PRIDE OF PLACE ACCOLADES FOR KNOCKATALLON AND COOTEHILL

The village of Knockatallon in Co Monaghan and the town of Cootehill in Co Cavan were honoured at the prestigious Pride of Place community awards held on Saturday evening in Dublin. Knockatallon took top spot in the 0-300 population category, which the judges declaring: “This is a very small community doing great things.

The judges were immediately impressed with the pride, participation and innovation that were in evidence on the occasion of their visit. The jewel in their crown is undoubtedly the community owned hotel.” Cootehill won in the 300-1,000 population category, with the judge giving special mention to the ongoing work of the Town Team and the collaboration between Cavan Co Council and the local community on a number of initiatives, such as improving the playground and street crossings.

The facilities at the new Holy Family School building were also praised. The awards were hosted by RTE’s Marty Whelan and took place in in front of 400 community volunteers from across the island at the Clayton Hotel, Burlington Road. Sponsored by IPB Insurance, the Pride of Place competition was initiated 20 years ago though a Co-operation Ireland programme to acknowledge the…