Skibbereen was honoured at the all-Ireland Pride of Place community awards at the end of November. The awards, hosted by Marty Morrissey, took place online due to the Covid pandemic with 6,000 people logging in from across Ireland to see community groups pick up gongs.
Skibbereen took top spot in the ‘Area With a Population Less between 2,000 and 5,000’. Judges said that Skibbereen was “a progressive town, revitalised and reimagined, with great plans for the future, with the Chamber of Commerce to the fore in much of the progress that has taken place.
“Implementation of a flood relief scheme, completion of a purpose built art centre and the managing of the local tourist office convinced the judges of serious vision.”
“We are thrilled to have won this National Award on behalf of Skibbereen and District,” says Kate Callanan, business administrator for Skibbereen and District Chamber of Commerce. “Whilst the Chamber of Commerce was the anchor for this submission, we could not have done it without the inclusion of many of the various community groups that Skibbereen is so proud of. We would like to especially thank Cllr. Paul Hayes for his nomination and Cork County Council for all their support.”
Meanwhile Rita O’Connell, on behalf of the Chamber board, thanked Kate for all her hard work in the preparation and submission of the Skibbereen application.
