Winners of the Most Innovative Lockdown Award - Dean Carroll & Damien O'Connor

Most Innovative Lockdown Award - Dean Carroll & Damien O'Connor, Navan

When there is a crisis either looming or actually unfolding, new, bright, positive ideas can do so much to lift the gloom. Dean Carroll and Damien O'Connor of Limekiln Woods, Navan did a great deal to generate a strong community spirit in their estate during the lockdown by organising bingo and musical bingo every Saturday night since early April.

"Almost every household in the estate has taken part and people of all ages have enjoyed the craic created. We look forward to the bingo every week," says Mary Munnelly who lives in the close-knit Limekiln Wood estate.

The lads received the most nominations for any category in the Lockdown Awards and according to Sinead Deens-Crooke the award couldn't go to two more deserving men.

Dean and Damien also organised two group physical exercise sessions every week - with social distancing included of course. Local people really appreciated this physical fitness programme at a time when restrictions made such activity difficult.

And there's more. As well as being widely recognised as nice guys who want to do what they can for their community, Dean and Damien, did their bit to ensure Limekiln Wood was kept into ship-shape condition during the shutdown. They were constantly busy trimming hedges for their neighbours and cutting grass on the large green in the centre of the estate.

They were willing to put in the hard graft while also demonstrating a generosity of spirit with their introduction of those bingo sessions an welcome innovation at a time when new thinking was most certainly needed.

"They are two great guys to whom I and my family will be eternally grateful," added Sarah another neighbour who feels "it's a privilege" to know them both. Take a bow gentlemen.

Thanks to everyone who nominated friends, family, groups and communities for the first and (hopefully last) Meath Chronicle Lockdown Awards.

Thanks also to our wonderful sponsors who got behind the initiative: Meath Co Council, Utmost, Ecomm, Alltech and SuperValu.