Laragh Gala Variety Show was honoured at the prestigious Pride of Place community awards. The event took place on Saturday evening at a gala ceremony in the Hillgrove Hotel, Monaghan. The Co Cavan group won the Creative Communities Category (county), beating off competition from The Sounds of Semple, Templemore, County Tipperary, and Tinahely Community Recycling Centre, County Wicklow.
Judges praised the role the Variety Show played in community life stating that it is a vital part of the social life of a village bringing together a huge cross- section of the community in the works involved. Judges said that the show is very much community based and run involving an array of performers, script writers, stagehands, costume makers and set designers.
The awards, hosted by RTE’s Brendan McArdle, took place in in front of 400 community volunteers from across the island were delivered in partnership with Monaghan County Council. Sponsored by IPB Insurance, the Pride of Place competition was initiated 22 years ago though a Co-operation Ireland programme to acknowledge the invaluable work undertaken by volunteers and those involved in local community development.
