Kildare nominees confirmed for the 2025 Pride of Place competition

Kildare County Council has announced the two nominees representing Kildare in the upcoming 2025 IPB Pride of Place Competition. The national winners of this prestigious competition will be revealed at a Gala Awards ceremony in Limerick this November.

The IPB Pride of Place Competition celebrates unsung community heroes and their voluntary work. These groups make a significant difference in their communities, inspiring friends and neighbours to get involved and improving the lives of all. It is affectionately known as the “Community Oscars”.

Kildare County Council has supported this competition for several years and has nominated two inspirational groups for their efforts in 2025:

Athy Sing and Sign Club is nominated in the Community Wellbeing category. Founded in 2005 by Aiden McHugh to promote Irish Sign Language (ISL) among teenagers for personal development and to achieve Gaisce awards, the club officially established in 2007 by Aiden and ISL teacher Maggie Owens.  It has since expanded to serve as a community resource, offering various classes for children, teenagers, and adults, including specialised classes for those with additional needs.

The mission of the Athy Sing & Sign Club is to provide a supportive and positive learning environment where all members can develop their Irish Sign Language (ISL) skills and learn about Deaf Culture and the Deaf Community. Members also have the chance to develop their leadership skills in a youth-friendly atmosphere, which in turn fosters self-confidence and personal growth.

Loughnamona Youth Hub /Leixlip Youth Project INSYNC is nominated in the Community Youth Initiative category.   Based in the community centre, in the heart of Kildare County Council estate Loughnamona, Leixlip, the project has hosted numerous events and initiatives over the years, including Halloween, Christmas, and Easter Events Community Fundays, CV workshops and annual football tournaments, which have engaged both young and older members of the community and the local community Gardai.  They have also created a young men’s shed, which has allowed the young men to become active members in their community, as they work on the development of a memorial garden within the estate. The centre hosts important information sessions aimed at educating young people living in the area around issues such as personal development, positive mental, physical health initiatives and the Junior Leadership programme, which empowers young people to become positive role models within their community, along with developing and delivering the annual events.

The project works closely with Kildare County Council to ensure they are reaching all members of the community that require support. Support services are offered to families in Leixlip who are struggling with addiction, poverty and social isolation.  Older people are also supported through intergenerational initiatives like bingo, technology support and a drop-in coffee afternoon where young and old get to mix.

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