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You are > Home > Judges to rate Rathgormack’s ‘Pride of Place’
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Thursday, July 30, 2009
Judges to rate Rathgormack’s ‘Pride of Place’
WATERFORD County Council has nominated the lovely village of Rathgormack as its sole entrant into this year’s Pride of Place competition.
The small village situated in north Waterford, in the foothills of the Comeragh Mountains, will play host to the contest’s judges today (Tuesday) in the Hiking Centre, which is the showcase project of the village’s bid for recognition.
The voluntary group, Rathgormack North Waterford Community Development Ltd, has taken the natural assets of this beautiful landscape and used them to develop a strong vibrant local community.
The Hiking Centre, incorporating a hiking hostel, has become a model for other villages and has acted as a catalyst for a range of social, cultural and economic activities that sustain the local community and introduce visitors worldwide, to this lovely and challenging mountain terrain in County Waterford.
In collaboration with statutory agencies, the local development company and community volunteers, the centre, now in its eighth year, hosts a wide range of community activities from toddler time to old fashioned funeral hospitality.
It stages the Sean Kelly cycling tour of Waterford, facilitates mountain rescue training and has developed a local hiking club.
The highlight of the year is the annual barbecue and the set dancing festival, “Dance Neath the Comeraghs” where locals and visitors alike dance the newly revived Rathgormack Set.
Pride of Place is an all island competition which was first piloted in the summer of 2003.
The concept behind the competition is very simple, to recognise and celebrate the vital contributions that community groups make to society.
Waterford has enjoyed considerable success in the competition previously, with category winners Ballyduff Community Council and the DFBA Community, while Waterford County Council has previously won the Best Local Authority Award.
In recognition of past performance, Waterford County Council was chosen to host the awards ceremony last year.
The function, with over 500 guests, was held in Cappoquin Community Centre in November with guest of honour, President Mary McAleese announcing the winners.
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