The Community category was probably the hardest to judge as entries ranged from music and film festivals, village rejuvenation, services and many worthy health initiatives. The most impressive aspect was the level of pride, fundraising and volunteering done throughout rural Ireland. The awards are run in conjunction with Teagasc, DARDNI, and the Irish Farmers Journal.

The final judging and awards night is to be held in Tralee on 26 May. If you want to join the celebration and meet the innovators, why not come to the event. Tickets are €55 and include a dinner. Call 1890-500 247 or book online at www.ruralinnovation.ie.

Social Farming Across Boundaries

Social farming is the use of family farms to provide opportunities for individuals who use day services provided by the different state bodies, such as health.

A new concept in Ireland, it has grown across Europe, especially in Britain and the Netherlands.

Social Farming Across Boundaries (SOFAB), a trial initiative is an all-island organisation that promotes and supports the development of social farming.

It’s the first grassroots organisation in Europe to lead in this field.

The innovation comes from using an existing infrastructure (farms and farm families) to enhance a service in our society.

The continued expansion of the network of SOFAB providers affords new and innovative solutions to various Government departments (health, education, training and employment, justice, agriculture and rural development).

The participating SOFAB farm family benefits from self-esteem and status generated through the diversification and the strengthening of their role in their community.

The extra income makes the core farming activity more sustainable and generates productivity and investment on this side of the business also.

Recovery Haven Kerry - cancer support house

5 Haig’s Terrace, Tralee, Co Kerry

Telephone: 0667192122

There were many great projects doing stellar voluntary work around health, supported by constant fundraising. One project that stood out was Recovery Haven Kerry cancer support house. It provides psychological and social support, information and a drop-in service for those living with cancer, their families and carers.

At present, services are being provided in Tralee, with limited outreach services in Killarney and Caherciveen.

All patients with cancer deal with the issues that cause some level of distress at some stage. Regardless of prognosis, the initial diagnosis of cancer is still perceived as a life-threatening event. Recovery Haven Kerry wants to make its services available on every doorstep throughout the county, to each person going through their cancer journey, their families and carers. The reason it was set up was services it provides were not being covered by the HSE. It provides a wide range of services through 97 trained volunteers free of charge. These include support groups and many activities.

A total of 716 people have availed of the service from 2010 to 2014. In the last month it had 21 new people avail of the service. There has been an increase in the number of men seeking help, which is great as men don’t traditionally access services.

The organisation is totally dependent on community fundraising events run by the Volunteer Fundraising Committee. Its annual budget requirement is €180,000 and it gets little or no support from the HSE. It does get support from the Irish Cancer Society towards professional therapists.

Kerrygold Ballymaloe Literary Festival of Food and Wine

Ballymaloe House, Shanagarry, Co Cork

Telephone: 021 4645777

Ballymaloe is well known for its food and hospitability. One of its newest innovations, the Ballymaloe Literary Festival of Food and Wine, was entered for the awards. The idea originally came from a similar festival one of their guests had worked on in Sri Lanka. Balymaloe put its own unique twist on the idea, which brought 8,000 people on to the farm at Ballymaloe House and Cookery School in May 2013. The lineup included national and international authors, chefs, foragers, educators, wine experts, gardeners, publishers, TV presenters, bloggers and journalists. Kerrygold came on as a sponsor in what has developed into a showcase for Irish and in particular artisan food.

Litfest promotes Ireland internationally as a world-class food destination, so it benefits general tourism in Ireland throughout the year.

Inspirational stories

Held in the middle of May, it is a weekend filled with fascinating facts, inspirational stories, incredible knowledge, fantastic music, fabulous dancing and, of course, delicious food and drinks.

It provides a huge boost to accommodation and shops in the area as well as Irish artisan food producers, farmers and those who export food from Ireland.

Keeping the festival fresh and exciting by making improvements and investing in its development is key. It is the only festival of its kind in Ireland and has created an important hub for food enthusiasts worldwide to meet and share ideas with each other and to spread the word across the world afterwards.

The Peace Link sporting and recreational facility

Liseggerton, Clones, Co Monaghan

The Peace Link is a state-of-the art sporting and recreational facility located in Clones on the Fermanagh-Monaghan border.

It was opened in October 2014 after huge effort from people both sides of the border. It all started back in 1998 when the Clones Erne East voluntary community was established.

Working in collaboration with the local sporting organisations, the group purchased 14 acres in Clones and, with Fermanagh/ Monaghan County Council coming on board as lead partner, further funding was secured to build a modern facility with outdoor amenities. It was the outcome of years of collaboration, planning, business plans, economic appraisals, fundraising and the determination of community volunteers.

The facility is run by a community management company comprising 10 board members who represent key stakeholders and community members.

The facility and activities are run seven days a week by a team of 10 permanent staff.

It is envisaged that the project will stimulate the local economy and bring in further investment in a variety of health and educational programmes. Local shops and businesses will benefit by additional trade to the area. There is potential in the future to employ and upskill people on a voluntary and permanent basis. The long-term aim is to develop the business as a sustainable operation that complements the overall planned development for the area.

Middletown Parish Community Hall

The Rectory, 16 Derryhaw Road, Tynan, Co Armagh. BT60 4SS

Telephone: 028-3756 8619

The building of the Middletown Parish Community Hall will begin soon. This initiative by St John’s Parish Church Middletown aims to address the lack of suitable venues for use by all sections of the community in Middletown, the surrounding hinterland and on both sides of the Northern Ireland border. It will provide a meeting space, craft and leisure club activities, music, drama and dance. The border areas have long been associated with conflict in Northern Ireland. It is hoped that by enabling people to access services and facilities without fear and in the development of relationships, a more positive local image of life in rural areas in South Armagh can be projected.

The project is located near the All-Ireland Centre for Autism. The centre is committed to using the new hall, and sees this as an opportunity to meet the needs of families and communities who have children with autism in the local cross-border area (Armagh, Monaghan, Cavan and Tyrone) and to provide additional facilities and capacity in Middletown to support the Centre’s current all-Ireland training programme. The project business idea was awarded £300,000 of grant funding in July 2014, which was 100% of funding applied for. St John’s Parish Church, Middletown, provided an additional £30,000 and another £15,500 was provided to go towards a website.