Countryside Alliance Ireland - love the countryside

The Countryside Alliance Ireland Awards, nicknamed ‘The Rural Oscars’ have opened to nominations, so please nominate today and help us sing the praises of those who work so hard for rural life.  You can nominate online by clicking here 

The Awards celebrate communities, produce, enterprise and rural heritage.  Voted for by the public across five categories, they applaud those who routinely go the extra mile for their community and help to promote rural life. 

The Countryside Alliance Ireland Award categories are:  

•Local Food Award

•Daily Telegraph Village Shop/ Post Office Award

•Enterprise Award

•Butcher Award

•Hunter Rural Hero of 2011

Communications Minister Pat Rabbitte recently announced progress with the Rural Broadband Scheme which aims to identify the remaining individual premises in rural Ireland that are unable to obtain a broadband service and to provide a service to those premises where requested.  

Minister Rabbitte said “To-date, we have had over 2000 applications under the Scheme and my Department will be accepting further applications until the 29th of July, when the application phase of the Scheme will close. I would encourage people to apply under the Scheme if they cannot currently obtain a service”.

NI DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

The movement rules for bringing pets here in relation to rabies vaccination and tick treatment will harmonise with the rest of the European Union from 1 January 2012.

Under the new rules for the pet travel scheme the conditions to qualify will be less burdensome and will involve less expense for pet owners bringing animals here while ensuring the risk of rabies coming here remains extremely low.

Lyall Plant, Chief Executive of Countryside Alliance Ireland was the proud recipient of a ‘Lifetime Commitment Award’ presented to him by Paul Pringle at the Press Reception for the Great Game Fairs of Ireland 2011, held recently at Shanes Castle. 

Lyall said “I was delighted (albeit shocked!) to receive this award on behalf of the Team at Countryside Alliance Ireland.  This acknowledges all the hard work and effort that has gone on to protect country sports and our rural way of life.  However, we are not complacent and we shall continue to defend the rural way of life we all so enjoy for generations to come.”