This article is from page 80 of the 2008-07-15 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 80 JPG
JUDGES were in Shannon on Satur- day running the rule over the Gleann an Oir estate for this year’s Pride of Place awards. The estate, which is hoping for success when the na- tional finals come around in October, has made great strides over the last months and years.
A relatively new housing develop- ment, Gleann an Oir is home to some 200 residents. Taking part in the Pride of Place awards has improved the estate both physically and in terms of community spirit.
“We have about 40 houses in the estate including families, people
renting out houses and a lot of peo- ple from different counties,’ said Michelle Hayes, Gleann an Oir Resi- dents Association.
“We are located just across the road from the Wolfe Tones GAA club, where a number of presentations took place on Saturday morning before the judges took a walk around the estate. The estate was build in 2001 and this is the first time we have taken part in the competition.”
Taking part in this year’s Pride of Place competition has improved the physical look of the estate, but more importantly it has also improved the community spirit with all sections of the population working together.
“During National Tree Week, Clare County Council donated some trees to the estate which we all got together and planted. We also got a new stone for the estate with the name carved into it, which is really nice now,” continued Michelle.
‘This has been really great for get- ting the community spirit going in the area. We have a summer party at the end of the summer with a bar- becue and a bouncy castle for all the kids. It’s great for getting people together and allowing them to meet their neighbours.
“People are working on the estate during the day so it is harder now for people to meet their neighbours and
settle in.
‘Since we set up the residents asso- ciation we have had more and more people coming to the meetings which are really starting to take off. At Christmas time then we have Santa come to the estate so it is a full year of activities.”
The finals of the Pride of Place will take place in Waterford in Novem- ber. The winner’s top prize includes €2,000 and a commemorative glass plaque.