Local Government Awards Shortlist announced

Local Government Awards Shortlist announced

Chambers Ireland today revealed the shortlist for the Excellence in Local Government Awards 2026. The Awards feature Local Authority projects shortlisted over 16 categories which recognise the broad work of Local Authorities and highlights their important activity all around the country.

The Awards are held annually in conjunction with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and sponsored by Perigus Energy.

The Excellence in Local Government Award winners will be announced on the 26^th of November at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Santry in Dublin (D09 KN66). Awards will be presented for excellence in 16 different categories, and one Local Authority will be named Local Authority of the Year 2026.

Congratulating the shortlisted entrants, John Cummins, Minister of State for Local Government and Planning said:

“Sincere congratulations to all the Local Authorities which have been shortlisted for the 2026 Excellence in Local Government Awards. My Department and I are pleased to continue our long-standing support for these awards, which are an important opportunity to acknowledge the commitment of local authorities to public service in their communities. To have been selected from a very competitive field is a considerable achievement in itself, and I wish everyone the very best of luck in the final round.”

Commenting on the announcement of the shortlist, Ian Talbot, Chief Executive of Chambers Ireland said,

“We’re pleased to reveal the Excellence in Local Government Awards shortlist today, which features projects that represent the hard work and ambitious planning that takes place at local level all around the country. The Awards showcase the volume of work that Local Authorities are delivering, which so often goes unnoticed. In Chambers all around the country they know the important role the Local Authority play. I would like to congratulate each of the shortlisted Local Authorities and acknowledge the excellent work being undertaken at Local Government level nationwide.”

TJ Hunter, Managing Director Ireland and the UK at Perigus Energy added:

“Perigus Energy is proud to recognise the incredible work happening on the ground across every local authority in Ireland. The initiatives being highlighted today play a crucial role in all of our everyday lives and it’s so important to ensure that this hard work and care for citizens and place doesn’t go unrecognised. Every year, I am blown away by the calibre of the projects being shortlisted, and this year is no different. I look forward to seeing the winners announced in November.”

-ENDS-

For further information please contact James Kiernan, Chambers Ireland 087 671 8468 or email james.kiernan@chambers.ie

2026 Local Government Awards Shortlist

Sustainable Environment & Biodiversity

Carlow County Council – Turning Lawns into Lunch for Urban Pollinators
Cork County Council – A-A AGORA / Harpers Island
Dun Laoghaire County Council – Shanganagh Castle Estate – Leading the Way to a Better Future for All
Kilkenny County Council – The Kilkenny Recycled Boardwalks and Riverside Biodiversity Enhancement Programme
Limerick City & County Council – Foynes to Limerick Road Scheme – Excess/Repurposed Material
South Dublin County Council – Pollinator Action Plan 2026–2030
Wicklow County Council – ReFarm Wicklow: A New Partnership for Nature on Farms

Climate Change

Dun Laoghaire County Council – Roebuck Road Housing – Setting the Standard for Sustainable Living
Dublin City Council – Rainscapes
Kilkenny County Council – Grey to Green Climate-Resilient Safe School Route
Limerick City & County Council – Askeaton Pool & Leisure Centre Energy Upgrade & Flood Remediation
Monaghan County Council – Monaghan Area Based Retrofit Initiative (MABRI)
Waterford City & County Council – Ballymacarbry Community Solar Sharing Project

Health & Wellbeing

Cork City Council – Marina Park & Promenade
Cork County Council – Together in Wellbeing: Delivering Mental Health Support across Cork County
Dublin City Council – Dublin Nights Help Zone. Aka The Nee Naw
Galway County Council – Connemara Dementia Cafe Initiative
Kildare County Council – Compassion in Action- Trauma Informed Practice Conference
Louth County Council – Dear Future Me
South Dublin County Council- Inclusive Age-Friendly Outdoor Gym Programme

Diversity & Inclusion

Donegal County Council – Inclusive Cycling Initiative achieving Centre of Excellence
Dublin City Council – Dublin City Council Sensoria 2025
Galway City Council – Bóithrín na Saoirse – Traveller Group Housing Scheme
Galway County Council – Park Lodge: State of the art bungalow for 3 high needs individuals with intellectual disability and Autism
Leitrim County Council – Bright Sparks
Meath County Council – Stay Up All Night Book Club
South Dublin County Council – Cycling Inclusion Centre of Excellence

Age Friendly Initiative

Cavan County Council – The Art of Life
Dublin City Council – St. Finbar’s Court
Galway County Council – Climate Drive 60+
Kilkenny County Council – Sing For Memory
Laois County Council – Live Well Health & Wellbeing Expo Event (Live Well)
Limerick City & County Council – Rightsizing – Age Friendly Accommodation in Limerick
Louth County Council – The Memory Cafe in Dundalk & Drogheda Libraries
Wicklow County Council – The Green Thread: Connecting Culture, Climate and Community

Heritage and Built Environment

Clare County Council – Inis Cealtra (Holy Island) Visitor Experience
Cork City Council – Restoration of Shandon Clock
Donegal County Council – ‘Working Over By’: Donegal Emigrant Working Lives in Scotland
Dublin City Council – St Anne’s Park Community Archaeology Programme 2021-2025
Kildare County Council – Shackleton Experience
Wexford County Council – Duncannon Fort Refurbishment Phase 1

Urban Revival

Clare County Council – Ennis public realm regeneration & streetscape activation
Cork County Council – Revitalising Bandon Town Centre – A Long Term, Integrated Urban Regeneration Programme
Kilkenny County Council – Watergate Park
Laois County Council – Portarlington Market House
Laois County Council – Portlaoise Convent Lands – a landmark housing regeneration and urban renewal initiative
Waterford City & County Council – Regeneration of Cappoquin
Wexford County Council – The Shambles Rejuvenation

Municipal District Initiative

Cork County Council – Ringaskiddy Active Travel and Urban Realm Project
Cork County Council – Municipal District LPT Strategic Investment Fund
Cork County Council – Enhancing Road Safety Education and Outcomes in Local Communities
Donegal County Council – Put Us to Work
Galway County Council – Tuam Palace Grounds Sensory Garden and Active Recreation
Kilkenny County Council – Electric Fire Appliance
Kilkenny County Council – Team Up to Clean Up – Together for Kilkenny

Promoting Economic Development

Cavan County Council – ‘Created in Cavan’ food and drink network
Dublin City Council – Dublin City Night Time Economy Programme
Kilkenny County Council – #ShopKilkenny
Limerick City & County Council – Twilight Thursday – Limerick City
Mayo County Council – Innovation Quarter (IQ) Ballina
Meath County Council – Thrive Centre of Business Excellence
Waterford City & County Council – Waterford Enterprise Ecosystem Collaboration Initiative

Local Authority Innovation

Donegal County Council – Centralised Billing for Roadworks Licencing
Meath County Council – Meath Strategic Energy Site Study
Monaghan County Council – The Project Children Stories – A Legacy of Peace Lives on in Monaghan
South Dublin County Council – Innovation Square Cost Rental development
Tipperary County Council – Vacant Business Re-Open Grant Platform- VBR

Supporting Sustainable Communities

Carlow County Council – Embracing Change: Building Sustainable Communities
Clare County Council – Birds of a Feather
Cork County Council – West Cork Islands: Distinct Communities, Shared Challenges
Dublin City Council – Crowdfund Dublin City
Galway City Council – Living My Life Project
Galway County Council – Leenane Community Park
Fingal County Council – GLAS@TU Dublin Community Garden
Laois County Council – Abbeyleix: Growing a Sustainable, Inclusive Community Together
Waterford City & County Council – Waterford’s Community Climate Action Programme – Phase 1

Festival of the Year

Dublin City Council – TwinkleTown 2025 in partnership with Dublin City Council
Galway County Council – Ballinasloe Mid Summer Festival
Kildare County Council – Kildare Inclusivity Festival 2026
Kilkenny County Council – St. Patrick’s Festival Kilkenny
Limerick City & County Council – Limerick’s Ireland, Home of Halloween Festival 2025
Meath County Council – Samhain Festival of Food & Culture

Supporting Tourism

Clare County Council – The Burren & Cliffs Explorer Shuttle Bus
Dublin City Council – Hosting of Ireland’s First NFL Game – Croke Park, September 2025
Fingal County Council – Explore Fingal Markets
Kerry County Council – Upgrading Works to Bray Head Signal Tower, Valentia Island, Kerry
Kilkenny County Council – Six After 6 – Activating Kilkenny’s Evening Cultural Economy
Leitrim County Council – Tullaghan Coastal Park
Limerick City & County Council – Great Days Out (in Limerick) summer tourism campaign

Sustaining the Arts

Cavan County Council -Dance Connects
Clare County Council – Banner Brains: Still in Clare
Dublin City Council – Hugh Lane Gallery Offsite Education & Community Outreach Citywide Programme
Galway County Council – Tiny Mutiny
Kilkenny County Council – Tea Houses of Kilkenny
Limerick City & County Council – Dance Connections – An Inclusive Dance Artists Training project

Irish Language & Culture

Galway County Council – Scoil an Phiarsaigh 2025
Waterford City & County Council – CAD AS DUIT? Placenames of Déise Community Roadshow
Clare County Council – Inis Dom
Cavan County Council – Oiliúint Gaeilge
Dublin City Council – Foraois – A choice of weekly Gaeltacht-style experiences for Dublin’s youth
Kildare County Council – Scéim na bhFáinní – Mol an Óige agus Tiocfaidh Sí!
South Dublin County Council – Bronntanas – Irish Language Festival

Communications

Limerick City & County Council – The Val the Viking Project
Monaghan County Council – Tackling Dereliction in Monaghan: Croí Cónaithe in Action
Kilkenny County Council – Supporting Sustainable Farming in Kilkenny Through Education and Smart Alerts
Dublin City Council – Dublin City Council Brand Refresh
Kildare County Council – The Shackleton Experience: A Flagship Story of Regeneration
Cork County Council – Smart Mobility Communication: The M28 App, Digital Platform and Interactive 3D Model
South Dublin County Council – Cyber Security Month: a county-wide engagement campaign