Three Fingal groups to take part in the IPB Pride of Place Competition 2026

Three outstanding community groups from across Fingal are preparing to welcome judges from the 2026 IPB Pride of Place Competition next month, as they showcase the innovation, inclusion and community spirit that continue to make Fingal one of Ireland's leading counties for community development and inclusion.

Judging in the 2026 IPB Pride of Place Competition will take place in Fingal on August 24th and 25th with three groups ready to represent the county and showcase how they demonstrate examples of the best in Community Development on the Island of Ireland.

Huntstown Community Centre in Dublin 15, Balrothery Community Association in North Fingal and the Howth Sutton Autism Friendly Community will each represent Fingal County Council in three different categories when the judging team come to the county on Monday August 24th and Tuesday August 25th.

Now in its 24th year, the competition, organised by Co-operation Ireland, is part of a drive to foster better community relations on the island of Ireland. Pride of Place invites local authorities in Ireland, north and south to nominate the groups and communities which make a difference in creating communities as places to be proud of. The groups compete in different categories and are judged in their own communities by way of a presentation and a tour.

Fingal County Council has an excellent track record in this competition, having won the Best Community Engagement Award in 2024 and picking up prizes for Rivervalley Community Centre and Coolmine Lodge, Dublin 15 last year. This year the finals will be held in the Convention Centre in Dublin on Saturday October 24th.

Huntstown Community Centre, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year is leading the efforts on behalf of Fingal in the Urban Neighbourhoods and Housing Estates category. The Centre manager and staff have been busy all summer working on its presentation and tour, with particular emphasis on recent and future developments for this thriving centre which is the hub of this established Blanchardstown community.

Balrothery Community Association will represent Fingal in the Populations of 2500 to 5000 category, with heritage, sustainability and community engagement all key parts of this rural north Fingal community just outside the town of Balbriggan. Rich in history, Balrothery is one of the latest Fingal towns to set up and launch its own Town Team in late 2025.

The Howth Sutton Autism Friendly Community group was only established in 2024 but the tremendous strides this group has made since then has seen it selected to represent Fingal in the Inclusive Communities category this year. The group now caters for over 200 families living in Howth and Sutton and has partnered with all the local community, sporting and environmental groups to help raise awareness of the particular needs of this community.
 

Speaking ahead of the finals, Mayor of Fingal Cllr. Tony Murphy said, “I want to wish the three Fingal groups who are taking part in Pride of Place this August the very best of luck in this year’s competition. I have no doubt they will continue the strong tradition of local groups and communities doing Fingal and the Council proud in this competition which recognises the huge importance of the community and voluntary sector in the life of the county, and that is something we can all be proud of”.

Chief Executive of Fingal County Council AnnMarie Farrelly added; “The great work of our voluntary groups, and the strong support they get from our Community Development and Inclusion Division is crucial to the sense of community evident in the county. It is important that this is recognised and rewarded, as was demonstrated in Limerick last November when communities in Coolmine Dublin 15 and Rivervalley, Swords received widespread recognition. I sincerely want to wish all three groups the very best of luck when the judges visit Fingal next month.”

The finals of the 2026 IPB Pride of Place Competition will take place in the Convention Centre on the River Liffey in Dublin on the evening of Saturday October 24th. You can find out more about each group's entry in the following video here.