Pride of Place

ABOVE: Cavan Tidy Towns are awarded the Climate Action & Biodiversity Award. Back (from left): Chief Executive IPB Ian Jeffers; Dublin Mayor Daryl Barron; Pride of Place’s Tom Dowling; front, Cavan County Council Director of Service Brendan Jennings; Cavan Tidy Towns secretary Paul Lynch; Rachel Lynch; Cathaoirleach of Cavan County Council, Cllr Carmel Brady, and Cavan’s Pride of Place Liaison Officer Sinead Tormey.LEFT: Ballinode Community Centre receive their Pride of Place award. From left: Cllr Pat Treanor (SF), Nicola McCrudden Ballinode, Chief Executive Robert Burns, Leona Keenan Pride of Place Liaison Officer, Elaine Coyle Ballinode, Cathaoirleach Cllr. Aidan Campbell (FG), Director of Services Nicola Payne and Aidan Sherlock Ballinode.

Success at Pride of Place awards

Image 1 of 2
ABOVE: Cavan Tidy Towns are awarded the Climate Action & Biodiversity Award. Back (from left): Chief Executive IPB Ian Jeffers; Dublin Mayor Daryl Barron; Pride of Place’s Tom Dowling; front, Cavan County Council Director of Service Brendan Jennings; Cavan Tidy Towns secretary Paul Lynch; Rachel Lynch; Cathaoirleach of Cavan County Council, Cllr Carmel Brady, and Cavan’s Pride of Place Liaison Officer Sinead Tormey. LEFT: Ballinode Community Centre receive their Pride of Place award. From left: Cllr Pat Treanor (SF), Nicola McCrudden Ballinode, Chief Executive Robert Burns, Leona Keenan Pride of Place Liaison Officer, Elaine Coyle Ballinode, Cathaoirleach Cllr. Aidan Campbell (FG), Director of Services Nicola Payne and Aidan Sherlock Ballinode.

Image 2 of 2
Ballinode Community Centre receive their Pride of Place award. From left: Cllr Pat Treanor (SF), Nicola McCrudden Ballinode, Chief Executive Robert Burns, Leona Keenan Pride of Place Liaison Officer, Elaine Coyle Ballinode, Cathaoirleach Cllr. Aidan Campbell (FG), Director of Services Nicola Payne and Aidan Sherlock Ballinode.

Pride of Place

Published: Fri 30 Oct 2026, 4:13 PM

Ballinode Community Centre has been named the winner of the Pride of Place 2026 Award in the 300-1,000 Population Category; while the Climate Action & Biodiversity Award on the night went to Cavan Tidy Towns.

For Ballinode, the judges recognised the strong sense of community pride evident there, highlighting the central role the community centre plays in bringing people together, supporting local activities and providing opportunities for people of all ages to participate in community life. The centre has become a focal point for social, recreational, educational and cultural activities and continues to evolve to meet the needs of the community.

Chairperson of Ballinode Community Centre, Elaine Coyle said the award “belongs to the entire Ballinode community”.

“It is recognition of the commitment, energy and community spirit shown by all our volunteers past and present. We are incredibly proud of this award and grateful to everyone who contributed their time to prepare for the Pride of Place judges visit,” she said.

Monaghan County Council congratulated Ballinode Community Centre on this significant achievement.

Meanwhile the Cavan group were overwhelmed when the MC on the night mentioned a community garden and orchard, a historic graveyard restoration among other projects before announcing them as the Climate Action & Biodiversity Award winners.

“We were absolutely delighted to win this award,” Paul Lynch said, describing it as a “community award” and a “symbol” of the “work and commitment” of volunteers, the committee, the local community and Cavan County Council.

“It’s not just about litter picking anymore. It’s about heritage, biodiversity, multiculturalism, it’s about getting everyone involved and making everyone welcome. I think we’ve been doing that pretty well,” Paul told the Celt.