Clare County Council has confirmed that the presentation of awards in the 2013 'Clare in Bloom', 'Best Kept Local Authority Estate' and 'Pride of Place' competitions will be held at Áras Contae an Chláir in Ennis on 14 October 2013.

The annual Community Awards Night will be hosted by the Mayor of Clare and the County's Elected Members following their October Monthly Meeting.

The 'Clare in Bloom' competition is a motivational mechanism for local community groups throughout the county to enhance the visual impact of their towns and villages by means of flower, tree and shrub planting schemes. Ballynacally Development Group was named overall winner of last year's competition, while the Mayor's Environmental Award was presented to Kildysart Tidy Towns.

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In 2012, 18 local authority residents associations around Clare were honoured in the 'Best Kept Local Authority Estate' competition. The overall winner was Cappa Lodge, Sixmilebridge, which was awarded an engraved limestone plaque and the Mary Hennessy Memorial Award.

The annual awards ceremony will also celebrate local winners of the 2013 IPB Pride of Place Competition. An Sean Dún Housing Estate in Roslevan, Mountshannon and Miltown Malbay have been nominated by Clare County Council to represent the County in this year’s all-island competition, which recognises and celebrates the vital contributions that communities make to society.

Speaking ahead of the awards ceremony, Mayor of Clare Councillor Joe Arkins said: "The awards are a mark of Clare County Council's programme of sustaining positive and co-operative working relationships with local groups. This awards night, which is supported by numerous sponsors throughout the County, is the Council's way of thanking community groups and individuals for the valuable work they carry out. Their work not only has a positive impact on their localities, but has a real benefit in terms of the economy and particularly in terms of tourism in Clare."

(CD/JP)