar áitiúil trí na healaíona agus an cultúr a chur chun cinn. Tá Féile Amharclannaíochta Ghleann na Madadh ar an fhód le breis agus 60 bliain anuas agus tá Craobh Dhrámaíochta na hÉireann á reáchtáil aici le trí bliana anuas. Bhí ról lárnach ag na cluichí ceannais seo i bhforás agus i gcur chun cinn na suime as cuimse ó dhaoine as an cheantar sa drámaíocht agus tugann sé deis do Ghleann na Madadh bua na healaíne iontaí sa phobal a léiriú.
Ba é Grúpa Oidhreachta Bhaile an Mhuilinn buaiteoir an Ghradaim don Rannchuidiú is Fearr san Oidhreacht, a thugann aitheantas do na hiarrachtaí atá déanta ag grúpaí pobail maidir le hoidhreacht a gceantar a chur chun cinn. D’oibrigh an Grúpa le chéile chun a n-oidhreacht chultúrtha a neadú i bhfabraic a bhaile trí thionscadail éagsúla ar nós “Bailiúchán Speisialta Litreacha,” a seoladh mar chuid de Sheachtain na hOidhreachta, a thug deis do dhaoine teacht isteach chun na litreacha a léamh agus éisteacht le taifeadtaí fuaime.
Ba é Comhaontas na Coiribe Thoir buaiteoir an Ghradaim Comhshaoil & Don Athrú Aeráide, a thugann aitheantas do Ghrúpaí nó Scoileanna a d’oibrigh sa phobal chun an timpeallacht thart orthu a fheabhsú nó chun an tionchar a bhíonn acu ar an chomhshaol a laghdú. Thug an grúpa seo roinnt grúpaí slatiascaireachta ar an taobh thoir de Loch Coirib le chéile a dhéanann bearta praiticiúla chun cáilíocht uisce agus gnáthóg do bhradáin agus breaca a fheabhsú. Oibríonn siad go dlúth le roinnt gníomhaireachtaí ar nós Iascach Intíre Éireann agus téann siad i dteagmháil le húinéirí talún áitiúla agus le grúpaí sa dobharcheantar. Éascaíonn an grúpa foghlaim idir phiaraí agus eagraíonn siad turais allamuigh chun oideachas a chur ar dhaoine faoin obair atá ar bun acu.
Ba é CURVE buaiteoir an Ghradaim um Ionchuimsiú Sóisialta a thugann aitheantas do Ghrúpaí nó do Shaoráidí Pobail a spreagann gach duine sa phobal páirt a ghlacadh i ngníomhaíochtaí sóisialta agus pobail. Déanann an grúpa seo ionadaíochta d’Úcránaigh san Eiscir agus sna ceantair mórthimpeall. Comhordaíonn CURVE roinnt tacaíochtaí ar nós éadaí agus earraí riachtanacha, abhcóideacht maidir le hiompar scoile, lóistín agus nascann siad Pobal na hÚcráine le seirbhísí riachtanacha go háitiúil agus ar fud an chontae. Tá roinnt clubanna bunaithe freisin ag CURVE, ar nós Club Gairdín, agus Cór. Bhunaigh CURVE Seid Rothair chomh maith ó thabhartais áitiúla, déantar athchóiriú ar na rothair seo agus úsáideann an Pobal Úcránach iad chun cabhrú lena shláinte agus lena fholláine agus chun neamhspleáchas agus deis a thabhairt do chónaitheoirí na hEascrach teacht ar fhostaíocht.
Ba é Bothán na mBan Thuama buaiteoir an Ghradaim Spóirt, a thugann aitheantas d’iarrachtaí Grúpaí nó Scoileanna rannpháirtíocht sa spórt a mhéadú, go háirithe ó ghrúpaí a bhfuil rátaí ísle rannpháirtíochta acu. Tugann Bothán na mBan Thuama deiseanna dá bhaill páirt a ghlacadh i gcláir aclaíochta éagsúla ar nós Cuaillí Músclóra agus Boccia. Ghlac an grúpa páirt freisin i roinnt Cúrsaí Oiliúna Ceannairí ionas gur féidir leo a gcláir aclaíochta féin a reáchtáil ar bhealach inbhuanaithe agus buntáistí na haclaíochta a spreagadh ón taobh istigh den ghrúpa. Ghlac Bothán na mBan Thuama páirt i roinnt imeachtaí Aclaíochta i rith na bliana a thugann deis do bhaill bualadh le grúpaí eile agus páirt a ghlacadh i roinnt comórtais chairdiúla freisin!
Ba í Emma Laffey – “An Bhean Ghlúine” – Cnáimhseach – Bean Ghlúine – Bean Cabhartha buaiteoir an Ghradaim um Fhoilseacháin Oidhreachta, a thugann aitheantas do na hiarrachtaí atá déanta ag Grúpaí nó Scoileanna chun taighde a dhéanamh ar oidhreacht a gceantar agus an oidhreacht sin a thaifead. Díríonn taighde agus obair Emma aird ar an ról a bhí ag cnáimhseacha agus a dhéantar dearmad air go minic i sláinte agus cúram leanaí agus máithreacha. Cuireann an foilseachán cuid de na mná iontacha a bhíodh ina gcnáimhseacha ag tús an 20ú haois in aithne dúinn, nuair a tugadh ‘mná cabhartha’ orthu. ‘Goitse go gasta’! a tugadh ar bhean amháin, Anne Nic Giolla Chomáin as an Chreagán.
Ba é Cumann Forbartha Pobail na Mainistreach buaiteoir an Ghradaim Aitheantais na mBailte Slachtmhara, a thugann aitheantas do ghaiscí Grúpaí na mBailte Slachtmhara i gComórtas Náisiúnta na mBailte Slachtmhara agus d’éifeacht a gcuid oibre chun ár mbailte agus sráidbhailte a dhéanamh tarraingteach agus fáilteach le maireachtáil, le hobair agus le cuairt a thabhairt orthu. Tá na marcanna is airde á mbaint amach ag Cumann Forbartha Pobail na Mainistreach go seasta i gcúrsaí Slachta agus i Rialú Bruscair ag leibhéal an chontae agus roghnaíodh iad ar son an Deiscirt ag ‘Comórtas na mBailte is Feistiúla 2022,’ áit a raibh siad ar an ghearrliosta mar iomaitheoirí an Chomórtais Iomaíoch Uile-Oileáin seo.
Ag an deireadh, bronnadh na Gradaim um Mórtas Ceantar ar an 2 Ghrúpa a roghnaíodh ar son na Gaillimhe sa Chomórtas Náisiúnta um Mórtas Ceantair IPB 2023, ar comórtas Uile-Oileáin é chun aitheantas agus ceiliúradh a dhéanamh ar obair na bpobal chun mórtas cathartha a chruthú ina gceantar. Is é Grúpa Siúlóide Cois Abhann an Ghoirt an iontráil ainmnithe ag an Chontae sa Tionscnamh um Fholláine Pobail, le haghaidh forbairt leanúnach ar shiúlóid Abhainn an Ghoirt, siúlóid 3km álainn lúbtha a chuimsíonn bithéagsúlacht iontach, áit scíthe agus droichead coise nua. Is í Forbairt Tuaithe na gCreag iontráil ainmnithe an Chontae sa Ghníomhú ar son na hAeráide agus Bithéagsúlachta as a tiomantas do chur chun cinn na bithéagsúlachta, daoine a chur ar an eolas fúithi, aird a tharraingt uirthi agus ag cur léi laistigh den tsráidbhaile.
Díreach mar a cheap an lucht éisteachta go raibh na Gradaim thart, d’fhógair an Cathaoirleach, an Comhairleoir Michael Maher, go raibh gradam speisialta aige chun aitheantas a thabhairt do ghnóthachtáil Chumann Cuimhneacháin Aileen Cust. Ba í Aileen Isabel Cust an chéad bhean sa Bhreatain agus in Éirinna fuair cáilithe ina tréidlia. Rinneadh tréidlia di tráth nár measadh gur ról oiriúnach do bhean é. Thóg sé breis is 20 blain uirthi sular glacadh léi mar bhall de Choláiste Ríoga na Máinlianna Tréidliachta. Ba trí dhiongbháilteacht agus grá Aileen d’ainmhithe a glacadh léi faoi dheiridh mar bhall de Choláiste Ríoga na Máinlianna Tréidliachta.
Bhronn an Cathaoirleach Michael Maher gradam a coimisiúnaíodh go speisialta ar gach ceann de na Grúpaí, deartha agus lámhdhéanta ag Sean Mahony. Fuair gach Grúpa Deimhniú agus duais airgid de €500 le húsáid dá gcuid oibre. Dúirt an Cathaoirleach gur léirigh Buaiteoirí na nGradam le linn na hoíche an caighdeán iontach oibre pobail agus deonach atá ar siúl ar fud an Chontae.
Ba é Sean Mahony, ceardaí áitiúil as Creachmhaoil a dhear agus a rinne de láimh na Gradaim 2023. Tá gach gradam uathúil agus lámhdhéanta le bheith cosúil le Húicéar na Gaillimhe, le seolta déanta as feá spaltaithe agus an t-adhmad don bhonn dubhaithe ag baint úsáid as seanmhodh Seapánach chun adhmad a dhó. Is i nGaillimh a fuarthas agus a rinneadh na Gradaim, agus mar chomhartha aitheantais d’ábhair a athúsáid, rinneadh iad as crainn a leagadh le linn stoirmeacha.
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