Inspirational railway bidding for major all Ireland award

15 August 2012

JUDGES from the prestigious all-Ireland Pride of Place competition recently visited the Downpatrick and County Down Railway last week to hear first hand about the inspiring voluntary work it does to preserve the railway heritage and promote cultural tourism of Down District.

The local voluntary organisation was given the opportunity on Thursday to convey to judges why it should win a Pride of Place Award in this year’s competition, having been nominated to participate in the annual competition by Down Council.

Pride of Place is an all-Ireland competition aimed at recognising and celebrating the vital contributions that voluntary organisations make to the life of their area.

The competition’s focus is on people coming together to shape, enhance and enjoy all that is good about their area. Pride of Place also enables entrants to look at other voluntary organisations’ undertakings and to learn from their experiences.

The Pride of Place judges, Declan Nelson and John Quinlivan, were welcomed to Downpatrick by the chairman of Down Council, Councillor Mickey Coogan, and Michael Collins, chairman of Downpatrick and County Down Railway.

During their visit, the judges received a presentation on the role of Downpatrick and County Down Railway and the range of voluntary work undertaken by its members in promoting cultural tourism.

Following the presentation, the judges were taken on a tour of the railway site to view the facility. As part of the tour, the judges were introduced to the railway’s management committee, its volunteers and representatives of organisations the

railway works with, and

with whom the judges were keen to discuss the valuable contribution the Railway makes to cultural tourism in the area.

In assessing entrants, the judges award marks for impact on community; innovation, sustainability, local leadership, management and overall impression.

Now in its tenth year, the Pride of Place competition is growing in terms of its prestige and popularity. The competition is run by Co-operation Ireland in partnership with the all-island Local Authority Steering Forum, a forum which encourages strategic and sustainable approaches to cross-border co-operation by local authorities.

Downpatrick and County Down Railway is Northern Ireland’s only standard gauge heritage railway and a popular visitor attraction based in Downpatrick.

Founded in 1985 to preserve our railway heritage for future generations to enjoy, the railway is a not-for-profit society, a registered charity and museum which has rebuilt part of the former BCDR Belfast to Newcastle main line.

The society has a membership of around 200 people from all over the world and earns its revenue from the fares it charges visitors, donations and membership subions.

It has been successful in obtaining substantial funding for its major restoration projects — mostly recently towards its new £700,000 carriage display gallery. Special culturally themed days are a regular feature of the visitor experience at the railway.

It is staffed entirely by volunteers, with the railway being painstakingly rebuilt from nothing by people giving their time, knowledge, skills and enthusiasm for railway heritage and culture.

The winning entrants will be announced at a gala awards ceremony which will be hosted later in the year by Co-operation Ireland.

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