Waterford City & County Council’s Arts Office is pleased to announce that it is currently accepting entries for the Molly Keane Creative Writing Award 2018.
The late writer lived, until her death in 1996, in Ardmore, Co. Waterford. Her first ten novels and four plays were published under the pseudonym M.J. Farrell. In 1981 ‘Good Behaviour’ became a publishing sensation for which she was short listed for the prestigious Booker Prize.
Annually since 1998, to celebrate this rich literary life, the Waterford Arts Office, by kind permission of the Keane family has invited entries for a previously unpublished short story to a maximum of 2000 words. There is no entry fee, no age limit and no restriction on the subject matter. A prize of €500 will be awarded to the winner at a special ceremony during the IMMRAMA Literary Festival in Lismore, Co. Waterford in June 2018.
The closing date for receipt of entries is Thursday 15th March 2018 at 12 noon.
Full details and an entry form can be found below or by contacting the Arts Office on 058-41416.
Portlaw takes runners up spot in category three, Population Category 1000 – 2000
Co-operation Ireland/Irish Public Bodies Pride of Place Awards Ceremony 2017 Representatives from Portlaw, Co. Waterford, receive their award. Included are Dr Christopher Moran, Chairman Co-operation Ireland; Tom Dowling, Chairperson, Pride of Place, Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, Cllr Gerry McMonagle and ; Michael Garvey, CEO IPB Insurance. Photo Lorcan Doherty
The winners of the IPB Pride of Place Awards in association with Co-operation Ireland were announced last night at a gala awards ceremony in Letterkenny. The awards acknowledge the achievements and the invaluable work undertaken by volunteers and those involved in local community development.
The Portlaw Task Force, Co Waterford took the runner up award in Category three, which is for villages with a population of between 1000 and 2000 people.
During the ceremony 49 awards were announced in the main competition, the cities competition and special awards, ranging from groups supporting small rural communities to those involved in large inner city housing estates. Donegal County Council hosted the evening and celebrated Irish musicians Donal Lunney and Paddy Glackin entertained the audience before the winners were announced. RTE presenter Aengus MacGrianna was MC for the ceremony, which was attended by over 800 people.
Sponsored by IPB, the Pride of Place competition was initiated 15 years ago through 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.
The winners were presented with their awards by Minister Joe McHugh TD, Government Chief Whip & Minister of State for Gaeilge, An Ghaeltacht and the Islands, Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, Cllr Gerry McMonagle, Dr Christopher Moran, Chairman Co-operation Ireland, Michael McGreal, Vice Chair IPB Insurance and Tom Dowling, Chairperson, Pride of Place Committee.
Tom Dowling, Chairperson of IPB Pride of Place Competition said
“This unique competition is about showing respect and inclusion for every sector in our communities, young, old, rich or poor and creating communities to which the people are proud to say they belong”. He added that he was delighted that this year’s gala ceremony was held in Donegal.
Peter Sheridan, Chief Executive of Co-operation Ireland said
“The Pride of Place Awards ceremony is an ideal opportunity for organisations to come together and learn from each other. This will be important as we prepare for the inevitable changes Brexit will bring to the island of Ireland. This evening, we have witnessed some of the finest examples of people working together to create a positive future and we all must continue to build on this so Irish society as a whole can benefit. I congratulate everyone who was nominated but I extend special congratulations to those groups who were triumphant this evening”.
Michael Garvey, Chief Executive Officer of title sponsor IPB Insurance, reaffirmed his company’s support for the competition, he said
“The IPB Pride of Place awards is an ideal platform to recognise the positive social impacts being made in communities across the island of Ireland. I would like to take this opportunity to commend all the communities involved for their spirit of collaboration and camaraderie in making it to the finals. It is also important to recognise the role of local authorities across the island of Ireland who work closely with their communities to support inspiring voluntary initiatives. These awards serve as one of the important ways that we can recognise those involved in working to make a difference in society”.
Cathaoirleach Cllr. Gerry McMonagle said “I am delighted that Donegal has been chosen to host of this prestigious awards ceremony and that we welcomed over 800 people to celebrate and recognise the wonderful contribution that community groups make to life in their own local areas all across the island of Ireland. This has been a great opportunity to showcase what Donegal has to offer and I hope all our visitors have had a wonderful experience and that they bring home with them fond memories of their trip to Donegal”.
Dungarvan’s Clodagh Beresford Dunne has won the Irish Poem of the Year for her work “Seven Sugar Cubes” which appeared in the The Irish Times last April.
Clodagh has been the recipient of a number of literature awards and bursaries from Waterford City and County Council Arts Office and ArtLinks. The Arts Office would like to thank everyone who responded to their call to vote for Clodagh’s poem. Comhghairdeas Clodagh, a worthy winner.
(Left to right) Aidan O’Reilly, Principal Officer, Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, Paul Daly, Senior Engineer, Waterford Council, Paul Keeley, Director of Business Development at Fáilte Ireland, Cllr. Joe Conway, Waterford (Deputy Mayor), Ian Talbot, Chief Executive Chambers Ireland.
Waterford City and County Council fights off stiff competition to win the “Supporting Tourism Category” for the Waterford Greenway,
at Chambers Ireland, Excellence in Local Government Awards 2017
Waterford City and County Council has deservedly won first prize at the Chambers Ireland Excellence in Local Government awards in the ‘Supporting Tourism’ Category for the Waterford Greenway project. The award was presented to Cllr Joe Conway, Deputy Mayor of the City and County of Waterford at an event held in Dublin on Thursday 23rd November 2017.
The award was presented in recognition of the development of the 46km off-road shared use Greenway along an old railway line between Waterford City and Dungarvan, which was developed by Waterford City and County Council with the assistance of state funding. Waterford Greenway is an important national tourism asset with the potential to be one of the key signature experiences in Ireland’s Ancient East encouraging visitors to engage with the wider tourism experience in Waterford in a meaningful and authentic way.
Greenways have a particularly strong appeal to visitors, both domestic and overseas. There is a rise in the popularity of walking and cycling holidays, while emerging consumer trends are towards good health, self-improvement and wellbeing.
Cllr Joe Conway said “Waterford Greenway is expected to provide a positive effect on increasing business in line with that experienced in similar projects within Ireland, such as the Great Western Greenway where 46.7% of local businesses have reported an increase in turnover. We are very fortunate and appreciative of this opportunity in Waterford”.
The Retail Excellence Awards 2017 will identify and celebrate those retailers who are delivering exceptional service and standards for their customers.
There are 30 stores nationwide shortlisted in the “Store of the Year” category. Waterford have 4 entrants in this 30.
House of Waterford Crystal, The Mall, Waterford City
Mulligan’s Pharmacy, Cedar House, Dunmore Road, Waterford
Tony Roche Menswear, Michael Street, Waterford City
2016 marked the inaugural Ireland’s Friendliest Place Award which truly boosted spirit and pride across many places nationwide. Waterford City is nominated this year in the “Ireland’s Friendliest Place” category.
It was announced at the Bord Gais Energy Theatre, last Thursday, Nov 2nd, at the unveiling of the 2017 shortlists, that Dungarvan poet, Clodagh Beresford Dunne, features on a list of four poets nominated for the Listowel Writers’ Week “Irish Poem of the Year” category in The Bord Gais Energy Irish Book Awards.
Now in its twelfth year, the Irish Book Awards were founded to celebrate and promote Irish writing, to the widest range of readers possible.
Each year it brings together a huge community passionate about books and writing – readers, authors, bookseller, publishers and librarians – to recognise and celebrate the very best of Irish writing talent.
The public are invited to vote for their favourite poem, before midnight on the 21st November, and the winner will be announced at a televised awards ceremony, in Dublin, on November 28th.
Clodagh Beresford Dunne, whose nominated poem “Seven Sugar Cubes” appeared in the The Irish Times last April, has been the recipient of a number of literature awards and bursaries from the Waterford City and County Arts Office and Art Links, and in 2016 she received the Arts Council of Ireland Emerging-Writer Award. Her poems have appeared in Irish and international print and online journals and she has given readings and interviews about her poetry in several universities in the USA.
She lives in Dungarvan with her husband and four children, and is currently assembling her first full collection for publication.
The Housing Department of Waterford City & County Council has won an award in the ‘Irish Council for Social National Housing’ awards in the category for most creative design for our latest Housing scheme at Ormonde Square, Dungarvan on the site of the former Ormond Cinema.
Great credit is due to Derek Lyons Chief Technician for project managing the scheme and bringing it to completion. The scheme provides 15 new state of the art social housing units close to the centre of Dungarvan for mixed use including three fully disability adapted units.
Retail Excellence, the largest retail industry representative organization in Ireland, has today announced the Top 30 stores in Ireland.
The list comprises retailers from around the country in every sector within the Irish Retail Industry.
The Store of the Year competition is the central part of the Retail Excellence Annual Awards, which were established in 1997 to promote best practice and encourage the highest standards in the Irish Retail Industry. They are now the largest and most prestigious of their kind in Ireland.
The Top 30 stores will now be rigorously tested with a financial audit and an onsite visit from Retail Excellence and Echochamber, our UK Retail Excellence Consultant partners. The sectoral category winners, Top 5 Stores and the National Store of the Year will be announced at a black-tie Awards banquet on Saturday, November 11th in the Malton Hotel, Killarney, County Kerry.
At an awards ceremony held at Crosshaven Yacht Club on May 22nd, County Waterford’s beaches were awarded with 4 Blue Flag awards and 7 Green Coast awards for 2017.
These awards are only made to bathing areas with excellent water quality and beach management. Clonea Beach, Dunmore East Main Strand, Dunmore Councillor’s Strand and Tramore were confirmed Blue Flag status and Green Coast awards were achieved for beaches at Guillamene, Newtown Cove, Ballyquin, Curragh, Goat Island, Annestown and Kilfarassy.
Classifications were based on tests carried out on these beaches over the period 2012 – 2016, with a classification of ‘excellent’ being achieved.
Bonmahon and Ardmore are also designated bathing areas and are candidate Blue Flag Beaches with Bonmahon being classified as sufficient and Ardmore as change. A new wastewater treatment system was commissioned for Ardmore Village in 2015 which should ensure excellent bathing water quality for the coming season and hopefully the Blue Flag will be awarded soon!
County Waterford is renowned for its 100 km long stunning coastline. For those wishing to walk, jog, swim, explore rock-pools, surf, scuba dive, fish, kite surf, observe wildlife or just relax, there is a place for you! As part of its efforts to enhance this natural tourism attraction and provide amenities to the public and ensure good water quality, Waterford City & County Council is committed to ongoing management and stringent monitoring of the 30 bathing water areas dotted along the coast.
The major bathing areas are tested at least every 2 weeks, the medium every 4 weeks and the small at least once during the season, which runs from June 1st to September 15th. These results will be published on the EPA and Council websites and local notice board adjacent to the beach.
The Council’s aim is to help all visitors to the beaches and coastal areas enjoy themselves safely amid the stunning natural beauty of the Waterford coastline. Waterford City & County Council is also considering the development of coastal Blueways along the Waterford coast. Blueways are coastal routes, where water based activities such as snorkelling and kayaking can be enjoyed.
Members of the public and interest groups are encouraged to provide suggestions on beach and coastal management in the county. Anyone interested should send their suggestions by email to bathing@waterfordcouncil.ie
Further information on Waterford bathing waters can be found on the Council’s website www.waterfordcouncil.ie, on the EPA bathing water website http://splash.epa.ie and on local beach notice-boards.
Let’s get out there and enjoy our beautiful coast!
Good news today: Carrickphierish Library has been shortlisted in the “Best Library Service” category of the Chambers Ireland’s Excellence in Local Government Awards. The awards ceremony will be held in November.
Congratulations to all staff involved in setting up, opening and running the library.
Waterford City and County Council has also been shortlisted for the Waterford Greenway in the “Supporting Tourism” category.
The Excellence in Local Government Awards showcase best practice in local government and recognise the skills, hard work, innovation and enthusiasm within local government that can often go unrecognised.
Purple Flag is a Gold Standard accreditation recognising Waterford for being a safe, welcoming and friendly destination to socialise, live and work in.
Waterford was awarded the prestigious Purple Flag in February 2015 and it is international recognition of Waterford’s successful, well-managed city centre. It can be seen as the equivalent of the Blue Flag awarded to good beaches.
The Purple Flag award recognises excellence in the management of the evening and night-time economy and signifies the diverse range of offering available in Waterford after 5pm. Within Waterford’s compact and vibrant Purple Flag Zone you’ll find a diverse range of family entertainment, arts and culture venues, shopping, dining, pubs and nightclubs, accommodation and transport – something for everyone.
Waterford’s Purple Flag Zone stretches from Rice Bridge along the scenic River Suir Boardwalk to Reginald’s Tower (Ireland’s oldest civic urban structure). The zone includes the award-winning Viking Triangle and Waterford’s cultural and heritage quarter. The Zone continues along The Mall to John St and The Apple Market area; it incorporates Railway Square, the pedestrianised areas of Michael Street and John Roberts Square where it links in with Ballybricken. Via Georges Street, it includes O’Connell Street and links back out to The Quay at Hanover Street.
Over €250,000 in Architectural Heritage funding for Waterford City and County has been announced by the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Heather Humphries TD.
The funding is being allocated to 33 projects throughout the City and Council through the Built Heritage Investment Scheme and Structures at Risk Fund.
The schemes, which are being administered by Local Authorities, seek to encourage the conservation, regeneration and reuse of heritage properties as well as the employment of skilled and experienced conservation craft and tradespersons.
Any queries in relation the schemes should be directed to the Conservation Officer, Waterford City and County Council. The relevant contact details are below:
Over €50,000 in bursaries has been awarded to artists by the Artlinks partnership of local authorities Arts Offices in Carlow, Kilkenny, Waterford and Wexford.
This initiative is supported by the Arts Council/An Chomhairle Ealaíon to provide professional development opportunities and supports for established and emerging artists who are resident in these four counties in the South East region.
The recipients of bursaries from the Arts Office, Waterford City & County Council are: Eadaoin Breathnach, City/Drama, Rayleen Clancy, An Rinn/Visual Arts, Ciara Gormley, Modeligo/Visual Arts, James Phelan, Ballymacarbery/Film, Sandra Kelly,City/Visual Arts, Blawnin Clancy, Dungavan/Visual Arts, Sarah Lincoln, Ardmore/Visual Arts, Róisín Power Hackett, Kill/Literature and James Merrigan, City /Visual Arts.
Artists who are resident within the four partner Local Authorities can register for membership free of charge on www.artlinks.ie
The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Ms. Mary Mitchell O’ Connor T.D.,
announced details for the inaugural“Local Enterprise Showcase Awards” and that the
winners will be revealed at Showcase, which attracts more than 5,000 buyers from around
the world every year.
The four-day event runs from January 22nd to 25th is organised by the Design & Crafts Council of Ireland and promoted internationally by Enterprise Ireland.
Waterford City & County Council’s Arts Office is pleased to announce that it is currently accepting entries for the Molly Keane Creative Writing Award 2018.
