Down Syndrome Ireland Laois 'over the moon' about award win

Members of the Laois branch of Down Syndrome Ireland are 'over the moon' at winning the Social Inclusion Category at the Laois Community and Voluntary Awards.

The judges found that the standard of all the nominees in the nominee was extremely high and said it was an extremely difficult task to separate the nominations. They singled out the Laois Down Syndrome branch for the difference their work makes.

"The winners though stood out as the work being carried out by them makes a huge difference to the immediate community and further afield.  Keep up the great work," said the citation.

Michael Gorman, Down Syndrome Ireland Laois Branch PRO said the group was delighted to be nominated.

“We were bowled over by winning this section of the event. We would like to thank Laois County Council and Laois PPN for putting on this awards night for the ninth year in a row. Our branch see this as a very prestigious event and we are over the moon about winning this award,” he said.

The judges said they were most impressed with the variety of initiatives the groups in the Social Inclusion category have undertaken, and how much a part of the community they have become.

The Social Inclusion Category Runner-up was the Kiln Lane Committee Mountrath. The Certificate winners were: Borris-in-Ossory Community Alert, Down Syndrome Ireland Laois Branch, Embrace Farm, Laois Branch Alzheimer's Society, Laois Integration Network, Mountmellick Active Seniors Club, Mountrath Mens Shed, Sing for Joy Choir, Voice of Migrants.

Michael Cobbe representing the Laois Public Participation Network and Laois County Council Chief Executive John Mulholland presented the awards and certificates in the category.