Councillor calls for support for Laois village in Pride of Place
Clough has been put forward for recognition in the annual Pride of Place competition.
THE village of Clough has been put forward for recognition in the annual Pride of Place competition.
The upcoming competition, run in association with Co-Operation Ireland, is an all-island contest dedicated to acknowledging the work done by communities north and south and ahead of this year’s adjudication, Cllr John King urged Laois Co Council to support the Clough community’s bid to win the award Clough is a small town in the Borris-in Ossory municipal district with a population of under 300 and was recently put forward by the council for the Pride of Place competition in the category of communities under 300 people.
In recognition of that honour, Fine Gael councillor King urged the council to give support in carrying out some minor works in Clough ahead of the awards ceremony, which will take place in July. In response, the area office said they would provide assistance to the Clough community for the event. Discussing the nomination with the council, Cllr King said: "First of all, I want to pay tribute to Laois Co Council for nominating Clough in the 300-population category. I know there is going to be a second group appointed, but I have to say this. It's a great honour for Clough. Great community spirit out there. They have new GAA grounds and they also have plans for a new community hall and playground."
Cllr King highlighted that he had done a lot of work with the people of Clough and said that there are only a few little jobs that needed to be done and that neither he nor the group would mind if the bulk of the money was diverted from his discretionary funding. Cllr King additionally mentioned how the area is up and coming, with many young people returning to live there and the population increasing.
And while Cllr King said winning is always important, he believes that the nomination is encouragement for all the individual villages across Laois, no matter how small, and especially the tidy towns and community groups that keep and make the area special.
Another councillor chimed in with support for the Clough community, saying: "I’d like to fully support the notice of motion. They're a fantastic community there and they're really a shining example to all communities and, hopefully, fingers crossed, they will do well.’’
