Chris scoops Housing Executive rural award
Chris Hagan from Shrigley Community Group in Co Down has secured a £500 prize as part of this year’s Housing Executive’s Rural Community Awards.
Chris, a steadfast advocate for the well-being of Shrigley and surrounding areas for 46 years, has a passion for preserving and promoting local history which has inspired the entire community.
Held this year in the Seamus Heaney Homeplace, Bellaghy the annual Rural Community Awards event provides a showcase for individuals and groups undertaking outstanding volunteering work at grassroots level in rural areas across Northern Ireland, helping maintain local neighbourhoods and boosting civic pride.
Claire Crainey, Housing Executive Area Manager, South Down said, “We are delighted that Chris Hagan took top prize in our rural awards Community Champion section.
“Chris has been at the heart of the good work that the Shrigley Community Group has delivered and it is reflected in the high esteem he is held in by the members of the community and those from farther afield.”
Kathleen Stockton, Chairperson Shrigley Community Group said, “Chris’s dedication to this village and Killyleagh has been outstanding.
“He has inspired people not only in Northern Ireland but throughout the world.”
Chris said, “I have been involved in community work for 46 years.
“Recently I helped organise a 200-year celebration event in the village and organised a party round the clock.
“The big challenge was that we didn’t have a community hall so everything had to be brought in from chairs to a generator for electricity.
“The Housing Executive came to the rescue with financial aid and we had tremendous support from the village from the oldest to the youngest.
“As a result of this the village committee has revived and are now talking about building a village hall.
“It means so much to a village like Shrigley and the people in it to win this award and hopefully we will go on from strength to strength from here.”