Limerick City and County Council has selected the five groups that will represent Limerick in this year’s IPB Pride of Place Competition.
Limerick City and County Council has selected five Limerick groups to compete in this year’s IPB Pride of Place Competition.
They are:
- Ballyneety Men’s Shed
- The Crafty Angels
- Croom
- Doon
- Our Lady of Lourdes Community Centre
This is the 24th consecutive year of the competition, which has enjoyed tremendous success and continues to grow in terms of prestige and popularity.
The purpose of the competition is to acknowledge and celebrate the work that communities are doing all over the island of Ireland.
The competition is based on communities or groups demonstrating the pride they have in their place. It is also important they demonstrate real partnership with their local council and state agencies and show that all sectors of the community are included.
The 2026 winners will be announced at an Awards Ceremony to be held on Saturday, October 24th in The Convention Centre in Dublin City.
The All-Island competition is run in conjunction with Co-operation Ireland, local authorities North and South and is supported by IPB. It aims to recognise and celebrate the vital contributions that communities make to society along with generating awareness, respect and inclusion for every facet of society.
The Limerick groups have been entered in the following categories:
- Creative Community – The Crafty Angels Caherconlish
- Population 300 – 1,000 – Doon
- Age Friendly Communities - Ballyneety Men’s Shed
- Population 1,000-2,000 – Croom
- Community Youth Initiative - Our Lady of Lourdes Community Centre
Each group held a special festival day showcasing their work and its impact on the community for the visiting judging panel. The judging took place on the 13th, 14th and 15th of July 2026.
Further details on this year’s groups:
The Crafty Angels Caherconlish
The Crafty Angels came into existence when 4 ladies, whose sewing course had finished, decided to continue to meet regularly to sew and do other crafts.
Slowly but surely, the numbers grew and today between 25 and 30 ladies meet every Monday.
In March 2017 the Crafty Angels were nominated Limerick Person of the Year for their charity work, and they have continued to use their talents to benefit others. This work includes making clothes and book bags for an orphanage in Tanzania, making incubator covers for NICU in Limerick and making Freddy bags and therapy dolls for the Children’s Unit. Most recently they have been making knit and crochet hearts for the Bereavement Support Unit in UHL.
Apart from this outreach work, the group provides a valuable support network for the members who are mostly retired ladies, and all know the therapeutic value of a cup of tea and a biscuit.
Doon
Doon Village is a rural community in County Limerick, located near the border with County Tipperary in a scenic area of rolling farmland and hills. The village has a long history rooted in agriculture and local trade, with its development shaped by a strong sense of community and tradition.
Today, it remains a vibrant locality that values its heritage while supporting modern rural life. Current activities include a range of sporting and cultural initiatives, alongside community development projects such as the Kilmoylan nature walk, which aims to enhance local biodiversity and provide an accessible outdoor amenity.
Groups such as the Doon and District Men’s Shed also play an important role, offering social connection and practical activities that support wellbeing. These efforts reflect a welcoming and active community committed to sustaining and enhancing village life.
Ballyneety Men’s Shed
Ballyneety Men’s Shed, established in 2022, is an exemplary age-friendly, communityled initiative that actively promotes inclusion, wellbeing and social participation. Central to its success is the transformation of a derelict site behind the Community Hub into a fully accessible sensory and mindfulness garden, designed with older people and those with reduced mobility in mind through the use of raised beds, safe pathways and thoughtful layout.
The Shed fosters a welcoming and supportive environment for people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds, with a particular emphasis on engaging older members of the community. It offers a diverse programme of inclusive activities, including gardening, gentle exercise, yoga and music, supporting both physical and mental wellbeing.
Importantly, the initiative provides a vital social outlet, addressing loneliness, isolation and bereavement, while strengthening intergenerational connections and community resilience. Its strong commitment to sustainability, including recycling initiatives, water conservation and the planting of over 7,000 trees, further enhances its positive impact and long-term legacy.
Croom
Croom, Cromadh, at the centre of County Limerick is the main town for several parishes surrounding Croom. Having been a commercial hub, the town has seen decline and more recently is seen as a vibrant social hub for the community of Croom and those residing in the locality.
Crooms’ voluntary organisations have been at the heart of change for Croom over the years and the work carried out includes investment in the community spaces which are now centres for sport, social groups and activities. CCDA has advocated for change and worked with LCCC to improve Croom for the community and in latter years to attract others to Croom for leisure activities and more recently as new residents. CCDA has offered a suite of events for the community across the year from an Easter Egg Hunt to Limericks largest Craft Market. These events are central to life in a small town and are supported by the community.
Our Lady of Lourdes Community Centre
Ballinacurra Weston is a proud and resilient community that places young people at the heart of its development through a range of positive youth initiatives. The Children’s Running Group, for ages 7–14, encourages fitness, confidence, and social connection through weekly 3–5km runs, supported by families and local Gardaí. Twenty-two children recently represented their community in the Kids Great Limerick Run.
For older youths aged 14–20, the Natural Highs Programme offers exciting, high-adrenaline activities such as mountain biking and go-karting, promoting healthy lifestyles and positive engagement. The Summer Soccer Programme brings young people and Gardaí together through sport, helping to build trust, strengthen relationships, and foster community spirit. Together, these programmes create valuable opportunities for young people to stay active, connected, and positively involved.
Limerick has an impressive track record of success in this competition. Limerick’s previous competition winners were:
- 2025 – Thomondgate Residents Association First Place Winner - Urban Neighbourhood under 3000 (Category 1 City Competition), Templeglantine Runners Up – Population 1,000-2,000 (Category 3 Main Competition) and The Local Hub Glenbrohane Runners Up – Community Wellbeing Initiative (Category 10)
- 2024 – Johnsgate Residents Association First Place Winner - Urban Neighbourhood under 3000 (Category 1), Dromcollogher and District Care Centres and Housing for Older Persons Runners Up - Age Friendly (Category 12) and The Butterfly Club Special Award - Inclusive Communities (Category 9)
- 2023 - Killeedy Community Projects, First Place Winner in the <500 Population Category along with Southill HUB, Runner-up Winner Urban Neighbourhoods/Villages <3000
- 2022 - West End Youth Centre, First Place Winner in the Community Based Youth Led Initiative, along with Runners-up awards for St Munchins Community Centre in the Community Resilience category and Glenroe/Ballyorgan Community Council CLG in the Community Population 300 - 1,000 category
- 2021 – Draw Out Limerick, Runner-up in the Creative Place Initiative category and Lough Gur Development Co-operative Society, Runner-up in the Community Tourism Initiative category
- 2020 - Rathkeale Pre-Social Cohesion Project, First Place Winner in the 1,000 – 2,000 population category
- 2019 - Abbeyfeale Community Council, Runner-up in the 2,500-5,000 population category
- 2018 - First Place Winner, The Children’s Grief Centre under the Communities Reaching Out Initiative, along with Runners Up awards for Limerick Civic Trust in the Creative Place Initiative and Kilmeedy in the 0-300 population category
- Groups interested in being considered for nomination were asked to complete the required Expression of Interest form, together with an entry photograph.
- The Expressions of Interest will be assessed, per category, based on the Co-operation Ireland criteria.
- Applicants will be informed as to whether they were selected to compete at all-island level.
- Nominated groups will then be required to make a summary submission.
- Applicants will be judged on their summary submission.
- Judging took place 13-15 July 2026
- Awards Ceremony- 24th October
Limerick City and County Council may nominate one group only per category and a maximum of 5 groups overall.
The competition caters for Urban and Rural Communities which have different categories of entrants in each.
| Category | Population |
| 1 | 0 - 300 |
| 2 | 300 - 1,000 |
| 3 | 1,000 - 2,000 |
| 4 | 2,000 - 5,000 |
| 5 | Population Over 5,000 |
| Category | Theme |
| 6 | Creative Communities |
| 7 | Climate Action & Biodiversity |
| 8 | Community Youth Initiative |
| 9 | Inclusive Communities |
| 10 | Community Wellbeing Initiative |
| 11 | Community Tourism Initiative |
| 12 | Age Friendly Communities |
| 13 | Urban Neighbourhoods / Housing Estates |
Cities Competition
| Category | Population |
| 1 | Urban Neighbourhoods / Village under 3,000 |
| 2 | Urban Neighbourhoods / Village over 3,000 |
| Category | Theme |
| 3 | Creative Communities |
| 4 | Climate Action & Biodiversity |
| 5 | Community Youth Initiative |
| 6 | Inclusive Communities |
| 7 | Community Wellbeing Initiative |
Application process for 2026 is now closed but if you are interested in entering in 2027 please contact us via email at prideofplace@limerick.ie
