STONEYBATTER is celebrating after picking up one of the top accolades at this year’s Pride of Place awards ceremony in Belfast.
The awards are often called the ‘community Oscars’ and they’re a reward for the selfless efforts of locals who make their neighbourhoods better places to live, work and socialise.
Stoneybatter Heritage Village had put together a dedicated Pride of Place team determined to show the rest of Ireland what a great community they have.
And their hard work paid off when it was announced at the ceremony on November 26 that they won top place for urban neighbourhoods with a population of between 100 and 2,000.
Judges said they had a fantastic visit to Stoneybatter and noted that despite many challenges, the area had retained a wonderful sense of community and village life.
Presentations by the Dublin 7 Pride of Place team impressed the judges who were greatly impressed by the many positive aspects of life in the local community from a historical, heritage, cultural, business and social viewpoint.
Chairperson of Stoneybatter Pride of Place, Joe Costello, said the local team that travelled to Belfast for the ceremony was delighted with the award.
“It was an amazing achievement for Stoneybatter to win the top award at its first attempt,” he added.
“The judges applauded the work around the history and heritage of Stoneybatter, the presentation of the built environment, the efforts made to keep the area clean and attractive, the wonderfully kept parks, gardens and hanging baskets of flowers, the co-operative business community, the links with the new DIT campus and the extensive engagement with the community, young and old.
“But Stoneybatter Pride of Place are not going to rest on their laurels.
“We are now preparing for a Stoneybatter Summer Festival in 2017.”
North Inner City councillor, Niall Ring (Ind) congratulated the residents of Stoneybatter and said they had shown true Northside grit and determination by winning a top award,
“This is a great achievement and everyone involved should be very proud,” he added.
Meanwhile Santry Community Association took runner up position in the Age Friendly Community Initiative category while Dublin City Council received the Special Council Award for its work in supporting Pride of Place areas.