The Gracedieu Combined Residents Association was the overall winner in its category at the 2021 Pride of Place Awards, held recently in Killarney.
The group won in the the Cities Section - Urban Neighbourhoods with population of over 3000.
Pride of Place is an all-island competition that recognises improvements made by local communities to create civic pride in their area.
In total there were three Waterford entries in various categories; the Gracedieu Combined Residents Association, The Deise Women’s Shed, and Rathgormack North Waterford Community Development.
The Déise Women’s Shed were runners-up in the Community Wellbeing Initiative Category, having secured a permanent site for the new Women’s Shed in Dungarvan.
Community work by Gracedieu Combined Residents Association
The judges were particularly impressed by a very strong voice of advocacy and a spirit of inclusivity in the Gracedieu Combined Residents Association. The group consists of representatives from many of the housing estates in the suburb, advocating for the community needs.
The focal community point is the new library and community rooms, which are used for meetings and community events such as the Get to Know Your Neighbour Festival, with the sports hall facilitating The Come and Try Sports and Zumba dancing sessions.
Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, the group continued working on plans to develop a local community market and allotments, with plans well advanced for the establishment of a new juvenile GAA and soccer club. The group also engaged with Waterford City and County Council’s Keep Well Campaign and with the Community Garda.
More here on the latest for Waterford.
