Pride of Place Awards 2009
Press Release: 23rd November 2009
The Croagh Patrick Heritage Trail celebrates an award in the Heritage Category of the
Prestigious 2009 Pride of Place Awards
Tóchar Valley Rural Community Network with its Flagship project The Croagh Patrick Heritage Trail received national recognition on Saturday night when they won the runners up award in the Heritage Category at the Co Operation Ireland Pride of Place awards in Newcastle, County Down. Brendan Sammon, Chairman and Maureen Lally, Manager, collected the trophy together with a cheque for €500 on behalf of the network. This is an all-Ireland competition which was first piloted in 2003 by Co-operation Ireland.
The Awards Ceremony which was held in Slieve Donard Hotel, Newcastle, Co. Down on Saturday 21st November 2009 and was attended by over 20 members of the Network who travelled to the North of Ireland to represent the Network of 18 Communities.
“It is a fantastic night for the Tóchar Valley Rural Community Network and the Croagh Patrick Heritage Trail. We are immensely proud to have gained this national recognition for the Trail” said Brendan Sammon, Chairman. “It is a credit to all the hard work that the communities put into creating and negotiating a trail that gives walkers the opportunity to enjoy the wonderful heritage of the Trail in this part of County of Mayo.” Maureen Lally, Manager agreed and said “It is a wonderful achievement for the Tóchar Valley Rural Community Network to receive this award after many years of hard work and I would like to thank so much all the organisations and people that worked with us to make it happen.”
This new trail (distance: 61km) is one of the many projects that the Tóchar Valley Rural Community Network (TVRCN) is committed to. The trail was created and negotiated with the help of all the communities and the Landowners in the (TVRCN). It is an accredited National Way Marked Way, starting at Balla (N60) to Murrisk (Croagh Patrick). It is at the heart of rural Mayo and includes outstanding heritage sites and many features of great natural beauty. It crosses the foothills of Croagh Patrick but does not include the ascent to the summit.
The trail was launched by Minister Éamon O’Cuiv on 6th March 2009. Since then the TVRCN have created a working Partnership with a number of key state agencies to develop further the Croagh Patrick Heritage Trail (CPHT) and the greater Tourism Product of the Tóchar Valley Rural Community Network area. The CPHT three day walking Festival for 2010 is scheduled to take place on the weekend after St Patrick Day, the 19th to the 21st of March
Editors note The Tóchar Valley Rural Community Network was established in1999. It is a voluntary autonomous grass roots rural Community Network, committed to the empowerment of rural people in the development of sustainable rural communities. It is made up of 18 Communities – Aughagower, Ballyglass, Ballyheane, Ballyvary, Ballintubber, Balla, Belcarra, Brackloon, Carnacon, Clogher, Hollymount, Islandeady, Killawalla, Manulla, Mayo Abbey, Murrisk, Partry, and Tourmakeady.
For more information please contact:
Brendan Sammon – Chairman on 085 1742219
Maureen Lally – Manager on 087 2250705
Philomena Brown – Secretary on 087 9626075
Tóchar Valley Rural Community Network, Resource Centre, Mayo Abbey, Claremorris, Co Mayo. Tel 094 9366709 Fax 094 9365987 Email info@croaghpatrickheritagetrail.com www.croaghpatrickheritagetrail.com