Community Awards 2007
There was an appreciative audience in The Heritage Centre last evening for the annual Killcullen Community Awards.
Guest of honour was Mayor of Kildare Cllr Mary Glennon, and other public representatives included Sean O Fearghaill TD, Cllr Billy Hillis and Cllr Willie Callaghan.
Kilcullen Community Action chairman Kieron Forde, who opened the proceedings, took the opportunity to remind the public representatives that the town's relations with Kildare County Council needs some help. He noted Kilcullen had slipped placings in the National Tidy Towns Competition this year, and this in part was probably due to the absence of litter control.
"We're not blaming the Council for the litter itself -- that's caused by people in the town and visitors to it," he said. "And we have to try and do more at community level to reduce the amount of litter dropped. But there will be litter, and the Council must play a role in helping to clear it."
He also asked for greater communication between the Council and the community so that there could be some coherence between the activities of both. "On occasions local community improvements have been undone by the Council when carrying out work which we didn't know was coming," he noted.
His comments were acknowledged by Cllr Glennon on her own behalf and for her colleagues present.
The presentation of the local Tidy Towns Awards was the main business of the evening.
Laurel Wood estate got the award for the Best Green Area, which was described as 'an excellent estate overall' with great landscaping and green areas.
The Landscape Award went to the Main Street Floral Project, with particular appreciation for the work 'up the ladder' by Kieron Forde.
Nolans Victuallers won the Best Business Premises accolade, while Ruby Shoes on The Square won the Most Improved Business Premises.
The Best Commercial Premises for 2007 is the Link Business Park. Nichola Kennedy Optometrist was presented with the Best Window Display award.
The KARE McMahon Centre was judged to have the Best Community/Public Facilities, and the Best Apartments was won by The Courtyard behind Bardons.
Special Commendations were made to Lui na Greine for the effort in getting people together to form a residents association and producing their own newsletter. Another commendation was awarded to Castlemartin Lodge estate which showed 'even further obvious improvement' over last year. Individuals who were given Special Commendations were Eamon McDonnell of St Brigid's Avenue for his work on maintaining the estate, and Peter Mooney from Laurel Wood who has been much to the fore in bringing people together, especially the 'old' and 'new' Kilcullen people.
The special Community Awards for this year were presented by Mayor Mary Glennon.
Jim Kiely received one for his work in the community through the Lions, First Responders, and Kilcullen GAA epecially for the running of the regular discos in the club and providing a badly needed outlet for teenagers in the community.
Alfie Haslam was given an award for his outstanding work in looking after two graveyards in Gormanstown and keeping them in excellent condition over several years.
An award was made to Kilcullen Soccer Club for its service to the community over the last 40 years, now looking after 16 teams and providing a sporting outlet for 180 young people and 36 adults.
Brian Byrne was presented with an award for providing a platform for communication between Kilcullen people at home and abroad with the Kilcullen Diary website. (Yes, dear readers, they sandbagged your editor last night! Never knew a thing about it. But I'm very grateful and humbled.)
A slide show of the presentations can be accessed here.
Brian Byrne.
