Local Government Awards Shortlist Announced

Local Government Awards Shortlist Announced

Chambers Ireland today (22nd September) revealed the shortlist for the Excellence in Local Government Awards 2023.

In its 20^th year, the Awards feature a total of 94 Local Authority projects shortlisted over 15 categories, including a new addition, ‘Urban Revival’, which showcases Local Authorities’ innovative efforts to take action in transforming their urban areas.

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

Congratulating the shortlisted entrants, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien TD said:

“I am delighted that my Department continues to support the Excellence in Local Government Awards again this year. It is vital that all the good work done by local authorities is showcased to the wider community displaying how their essential role contributes on a daily basis positively to the lives of the people who live in the community”.

Minister O’Brien specifically mentioned the introduction of the newly re-named “Urban Revival” category this year which he said “exhibits local authorities that bring vitality back to our towns and streets through creating sustainable, people-friendly urban environments which is crucial to supporting Government objectives and various programmes delivered through my Department. This will ensure more parts of our urban areas become attractive and vibrant places in which to live, work, visit and invest”.

Concluding, Minister O’Brien wished all the local authorities the best of luck in the next stage of the awards and commended all local authorities that had got to this stage which he added was no easy feat given the number of high calibre applications that were received this year as was the case in previous years.

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 essence of the hard work and ambitious planning that takes place at local level all around the country. 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 nationwide.”

The Excellence in Local Government Award winners will be announced at the 20^th annual ceremony on 23^rd of November at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Northwood, Santry. Awards will be presented for excellence in 15 different categories and one Local Authority will be awarded the overall award and named Local Authority of the Year 2023.

TJ Hunter, Senior Director at Ørsted UK & Ireland, who are headline sponsors of the Awards, added, “For Ireland to successfully fight climate change, we need industry, community and government to work in partnership, challenge the status quo, and together build a better society. Through our sponsorship of these Awards, Ørsted is delighted to celebrate innovative projects from Local Authorities throughout the country which seek to do just that.”

-ENDS-

2023 Local Government Awards Shortlist

Age Friendly Initiative

Cork City Council – Cork Cultural Companions
Kildare County Council – Celbridge as an age friendly Town
Kilkenny County Council – Kilkenny Age Friendly Train Station
Limerick City & County Council – Crafting Connections
Wexford County Council – Working towards a dementia friendly local authority
Wicklow County Council – Intergenerational Digital Learning Supporting Seniors using their personal Digital Devices

Climate Change

Cork City Council – LED Lantern Upgrade & Energy Efficiency Project
Kildare County Council – Local Authority Climate Action Training Programme
Limerick City & County Council – Limerick’s First School Street – An Mhodhscoil
Meath County Council – Trim Air Quality Project
South Dublin County Council – Tallaght District-Heating Network
Waterford City and County Council – Business Rates Waiver to promote and support sustainability

Communications

Cork City Council – Pathways to Participation
Fingal County Council – 3D/Virtual Reality Models of Public Realm Projects
Kildare County Council – Get Konnected, Stay Connected: Internal Communications Campaign
Laois County Council – MidlandsIreland.ie: A Digital Roadmap to Promote the Midlands region
Limerick City & County Council – Limerick Student City
Longford County Council – Dog Rehoming Campaign
Waterford City and County Council – #CelebrateWaterford – Ireland’s Best Place to Live

Diversity & Inclusion

Cavan County Council – GAA County All Stars Programme
Donegal County Council – AMBITION
Dublin City Council – Library in the Community
Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council – Enhancing Traveller culture and ethnicity in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown
South Dublin County Council – Voices of Ukraine
Waterford City and County Council – Waterford’s Ukrainian Refugee Response Project
Wexford County Council – Travelling Tales, visual arts and writing project for Traveller Children

Urban Revival

Clare County Council – Life after Landfill – Ennis Men’s Shed Community Initiative
Cork City Council – Springville House ‘Rightsizing’
Kerry County Council – Positioning Tralee as a Regional Economic Driver and Destination Town
Kildare County Council – Kildare’s Public Parklets
South Dublin County Council – The Street; Kick starting the Tallaght Innovation Quarter
Waterford City and County Council – Tramore Town Centre Public Realm Works
Wexford County Council – The High Hill Norman Gardens

Festival of the Year

Cork City Council – The Cork LGBT+ Pride Festival
Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council – dlr Festival of Inclusion 2022
Fingal County Council – Fingal Ukrainian Festival of Cultures and Communities
Kildare County Council – Brigid 1500 St. Brigid’s Festival 2023
Longford County Council – Longford Lights Festival
South Dublin County Council – Balgaddy Better Block Event

Health & Wellbeing

Clare County Council – Promoting Health and Wellbeing across County Clare
Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council – Inclusive Cycling For All
Kildare County Council – Kildare Sports Ability Day 2022
Limerick City & County Council – Limerick on Foot
South Dublin County Council – Teenspace Programme
Wexford County Council – Experiencing Success The Rag Tree project
Wicklow County Council – Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Initiative in County Wicklow

Heritage and Built Environment

Cork City Council – Elizabeth Fort – Outdoor Public Spaces Scheme
Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council – Dublin Mountains Community Archaeology
Fingal County Council – Restoration of the Great Hall, Malahide Castle
Galway County Council – Digitising Galway’s Graveyard Heritage
Kildare County Council – Reimagining the Potato Market in Naas
South Dublin County Council – Dublin Mountains Community Archaeology Initiative
Waterford City and County Council – Waterford’s newest museums – Time and Silver

Municipal Districts initiative

Clare County Council – The Shannon Embankment Scenic Trail
Cork City Council – Cork City to Passage West Greenway Phase 1
Kildare County Council – Newbridge Women’s shed
Kildare County Council – Wellbeing roadshow
Limerick City & County Council – Regeneration Community Jobs Fair

Local Authority Innovation

Cork City Council – Lancaster Quay Cost Rental Apartment
Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council – Beaufort – a unique heat pump district heating system
Limerick City & County Council – HAP APP
Louth County Council – Response to the Ukraine Crisis
Monaghan County Council – MyCoCo – Delivering Local Authority Services Online
Wicklow County Council – Wicklow County Council Innovation – Solar Car Park

Promoting Economic Development

Clare County Council – Female Entrepreneurship and Leadership
Donegal County Council – #MoveToDonegal Relocation Campaign
Kerry County Council – Kerry Food Hub
Kildare County Council – Connected Hubs – Kildare Hub Network
Limerick City & County Council – Engine Collaboration Centre

Supporting Sustainable Communities

Clare County Council – Clare Library Service – World of Welcome Project
Fingal County Council – Fingal Welcome Rooms
Kildare County Council – Kildare Library Service Reader in Residence
Limerick City & County Council – Student Planners: Inspiring Future Generations
South Dublin County Council – Green Infrastructure Strategy 2022-2028
Wexford County Council – Enniscorthy Community Allotments

Supporting Tourism

Cavan County Council – Cuilcagh Lakelands Geopark Business Sustainability Network
Limerick City & County Council – Discover Limerick
Louth County Council – Sea Louth Scenic Seafood Trail
Waterford City and County Council – Reinvigorating one of the great gardens of the world – Mount Congreve
Wexford County Council – Celtic Routes
Wicklow County Council – Samuel Hayes Bridge

Sustainable Environment & Biodiversity

Clare County Council – The Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark
Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council – Fernhill Park and Gardens AR Experience
Dublin City Council – Project Air View
Kildare County Council – Grass to Gas – Sustainable open space management through fuel generation
Meath County Council – URBACT – Global Goals for Cities
Monaghan County Council – Magic Under Monaghan
South Dublin County Council – Dublin Urban Rivers LIFE project

Sustaining the Arts

Carlow County Council – Borris Lace By Post and Exchange
Cork City Council – The KinShip Project
Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council – Framing the Senses
Limerick City & County Council – Decarbonising Together
Meath County Council – Supporting Creative Engagement in Older Age
South Dublin County Council – Sightless Cinema Tallaght