Shrigley 200 wins a national award for celebrating the village’s 200th anniversary
The Shrigley 200 celebrations, marking the bi-centenary of the beginning of the village, have won a national award.
The main organiser of Shrigley 200 Chris Hagan picked up one of the two Housing Executive Northern Ireland rural champion awards for his work within the local community for more than 40 years, mainly with young people.
The Shrigley Village group received a £500 prize to be spent for the benefit of the village.
It was handed over at an event in the Seamus Heaney Homeplace centre in Bellaghy attended by some of those involved in the year-long Shrigley events, which were supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The events included an open air concert on the old village main street, history walking trails, publishing a new history of the village, a memorial event for the Jewish families who saved the village in the Second World War and erecting a permanent history photo mural in Shrigley.
The community champion title is awarded to an exceptional individual who shares their time, skills and knowledge of a local community for its benefit… and Chris Hagan collected it on behalf of the people of Shrigley.
The judges paid tribute to Chris’ “infectious passion” for his community saying that the Shrigley 200 events had been “greatly received and a real celebration.”
He was nominated for the award by Kathleen Stockton, the chairperson of the Shrigley Village group. She said: “Chris’ dedication and commitment to the village of Shrigley and Killyleagh touched not just people in Northern Ireland but across the world.”
In his acceptance speech Chris Hagan said: “Shrigley is a very special place with very special people. It is fantastic for a place like Shrigley to get this award.”
He told those in attendance one of the lessons from helping organise an event like this was never to attempt to run a festival in a village which has no hall, no tables, no chairs and no electricity to the site.
He expressed the hope that the village grouping can now press ahead with their plans to see a village hall erected on the green beside the clock and provide facilities that will benefit all villagers.
Elma Newberry, the Housing Executive’s Director of strategic housing authority, explained the aim of the awards is to improve community spirit within rural neighbourhoods.
She said: “It was heart-warming to hear inspirational stories of leadership, commitment and ambition to improve rural areas.
“I hope that the awards help provide the recognition that is thoroughly deserved.”
