PRESS RELEASE 23rd June 2008
CASTLECOMER DISCOVERY PARK ENTERED BY KILKENNY COUNTY COUNCIL FOR THE PRIDE OF PLACE 2008 COMPETITION
Castlecomer Discovery Park has recently been entered for the Co-operation Ireland prestigious all island Pride of Place Competition 2008 by Kilkenny County Council.
The thrust of the competition is to celebrate community contributions to local society and the creation of civic pride. The Pride of Place Competition is all about acknowledging the fantastic work being done by people in communities all over the island of Ireland. It is recognition of the work being done to create communities for tomorrow while respecting the heritage and culture of the past. It is recognition of the work being done to create viable, vibrant and visible communities. It is also about giving local authorities an opportunity to participate in the heart of their communities.
This is the sixth year of the competition, which has enjoyed tremendous success and continues to grow in terms of prestige and popularity.
The Castlecomer Demesne Company, trading as Castlecomer Discovery Park, is a registered charity that was formed to encourage the rejuvenation of Castlecomer town. It has been in existence for 13 years and throughout this period a tireless team of local community volunteers have been putting together several projects, in conjunction with partners such as Kilkenny County Council and Coillte, designed to increase the appeal of Castlecomer as a tourist destination.
Projects completed to date include:
- The development of the Riverside Park into a picnic area
- The introduction of a Children's Adventure Playground
- Running a sculpture exhibition on The Demesne
- The redevelopment of two Lakes into a commercial Rainbow Trout Fishery
- The development of 80 acres of woodland and establishment of 6kms walking trails
- The development of a Design Craft Yard with many artists and craftspeople
The centerpiece of the Park is the Visitor Centre, which houses the Jarrow Café and the 'Footprints in Coal' Exhibition, which tells the complete story of the Castlecomer Coal from formation to extraction. The exhibition is an interactive multimedia show which incorporates models, fossils, audio-visuals and displays to tell a very unique story.
The Visitor Centre only opened in early July of last year and has been steadily making its mark both on the community in general and also much further afield. The Centre is a focal point where people can meet in a relaxed and wonderfully atmospheric environment. The community as a whole has welcomed the addition of this fantastic amenity to the town which has quickly become a centre of activity with a broad selection of activities and events throughout the year including Nature Trails, Santas Grotto, Easter Activities, Visiting Exhibitions, Schools Programmes, Open Days and much much more.
On 18th July the judges for Pride of Place will be visiting Castlecomer Discovery Park and we look forward to both welcoming them and enlightening them on the qualities of this little gem of activity in the heart of north Kilkenny.
The Castlecomer Demesne Project is engaged in a joint marketing project part funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the Ireland/Wales INTERREG IIIA Programme. It has also been funded by Kilkenny County Council, BNS Rural Development through the Leader EU Programme and NDP, and Pobal (Community Services Programme). The project has been developed under licence by Coillte.
ENDS
For further information please contact Sandra McGrath, General Manager, Castlecomer Discovery Park, Castlecomer Demesne Co. Ltd., The Estate Yard, Castlecomer, Co Kilkenny. Tel 056 444 0707 or visit our website www.discoverypark.ie