Chambers Ireland Excellence in Local Government Awards: Clare County Council named Local Authority of the Year 2018

Clare County Council was yesterday (22 November 2018) named Local Authority of the Year at the Chambers Ireland Excellence in Local Government Awards. The 15th annual Awards ceremony was held in association with the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government and showcases and celebrates the best of Local Government in Ireland.

 Ian Talbot, Chief Executive, Chambers Ireland said,

“Once again this year’s awards have proved to be a timely reminder of the tremendous work being done by Local Authorities, as well as what these Authorities contribute to and within their respective communities and how essential their role is across many different facets of Irish society today.

It is an honour for Chambers Ireland to host the Excellence in Local Government Awards and to shine a spotlight on the work and ambition which takes place at local government level across Ireland. The highest of congratulations are due to Local Authority of the Year, Clare County Council, the 16 category winners, the many shortlisted organisations but also just as importantly, the people who made all these projects and activities happen.

Clare County Council is the well-deserved winner of the overall Local Authority of the Year award, who have earned this accolade through embracing such a wide variety of initiatives while taking steadfast efforts to accomplish them.

Showing tenacity and ingenuity across different fields has made Clare stand out and be recognised. A consistent level of citizen engagement and future vision for the region are what Clare have brought to the table this year and they deserve to be commended for it.”

Minister of State for Local Government and Electoral Reform, John Paul Phelan TD commented about the awards,

“I am very proud to support the Chambers Ireland Excellence in Local Government Awards, which highlight the vital role local authorities – and those who work in them – play every day in meeting the diverse and dynamic needs of communities across the country. The projects shortlisted across the 16 awards categories demonstrate the exciting and innovative work undertaken by local authorities for the benefit of our society. I would like to commend and congratulate all who have participated this year.”

There were sixteen awards presented on the night plus the overall award for Local Authority of the Year. Individual awards were sponsored by: Lidl, ESB Networks, Healthy Ireland, Fáilte Ireland, AIB, LGiU Ireland, ERP, Waterford Crystal, Zurich, EirGrid, Ervia, Shell, TEKenable and An Post.

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 Active Communities Award sponsored by Lidl:

Fingal County Council – Fingal Kaleidoscope Intergenerational Project (Seniors & Four Year Olds)

Best Practice in Citizen Engagement Award sponsored by ESB Networks:

Clare County Council – Community Mobilisation Unit: Rural & Community Development Officer

Health & Wellbeing Award sponsored by Healthy Ireland:

Cavan County Council – Cavan Rainbow Youth: An LGBT Youth Support Service in County Cavan

Supporting Tourism Award sponsored by Fáilte Ireland:

Waterford City and County Council – King of the Vikings – the World’s First Viking Virtual Reality Adventure

Promoting Economic Development Award sponsored by EirGrid:

Galway County Council – Galway & West of Ireland, European Region of Gastronomy

Local Authority Innovation Award sponsored by TEKenable:

Cork City Council – Bishopsgrove Supported Student Accommodation

Sustainable Environment Award sponsored by ERP:

Clare County Council – The Burren & Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark

Best Library Service Award sponsored by Shell:

Kildare County Council – Athy Community Library

Sustaining the Arts Award sponsored by Waterford Crystal:

Longford County Council – Longford Schools Photography Programme

Joint Local Authority Initiative Award sponsored by Zurich:

Monaghan County Council – www.repairmystuff.ie, Ireland’s Leading Online Repair Directory

Festival of the Year Award sponsored by Fáilte Ireland:

Cork County Council – Youghal Medieval Festival

Outstanding Initiative through the Municipal Districts sponsored by LGiU Ireland:

Clare County Council – Friars Walk Coach Park Ennis – Coach Friendly Destination

Enhancing the Urban Environment Award sponsored by Ervia:

Kildare County Council – Maynooth Harbour – A Cycling Network Intersection Project

Heritage and Built Environment Award sponsored by AIB:

Limerick City and County Council – Lord Edward Street Housing Development, Limerick City

Disability Services Provision Award sponsored by EirGrid:

Monaghan County Council – Everybody Plays – Inclusive Playground Policy

Commemorations and Centenaries Award sponsored by An Post:

Meath County Council – Francis Ledwidge Centenary

-Ends-

Notes to Editor

Excellence in Local Government Awards

The Excellence in Local Government Awards are hosted by Chambers Ireland in partnership with the Department of the Housing, Planning and Local Government to showcase the best practice in local government across Ireland. The annual awards began in 2004 to recognise the Local Authority of the Year and many other achievements delivered by Local Authorities now across sixteen categories.

For more information please visit our dedicated Excellence in Local Government Awards page on our website: http://www.chambersirland.ie/events/excellence-in-local-government-awards/

Photography

Photographs to accompany this story will be sent to your picture desk or contact gabriel.doran@www.chambers.ie

Judging Panel

There are two independent judging panels made up of respected experts from the community and local government.

Round One

  • Mr. Seán Ó Riordiáin, Chairman, Public Policy Advisors Network
  • Mr. Alex Connolly, Head of Communications, Fáilte Ireland
  • Mr. Tony O’Brien, Chair, Chambers Ireland Local Government Policy Council and Principal at TOB Associates

Round Two

  • Mr. Seán Ó Riordiáin, Chairman, Public Policy Advisors Network
  • Ms. Karen Smyth, Head of Policy & Governance, Northern Ireland Local Government Association (NILGA)
  • Mr. Diarmuid O’Leary, Principal Officer, Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government
  • Mr. Andy Johnson, Director, LGiU Ireland
  • Mr. Jack Keyes, Consultant and Former County Council Chief Executive, Cavan·
  • Mr. Martin Tobin, CEO, European Recycling Platform (ERP) Ireland

 For further information contact Gabriel Doran, Communications & Public Affairs Executive on 01 400 4331, 086 608 1605 or email gabriel.doran@chambers.ie

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