Croom Proudly Showcases Community Spirit on Pride of Place Judging Day
Wednesday, 15 July 2026 was a day of immense pride for everyone in Croom as we welcomed the judges from the IPB Pride of Place Awards to our community.
After months of preparation, planning and collaboration, we had the opportunity to share the story of our town and, more importantly, the people who make it such a special place to live, work and belong.
Winning at local level in Category Level 3 gave Croom the honour of representing Limerick in this year's national competition, and judging day was our chance to showcase the community spirit, partnerships and volunteerism that are at the heart of everything we do.
A Warm Croom Welcome
The day began at Croom Civic Centre, where the judges were greeted with a beautiful musical welcome from Muireann Madigan on harp and Lily Rose Hennigan on flute.
Following introductions to representatives from many of Croom's community organisations, the judges set off on a walking tour through the town, meeting the people behind so many of the projects that make Croom unique.
From Hillview School and Croom Castle to Croom Bridge, every stop highlighted another chapter in Croom's story. One particularly memorable visit was to the Church of Ireland, where Sean Healy shared the remarkable work being carried out by local volunteers to restore the historic mausoleums and preserve an important part of our heritage.
Celebrating Community
The tour continued to Croom Mills, where Ciara O'Connell, of Croom Family Resource Centre, welcomed everyone.
"It was a pleasure to be part of the Pride of Place judging in Croom. Thank you to everyone who came to Croom Mills and helped make the day so special."
The judges learned about the history of the mill from Plunkett Hayes, enjoyed wonderful performances from Local Vocals and the Ukulele Group, and met the dedicated volunteers behind Meals on Wheels and the Knitting and Stitching Group, whose handcrafted items bring comfort to patients in maternity and oncology units.
Telling Croom's Story
Back at Croom Civic Centre, Patricia Ryan delivered Croom's Pride of Place presentation, highlighting our heritage, community values and aspirations for the future.
The presentation wasn't about one organisation or one project. It was about a community working together.
It reflected the countless volunteers, schools, sporting clubs, businesses, community groups and residents whose combined efforts make Croom the vibrant and welcoming place it is today.
A Community Looking to the Future
The final stop of the day was Croom Town Park, where children from Croom GAA demonstrated their skills and John Brennan showcased the traditional craft of farriery, celebrating the area's rich equestrian heritage.
The judges also learned about the ongoing work to enhance biodiversity throughout the park, demonstrating Croom's commitment to protecting its natural environment while creating welcoming spaces for everyone to enjoy.
A Day to Remember
Reflecting on the judging day, Amy White of Croom Community Development Association said:
"You could see the pride in people as they showcased their organisations and their community. There is so much to offer everyone, from the beautiful Croom Town Park to our historic buildings and riverside walks. It was fantastic to see so many people coming together to celebrate everything that makes Croom special."
Amy also added
"There is a great debt of thanks to every volunteer, organisation, business and resident who played a part in making the judging day such a memorable occasion. This achievement belongs to the entire community, and everyone involved should be immensely proud."
Thank You, Croom
Whether you volunteered behind the scenes, welcomed the judges, prepared refreshments, performed music, shared your knowledge, or simply cheered us on, thank you.
Pride of Place is about communities, and this judging day showed exactly what can be achieved when a community works together with pride, passion and purpose.
The national IPB Pride of Place Awards will take place in October in Dublin, where communities from across Ireland will come together to celebrate the outstanding work being carried out in towns and villages nationwide.
Whatever the outcome, one thing is certain: Croom has already demonstrated what makes it special. The greatest strength of our town isn't just its history, its buildings or its beautiful surroundings. It's the people who continue to give their time, share their talents and work together to make Croom a place where everyone belongs.
Crom Abú!
Watch Our Pride of Place Presentation
If you couldn't join us on judging day, or would simply like to see how Croom's story was presented to the judges, you can watch the full Pride of Place 2026 Presentation on our YouTube channel or via the video below.
We hope you enjoy watching it as much as we enjoyed sharing the story of our community.
