Last weekend Cathaoirleach of Westmeath County Council, Peter Burke, presented this year’s Cathaoirleach’s Awards in Belvedere House.
Westmeath County Council believe that in the current economic climate, more than ever, community initiatives require support and the award scheme is a means of publicly thanking those who give their time and efforts to their community. The members of Westmeath County Council initiated this scheme in order to acknowledge voluntary community groups and their members who have given special service in their community.
The Cathaoirleach’s Awards allows Westmeath County Council to publicly and formally show their appreciation to local groups for their contribution to society and demonstrates that their efforts have not gone unnoticed.
Guest speaker Dessie Dolan, known for his GAA football prowess, addressed the crowd representing a host of community and voluntary groups from around the county who applied for the different grants and awards under the Community Action Scheme.
A number of community groups also competed for the coveted 2014 Project of the Year award and the European Year of Citizens award 2014. Winners under these categories were the Milltownpass Community Group, €7,000; Mount Temple Holy Trinity Graveyard Committee, €3,000; and the Gateway Project, €2,500.
Special awards were also presented to the Battery Heights Community, Athlone and Rathowen Community Development who won the Westmeath Pride of Place awards and who will represent the county in the National All Island Pride of Place 2014 competition, where Westmeath have enjoyed great successes over the past three years.
