Ballyhaise estates sweep top honours at awards night

Two estates from Ballyhaise emerged as award winners at the Cavan County Council Estate Awards Competition 2010. The awards night was held in the Council Chamber on Monday night. The ceremony was officiated by Council chairman, Cllr Dessie Boylan; senior executive officer (housing), Michael Geelan and housing liaison officer, Marty Lynch. The awards ceremony presented prizes in two judging areas - 1. Cavan and Belturbet Electoral Areas and 2. Ballyjamesduff and Bailieborough Electoral Areas. In the Cavan and Belturbet judging area, Woodlands Estate, Ballyhaise, won first prize in the prestigious ‘Best Larger Local Authority Estate’ category. Paddy Walsh received the award on behalf of the estate from Council chairman, Dessie Boylan. A delighted Mr. Walsh said: “To win this award tonight is really wonderful. I put it down to the hard work which all of the neighbours put in. It was truly a community effort and everyone was involved.” Housing liaison officer, Marty Lynch commented that the judges had failed to find a single piece of litter at Woodlands on the day they had visited. “The residents of Woodlands put in a tremendous effort and the judges also praised the beautiful gardens,” he said. Bothar An Portaigh, also Ballyhaise, won the ‘Best Local Authority Smaller Estate’ category. Rose Fox and Ann Reilly received the award. Rose said: “I am really thrilled that our estate has received this award. We put up a new name plate for the street and also hanging baskets. Also there was a great effort put in to having the gardens looking well with flowers planted by neighbours.” In the Ballyjamesduff and Bailieborough Areas, the Best Estate Awards went to Drumnaveil, Cootehill and Glenview, Ballyjamesduff. Glenview also won the Best Estate Special Feature award for their ‘Flower Boat’. At the awards ceremony, Cllr. Dessie Boylan complimented the work of the estate groups around the county. “The work that you do, year in, year out, is important to your neighbourhood. It is important also to your town and to your county. I congratulate you for continuing to work to make our streets and estates a better place to live in.” Mr. Geelan said that interest in the Estate Awards competition is continuing to grow each year. “We have had the highest ever number of entries to the competition this year.” He also complimented the estate groups for producing photo displays of their work through out the year. The poster displays will be on view to members of the public this week in the entrance area of the Cavan Courthouse. • For more pictures, see next week’s paper.