People First Credit Union honors Portlaoise Tidy Towns as Winner of the 'Community Champions Award'

People First Credit Union is thrilled to announce Portlaoise Tidy Towns as the proud recipient of the 'Community Champions Award' at People First Credit Unions AGM held at the Killeshin Hotel on Tuesday, January 30th.

The 'Community Champions Award,' a generous €10,000 prize, was introduced to recognize and support the outstanding efforts of local volunteers within People First Credit Union's common bond area of Portlaoise, Abbeyleix, Athy and Stradbally. The selection process involved a rigorous evaluation of the nominees, with Portlaoise Tidy Towns emerging as the distinguished winner among three finalists, which also included Dunamaise Beekeepers and Abbeyleix Bog Project.

Carol Murphy, Marketing Manager for People First Credit Union, expressed her delight in announcing the winner, saying, "It is with immense pleasure that we present the 'Community Champions Award' to Portlaoise Tidy Towns. Their dedication to enhancing the beauty and sustainability of our community is truly commendable."

Portlaoise Tidy Towns stood out for their unwavering commitment to environmental preservation, community engagement, and impactful initiatives aimed at enhancing our communal living spaces. The 'Community Champions Award' acknowledges and seeks to bolster the volunteer group's ongoing dedication to biodiversity. This includes the implementation of a Biodiversity Walk featuring themed sculptures and informative boards, designed to educate participants on ways to contribute to their community and align with the climate action plan. The walk, dedicated to the County of Laois and its residents, aims to empower individuals to actively engage in fostering biodiversity.

In April 2023, Portlaoise Tidy Towns initiated their comprehensive Biodiversity Action Plan for the period 2023–2028. This plan, meticulously crafted by Dr. Fiona MacGowan, a consultant ecologist and botanist, along with landscape architect Brian Gaynor from Green Pine Consultants, serves as a guiding document. The Biodiversity Action Plan is intended to steer the local community and stakeholders in their collective endeavors to safeguard and restore the natural heritage of Portlaoise while maximizing the benefits that nature can offer to its residents.

In her remarks at the AGM, Carol Murphy highlighted the significance of volunteerism, stating, "Our credit union thrives on the spirit of volunteerism, and this award is a testament to the remarkable impact that collective efforts can achieve. We believe in fostering community development and well-being, and Portlaoise Tidy Towns exemplifies these values."

People First Credit Union expresses gratitude to Laois County Council, Laois Public Participation Network, and their voluntary Community Funding Committee for their unwavering support in making the 'Community Champions Award' a reality.

Applications for the next cycle of the award will open in the coming months, as the credit union continues to support local initiatives that make a positive impact.

For more information on our community initiatives, please click here.

Winner: Portlaoise Tidy Towns

Runner-Up: Dunamaise Bee Keepers

Runner-Up: Abbeyleix Bog Project