Baldoyle United claim top Fingal award

BALDOYLE United Football Club have been announced as the overall winners of the Fingal County Council Awards for Community Group of the Year.

The club won the Sport & Recreation category before claiming the top award at the presentation ceremony which took place at the Draiocht Arts Centre, Blanchardstown. There were prizes in eight categories up for grabs. 

The event, now in its 10th year, affords Fingal County Council the opportunity to recognise the vital work done by the community and voluntary sector in improving the quality of life for all in Fingal.

This year there were over 100 entries received and three groups were short-listed in each of the eight categories covering Sports, Community Development, Arts, Youth, Environment, Representative Organisations, Older people and Community Facilities.

Also honoured on the night were the three organisations who represented Fingal in the All-Ireland Pride of Place Finals held in Ennis in November. 

On the night, Deputy Mayor of Fingal Jack Chambers paid tribute to Ballyboughal Community Council, Tyrrelstown Youth Initiative and Blakestown Mountview Task Group, who were nominated by the council for the national competition.  

“It is one night in the year when the council can pay full tribute to all the unsung heroes of the community sector who work so hard, and for no pay, to make this county a better place to work and live in,” said Deputy Mayor of Fingal Jack Chambers.

Fingal County Council chief executive Paul Reid told the award recipients: “Tonight we have the opportunity to celebrate your work and to recognise the difference you make to the quality of life in your area. 

“The work you do makes this job a lot easier and together we can continue to ensure that Fingal is a great place to live.”

The other category winners were Ballyboughal Community Council (Representative Organisations), Blakestown Drive Community Group (Environment), Rush Senior Citizens (Older Persons), Donabate Portrane Community Centre (Community Facilities), The Pulsar Youth Café Committee (Youth), Blakestown Resource Centre Events Group (Community Development) and the Bleeding Pig Cultural Festival (Arts Culture & Heritage).