Athy Sing and Sign group up for ‘Community Oscar’
Athy Sing and Sign are one of the county’s two representatives in this year’s ‘Pride of Place’ competition Photo: Aisling Hyland
ATHY’S Sing and Sing Club has been chosen as one of the county’s two representatives in this year’s ‘Pride of Place’ competition, Kildare County Council announced.
The national winners of this prestigious competition known affectionately as the ‘Community Oscars’ will be revealed at a Gala Awards ceremony in Limerick this November.
Athy Sing and Sign Club is nominated in the Community Wellbeing category.
Founded in 2005 by Aiden McHugh to promote Irish Sign Language (ISL) among teenagers for personal development and to achieve Gaisce awards, the club officially established in 2007 by Aiden and ISL teacher Maggie Owens.
It has since expanded to serve as a community resource, offering various classes for children, teenagers, and adults, including specialised classes for those with additional needs.
The mission of the Athy Sing and Sign Club is to provide a supportive and positive learning environment where all members can develop their Irish Sign Language (ISL) skills and learn about deaf culture and the deaf community.
Members also have the chance to develop their leadership skills in a youth-friendly atmosphere, which in turn fosters self-confidence and personal growth.
They will be joined in flying the Lily flag by the Loughnamona Youth Hub /Leixlip Youth Project INSYNC, which is nominated in the Community Youth Initiative category.
Based in the community centre, in the heart of the Loughnamona Council estate, the project has hosted numerous events and initiatives over the years.
These include Halloween, Christmas, Easter events, community fundays, CV workshops and annual football tournaments, which have engaged both young and older members of the community and the local community Gardai.
They have also created a young men’s shed, which has allowed the young men to become active members in their community, as they work on the development of a memorial garden within the estate.
The project works closely with Kildare County Council to ensure they are reaching all members of the community that require support.
Support services are offered to families in Leixlip who are struggling with addiction, poverty and social isolation.
Older people are also supported through intergenerational initiatives like bingo, technology support and a drop-in coffee afternoon where young and old get to mix.
The IPB Pride of Place Competition celebrates unsung community heroes and their voluntary work.
These groups make a significant difference in their communities, inspiring friends and neighbours to get involved and improving the lives of all.
Kildare County Council has supported this competition for several years and has nominated two inspirational groups for their efforts in 2025.
