PRIDE OF PLACE - EVENT BACKGROUND
Pride of Place is an all-island competition which is directed towards recognising efforts by local communities to create civic pride in their area.
The competition focus is on people coming together to shape, change and enjoy all that is good about their area. The competition is hosted by Co-operation Ireland under its Local Authority Programme.
E.E.C. development plans of the 1960s, for all practical purposes, excluded Ballyhaunis. Junior Chamber, a young vibrant organisation in the town at the time took the lead in successfully challenging these policies. Arising from that Ballyhaunis was awarded the Meitheal Award by Mayomen’s Association.
Forty two years later - Ballyhaunis is again at a crossroads. There was a sense that the town was being bypassed again. This year 2008, Ballyhaunis was invited by Mayo County Council to take part in the National 32 counties Pride of Place competition. This resulted in an extraordinary coming together of the voluntary organisations in the town culminating in a visual presentation in the Friary on 24th July. Bringing it all together under the umbrella of Pride of Place made us realize the unique strength of our community and the level of commitment and volunteerism.
We feel a record of that day should be made available. It is a basis for hope and encouragement. The real strength is in our own resources. Where do we go from here? The priorities and hopes of the community were spelt out in the Community Futures booklet - the result of widespread consultation. This is still very much alive and being pursued at the highest level, even if progress is slow.
We believe that the main focus must now be on the development of a state of the art Community Centre . We need this focal point . It will take a big community effort but we now know, if we really have pride in our place it will come to fruition.