Donegal Local Development Company (DLDC) were delighted to hold their Community Recognition Awards 2021 on Thursday 4th November. DLDC held the awards to acknowledge and celebrate the outstanding community efforts by individuals, groups and volunteers in County Donegal over the past difficult year.
The awards ceremony took place in the Finn Valley Athlete Centre, Stranorlar with 120 representatives from the community and voluntary sector in attendance for the celebration and enjoyed an evening of food, recognition, music and dance.
The high number of nominations received under the 5 categories were an acknowledgement of the outstanding community efforts that individuals and groups have delivered in County Donegal during the COVID pandemic and continue to deliver daily.
Category sponsors included Pramerica, Watson Hire, Highland Radio Letterkenny Chamber, and LYIT. A representative from each organisation attended and presented a bespoke Donegal Sandstone award to each winner. The unique award was handmade by the renowned Donegal local artist Mr Redmond Herrity.
2020 Donegal Person of the year, Mr Noel Cunningham was Master of Ceremony. He entertained everyone with his sparkle and charm. Noel spoke with all finalists in a light-hearted and fun interview on stage and acknowledged that all finalists were outstanding and worthy of recognition.
Patsy McGonagle, Chairman DLDC thanked the Community Groups, Social Enterprises and Volunteers who make an enormous difference in our Donegal communities every day by providing a wide variety of supports in their local communities to people who need it most.
Community Recognition Awards Winners 2021:
Best Social Inclusion/Peer Support Campaign – Sponsored by Pramerica
Different Strokes for Different Folks
Special Recognition Award – A Community Response to Covid-19 – Sponsored by Watson Hire:
Tacú le Gaoth Dobhair – Consisting of Ionad Naomh Pádraig, Coiste Forbartha Chnoc Fola, Coiste
Forbartha Dhún Lúiche & Comharchumann Forbartha Ghaoth Dobhair
Best Community Organisation / Social Enterprise – Small – Sponsored by Highland Radio:
We Care Foodbank
Best Community Organisation / Social Enterprise – Large – Sponsored by Letterkenny Chamber of Commerce:
Bluestacks Special Needs Foundation
Lifetime Achievement Award – Individual Award – Sponsored by LYIT:
Margaret Toner
Donegal Local Development Company’s CEO Padraic Fingleton expressed his thanks to the sponsors and their individual representatives who attended on the night to present the awards, to the Master of Ceremonies Mr Noel Cunningham and to Mr Redmond Herrity for providing the beautifully sculpted awards.
However, according to Padraic, the night belonged to the Community Groups, Social Enterprises and all volunteers who make an enormous difference in our Donegal communities every day by providing a wide variety of supports in their local communities to people who need it most.
Photos by: North West Newspix
