Cork City Council has won a prize at the Chambers Ireland Excellence in Local Government Awards.
The City Council took home the Sustainable Environment Award for their Air Quality Strategy.
While, Clare County Council was named Local Authority of the Year at the Chambers Ireland Excellence in Local Government Awards which took place yesterday evening (24th November 2022).
The 19th annual Awards ceremony was held in association with the Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage and showcases and celebrates the best of Local Government in Ireland.
Ian Talbot, Chief Executive, Chambers Ireland said:
"Local Authorities continue to make substantial impacts across multiple areas of Irish society with wide-ranging positive improvements for local communities and the local economy; the Local Government Awards serve as the platform to highlight the irreplaceable value that results.
As ever, it's an honour for Chambers Ireland to host these Awards as well as a pleasure to highlight, while also gaining insight into, the work and initiatives being produced at local level nationwide.
Congratulations to Local Authority of the Year, Clare County Council, all the category winners, the shortlisted organisations and to the people behind all of these excellent projects. Clare County Council is the well-deserved winner of the overall Local Authority of the Year Award, who have shown engagement across the different facets of the Clare Community, and with the development and sustainability of its localities and environment, to achieve this accolade.
For their commitment to serving their community and also raising their area's profile nationally as a stand-out destination, Clare County Council deserve to be commended and have earned their Award title of Local Authority of the Year."
Minister of State with responsibility for Planning and Local Government, Peter Burke T.D. commented about the Awards: "Each year, the Excellence in Local Government awards provide an opportunity to shine a spotlight on all the great initiatives happening in local authorities across the country, and to officially acknowledge the valuable work that is often done below the radar.
I am proud to say that my Department has been working in partnership with Chambers Ireland on the awards for many years now, and this year, I was particularly pleased to note the introduction of the new Diversity and Inclusion category. I have spent much of my tenure as Minister of State actively addressing the obvious imbalances prevalent in local government, with my Department working hard to ensure that council chambers are reflective of communities throughout Ireland in all its diversity.
I wish to thank Chambers Ireland for their continued support in championing the vital work of local authorities, and I am looking forward to the opportunity to come together once again to celebrate the efforts of the elected members, staff, and all those who work tirelessly in our local communities."
There were fifteen awards presented on the night plus the overall award for Local Authority of the Year. Individual awards were sponsored by: European Recycling Platform (ERP), The Office of the Planning Regulator, Healthy Ireland, Fáilte Ireland, Truehawk Media, Irish Public Bodies and EirGrid.
Specially commissioned crystal awards designed by Waterford Crystal were presented to the winners on the night.
The full list of winners is as follows:
Supporting Sustainable Communities Award
Limerick City & County Council - New Build Incremental Purchase System
Climate Change Award
Mayo County Council - Mayo Decarbonising Communities Network
Communications Award
Kildare County Council - Understanding Kildare's County Development Plan
Health & Wellbeing Award
Waterford City & County Council - Ireland's First Outdoor Learn to Cycle Track opens in Dungarvan
Supporting Tourism Award
Mayo County Council - Clew Bay Bike Trail
Diversity & Inclusion Award
Dublin City Council - Academy of the Near Future
Promoting Economic Development Award
Limerick City & County Council - Engine Hubs Network
Local Authority Innovation Award
South Dublin County Council - Think Big Space in partnership with AWS
Sustainable Environment Award
Cork City Council - Cork City Council Air Quality Strategy
Sustaining the Arts Award
Clare County Council - HOUSE! An open-air aerial spectacular
Festival of the Year Award
Clare County Council - Ennis Mela
Initiative through the Municipal Districts Award
Carlow County Council - Ru:Rban - Urbact
Enhancing the Urban Environment Award
Limerick City & County Council - Castletroy Urban Greenway
Heritage and Built Environment Award
Donegal County Council - Single large-scale heritage-led urban regeneration project in Ramelton
Age Friendly Initiative Award
Wexford County Council - Wexford Telehealth Project
Local Authority of the Year
Clare County Council
