Local Government Awards Shortlist 2025 Announced

Chambers Ireland today (14^th October 2025) revealed the shortlist for the Excellence in Local Government Awards 2025. In its 22nd year, the Awards feature a total of 98 Local Authority projects shortlisted across 16 categories, reflecting the dedication and innovation taking place at local government level, and one Local Authority will be awarded the overall award and named Local Authority of the Year 2025.

This year, a record number of 259 submissions were received from 26 Local Authorities, underscoring the importance of these awards in showcasing the exemplary service provided by Local Authorities to their communities.

The Awards are held annually in conjunction with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Speaking on the announcement of the shortlisted projects, Minister of State for Local Government and Planning, John Cummins TD, said:

“I am very pleased that my Department is supporting the Excellence in Local Government Awards again this year. These awards provide a wonderful opportunity to champion the innovative work being done in local authorities all across the country.

“Local authority projects, like the ones shortlisted today contribute to life in our communities in a multitude of ways, and I am delighted to be a part of celebrating these achievements. I want to extend my warmest congratulations to all the shortlisted entrants, and my appreciation to the judging panel who had the unenviable task of choosing between so many worthy entries.”

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

“The Excellence in Local Government Awards continue to grow and evolve, reflecting the dynamic and diverse contributions of Local Authorities nationwide. This year, we are proud to introduce a new category, Celebrating Irish Language and Culture, which honours initiatives that preserve and promote our rich linguistic and cultural heritage.

“The Awards showcase the inventiveness and innovation that Local Authorities are delivering, which so often goes unnoticed. I would like to congratulate each of the shortlisted Local Authorities and acknowledge the excellent work being undertaken at local government level across the country. Their efforts not only enhance community life but also demonstrate the ever-expanding scope and impact of local government today.”

TJ Hunter, Vice President Onshore Ireland & UK, Ørsted, who are headline sponsors of the Awards, added, “The Onshore Ireland team is proud to once again recognise the incredible work going on at a community level all across the Local Authorities of Ireland. The teams being highlighted today play a crucial role in all of our day to day lives and it’s so important to ensure that this hard work doesn’t go unrecognised. Every year, I am blown away by the standard of the projects being shortlisted for these awards and this year is no different. I look forward to seeing the winners announced this November.”

The Excellence in Local Government Award winners will be announced at the 22nd annual ceremony on 27th November at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Northwood, Santry.

Please contact james.kiernan@chambers.ie for more information.

-ENDS-

The shortlist is as follows:

Age Friendly Initiative

Cavan County Council – The Art of Life – Death Positive Libraries
Cork City Council – EnergyCloud Age Friendly Pilot Project: Cork City
Dublin City Council – Community Wellness Programme
Fingal County Council – Sheltered Housing at Monastery Court, Lusk
Kildare County Council – Irelands first Age Friendly Race Course
Kilkenny County Council – Information & Activities Programme for Older People
Meath County Council – The Meath Befriending Network
South Dublin County Council – Ballyroan: A Dementia-Inclusive, Age Friendly Community

Celebrating Irish Language & Culture

Cavan County Council – Glangevlin Gaeltacht Prayer Book Revival
Cork City Council – Ar Scáth a Chéile: Clár Teanga agus Cultúir Ghaelach i Leabharlanna Cathrach Chorcaí -Scéalta, Ceol, Cultúr, Pobail
Donegal County Council – Ceiliúradh teanga í a léamh
Dublin City Council – Gaeilge365 – Coordinating Irish Language Innovation Regional Roll-Out
Kerry County Council – Blas Beo, North Kerry Irish Language initiative
Louth County Council – Lú Festival of Light
Meath County Council – Siamsa Glas Festival

Climate Change

Kildare County Council – Grass to Gas Project
Kilkenny City Council – Championing Community Climate Action, Kilkenny
Laois County Council – Portlaoise: Ireland’s First Low Carbon Town
Louth County Council – Louth Urban Food Sanctuary
Monaghan County Council – Empowering SMEs for Climate Action: Ireland’s First ESG Cluster
Waterford City and County Council – The Business Pledge for a Cleaner, Greener Waterford

Communications

Clare County Council – Clare County Council Election 2024
Fingal County Council – Promotion of Affordable Housing scheme
Meath County Council – ‘Local Lens’ – A podcast from Meath County Council
Monaghan County Council – Personal & Community Resilience Booklet
South Dublin County Council – International Protection: Fact or Fiction
Wicklow County Council – Wicklow Welcomes: Multilingual Conversation Circles

Diversity & Inclusion

Dublin City Council – Consultation & Participation Process Co-Designed with Disabled Person’s Organisations
Kerry County Council – Refurbishment of former Moyvane Garda Station for community use
Kildare County Council – Barrow Blueway Inclusive Initiative
Meath County Council – Empowering Futures: Entrepreneurship Programme for People with Disabilities
South Dublin County Council – Reaching for Gender Equality in Local Government
Wicklow County Council – Wicklow Travellers Urban Outdoor Initiative

Festival of the Year

Clare County Council – Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy (Willie Clancy Traditional Music Summer School)
Dublin City Council – Dublin City Council Sensoria Festival
Fingal County Council – Howth Maritime & Seafood Festival
Galway City Council – Galway Climate Inspirations Festival-Communities in Action
Kildare County – Brigid, Spirit of Kildare Festival
Kilkenny County Council – Kilkenny’s Toil and Trouble – Discover the spells cast on society during the Kilkenny Witch Trials

Health & Wellbeing

Cork County Council – Teen Talk
Fingal County Council – Fingal Sports Festival
Kilkenny County Council – The UcanACT Project
Laois County Council – Live Well Health and Wellbeing Expo Event (Live Well)
Meath County Council – Boyne Valley to Lakelands Greenway
South Dublin County Council – South Dublin County Council Junior Safety Forum
Waterford City and County Council – Good Grief

Heritage and Built Environment

Cavan County Council – Bailieborough Bridewell
Kilkenny County Council – Restoration and conservation of Victorian Woodstock House, Gardens & Arboretum
Meath County Council – Heritage Led Regeneration Project in Market Square, Navan
South Dublin County Council – Ely Arch: Heritage Conservation Through Public Realm Design

Local Authority Innovation

Carlow County Council – Innovation in Fire Appliance Vehicle to Vehicle Digital Alerting
Laois County Council – MyPay Robotic Processs Automation – Superannuation Starters project
Limerick City & County Council – Co-Plan: Keeping Limerick On Track
Midlands Ireland – Driving STEM in the Midlands
South Dublin County Council – Clonburris Delivery Model – Strategic Innovation for Sustainable Growth

Municipal Districts initiative

Cavan County Council – The Voyage Home – Return of Relics of St Kilian
Carlow County Council – Community Roots Programme
Cork County Council – Conversation Cafe
Kilkenny County Council – Creative Connections: Coote’s Lane to Ring Road
Laois County Council – The Refurbishment of The Peoples Park in Portarlington
Meath County Council – Live Streaming of the 2024 Local Elections
Meath County Council – Meath Community Amenity Project Scheme

Promoting Economic Development

Donegal County Council – ALPHA Innovation, a hotbed of innovation in the heart of Donegal
Galway City Council – CREW: Creative Enterprise and Innovation Hub Galway
Kildare County Council – The K-Hub Strategy: Driving Cluster-Led Economic Growth in Partnership
Limerick City & County Council – Northside Skills Fair
Meath County Council – Empowering Entrepreneurs: The Lunch and Learn Roadshow Initiative
South Dublin County Council – Work IQ, Innovation Centre for Technology and Enterprise Growth

Supporting Sustainable Communities

Carlow County Council – Applied Learning Programme for Landscape Communities within the Blackstairs Mountains
Cork City Council – Transforming Kerrypike: the transformation of Ballycannon Park
Fingal County Council – Meakstown Community Centre and Bloom Community Garden
Kildare County Council – The DemoHouse
Limerick City & County Council – Limerick Going for Gold – Environment Improvement Grant & Competition
Monaghan County Council – Protecting the Scotstown River: A Community-Led Blue Dot Waterbody Initiative
South Dublin County Council – Connecting Communities Through the Regeneration of West Tallaght Parks
Wexford County Council – The Great New Ross Riverside Walk

Supporting Tourism

Cavan County Council – Cuilcagh Lakelands Geopark – Regenerative Tourism Business Network – Climate Change
Cork County Council – Explore Cork app
Dublin City Council – The Dublin Portal
Kilkenny County Council – The Barrow Valley Activities
Limerick City & County Council – Limerick Greenway – Embrace the Unexpected
Wicklow County Council – Wicklow Passport

Sustainable Environment & Biodiversity

Carlow County Council – Carlow County Fire Service – ECO Class Fire Appliance
Clare County Council – Knocknahila Bog Peatland Rewetting Project
Cork County Council – Cobh Nature Based Solution-Raingarden Demostrator, National Pilot Scheme
Kildare County Council – Kerdiffstown Park Project
South Dublin County Council – Balancing Green and Growth: Delivering Sustainable Development and Protecting Biodiversity

Sustaining the Arts

Cork City Council – Knocknaheeny Per Cent For Art: ”I Can Colour Between The Lines but I Choose Not To”
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council – Children and Young People’s Edition, dlr Arts Development Plan 2024- 30
Galway City Council – Youth Lates
Kilkenny County Council – Art of Change
Wicklow County Council – Creative Places Baltinglass

Urban Revival

Galway City Council – Ireland’s first city-centre School Street – Scoil Iognáid, Galway
Kerry County Council – Island of Geese – New Urban Quarter – Tralee
Kildare County Council – Naas Library & Cultural Centre
Kilkenny County Council – Mayfair Library and Public Realm
Meath County Council – East Meath Civic Centre – Bettystown Library
Monaghan County Council – Church Square – a Vibrant Performance Area & Community Space