Butterfly Garden honoured at Pride of Place awards

There was strong Mayo representation at the Pride of Place Awards, held in the Armagh City Hotel last month.

The awards, hosted by Armagh, Banbridge, and Craigavon Borough Council and which are in their 21st year, saw almost 100 community initiatives throughout the island of Ireland represented on the night, with over 500 people in attendance.

Three Mayo projects were nominated for awards, namely the Swinford Butterfly Garden, the Language Café in Ballyhaunis and Aghamore Integrated Community Campus.

The Swinford Butterfly Garden received a special award for their achievements with their project, which is a garden dedicated to bereaved parents.

Cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council, Cllr Michael Loftus described the work of the Swinford Butterfly Garden committee as “outstanding”.

The Pride of Place awards recognise the efforts of people in making their local neighbourhoods better places to live, work and socialise. The awards honour the remarkable contributions of individuals and groups dedicated to improving their local neighbourhoods, creating better places to live, work, and socialise.

The competition was initiated two decades ago though a Co-operation Ireland programme to acknowledge the invaluable work undertaken by volunteers and those involved in local community development. It has grown into the largest competition recognising community development achievements on the island of Ireland.

Mayo County Council congratulated and thanked the groups involved in Pride of Place 2023 for their work in preparing for the competition, their continued efforts and wished them every success in the future.