Waterford City & County Council shortlisted for Excellence in Local Government Awards

A number of initiatives which are being led by Waterford City and County Council are in the running for prestigious awards.

Chambers Ireland has revealed the shortlist for the Excellence in Local Government Awards 2024, which take place later this year.

The Awards feature a total of 98 Local Authority projects shortlisted across 15 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 2024.

This year, a record number of 191 submissions were received from 27 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.

The categories in which Waterford City and County Council has been shortlisted are: Urban Revival, Heritage and Built Environment and Municipal Districts initiative.

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Commenting following the announcement of the shortlisted projects, Minister of State for Local Government and Planning, Alan Dillon TD, said: “The Excellence in Local Government Awards provide a wonderful opportunity to highlight some of the incredible work being done in local authorities all across the country, and I am very pleased that my Department is supporting the event again this year. 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..

Ian Talbot, Chief Executive of Chambers Ireland, added: “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.”

TJ Hunter, Senior Director at Ørsted UK & Ireland, who are headline sponsors of the Awards, said: “The Chambers Ireland Local Government Awards celebrate the exceptional projects and teams within our local authorities nationwide. From community to infrastructure and everything in between, local authorities play a critical role in the way we live. We are proud to champion excellence and to formally recognise the finalists and winners to be announced this November.”

The Excellence in Local Government Award winners will be announced at the 21st annual ceremony on November 21 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Northwood, Santry, Dublin.

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The full shortlist is as follows:

Age Friendly Initiative

Clare County Council - Clare Culture Companions
Cork City Council - Cork Age Friendly Conversations
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council - Creative Brainwaves-Ageing well in dlr!
Fingal County Council - Vintage Picnic Arts Creativity and Music Festival for +55s
Kerry County Council - Youth Action Addressing IT poverty among older people in Kerry
Kildare County Council - Ballymore Eustace as an Age Friendly Climate Friendly Village
Monaghan County Council - Beech Hill College Intergenerational Project
Wexford County Council - Sporting Memories

Climate Change

Donegal County Council - Energy Retrofit Programme
Dublin City Council - Climate Neutral Dublin 2030 - Local Authority Climate Action Plan 2024-2029
Fingal County Council - Wildfire Management Howth Head
South Dublin County Council - Mini Woodland Scheme in South Dublin
Communications

Cork City Council - Our City is Changing
Dublin City Council - Believe in Dublin
Fingal County Council - Virtual Reality for Fingal Libraries - enhancing communications and providing access to emerging technology
Galway City Council - Galway City - Your Council Podcast
Monaghan County Council - Creative Monaghan
South Dublin County Council - Women of South Dublin
Wexford County Council - Community Calendar

Diversity & Inclusion

Cork City Council - Frederick Douglass Unity Courtyard
Cork County Council - Ukrainian Bookclub
Kilkenny County Council - Gowran Inclusive MUGA
Limerick City & County Council - Limerick Migrant Integration Forum
Monaghan County Council - Chatterbox - A collaboration with Monaghan County Libraries & National Learning Network
Offaly County Council - Art in the Landscape – Festival of Change
South Dublin County Council - Teenspace Programme Review
Wicklow County Council - Arklow Library; a sensory space for St Patrick’s Day Parade

Urban Revival

Cork City Council - Playful Placemaking- Cork City’s Dynamic Community Engagement
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council - Myrtle Square & Convent Lane
Fingal County Council - Revitalising Heritage: Restoring St. Ita’s Historic Homes for Modern Use
Kerry County Council - Tralee Regeneration project - Positioning Tralee as a Regional Economic Driver and Destination Town
Monaghan County Council - Ballybay Revival ~ Breathing life back into a rural town
South Dublin County Council - New Urban Squares and Linear Park for Tallaght
Waterford City & County Council - Reviving urban living by reducing property vacancy & dereliction in Waterford
Wexford County Council - Gorey District Park

Festival of the Year

Cork City Council - Cork World Book Festival
Cork County Council - Mallow Castle Community Festivals
Donegal County Council - Sound! Soundtrack Film Festival
Dublin City Council - Dublin Festival of History
Fingal County Council - Fingal Proms 2024
Limerick City & County Council - Riverfest Limerick 2024
South Dublin County Council - South Dublin Community Public Services Day

Health & Wellbeing

Carlow County Council - Wednesday Wanderers
Donegal County Council - Model Beach Accessibility to improve Health and Well Being - A Strategic Approach
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council - DLR Inclusive Water Sports Camps 2023
Kerry County Council - Development of a walking/running track and outdoor recreational area.
Mayo County Council - Fit Sticks Trail

Heritage and Built Environment

Cavan County Council - Virginia Civic, Cultural and Library Services Centre
Cork County Council - Restoration of Casemate Building at Camden Fort Meagher
Donegal County Council - The Wonder of Weave - A Showcase of Irish & Scottish Tweed
Dublin City Council - 14 Henrietta Street
Galway County Council - Galway County Ecclesiastical Heritage Project
Monaghan County Council - Castleblayney Gate Lodge Library and Market Square Regeneration
South Dublin County Council - Saggart Schoolhouse Community Centre
Tipperary County Council - Tipperary Studies Digital Platform
Waterford City & County Council - Irish Wake Museum

Municipal Districts initiative

Kildare County Council - Leinster Women’s shed Fest
Limerick City & County Council - Limerick Regional Athletics Hub (LRAH)
Monaghan County Council - Bog Garden
Waterford City & County Council - Connecting Communities - Healthy Communities Project
Wexford County Council - The Emigrant Park, New Ross

Local Authority Innovation

Fingal County Council - FCC, SEAI , REIL Pilot Public/Private Energy Retrofitting Scheme, Strandmill Estate
Galway County Council - County Galway Pre-Planning System
Laois County Council - Dealing with Mould in LA homes - the process
Limerick City & County Council - Living again: Vacancy, Dereliction and Reuse initiative
Monaghan County Council - Monaghan Peace Campus & Project Children Cultural Partnership
South Dublin County Council - Library Labs: STEAM at South Dublin Libraries
Wexford County Council - Just 1 Life - Road Safety Programme

Promoting Economic Development

Cork County Council - N22 Baile Bhuirne Macroom Road Development
Donegal County Council - Food Coast Donegal
Dublin City Council - Community Wealth Building Dublin City
Leitrim County Council - Acquisition and development of Carrick Business Campus by Leitrim County Council
Limerick City & County Council - Building Economic Resilience in Housing - Modern Methods of Construction
South Dublin County Council - Networking of Enterprising Women in South Dublin (NEWS)

Supporting Sustainable Communities

Donegal County Council - Burtonport & Arranmore - Harbour to Island Regeneration
Dublin City Council - The Kingfisher Project
Laois County Council - Investing in our children’s future - Promotion of STEAM in secondary schools
Monaghan County Council - Lough Muckno Road To Recovery
South Dublin County Council - Adamstown: Sustainable by Planning, Design and Implementation.

Supporting Tourism

Cavan County Council - Cuilcagh Lakelands Geopark - Business Sustainability Programme
Clare County Council - County Clare Green Team achieve international GSTC Recognition.
Cork County Council - Midleton to Youghal Greenway (MY Greenway): Phase 1: 8km
Fingal County Council - Fingal Cultural & Tourism TV
Mayo County Council - Achill Island Greenway
Monaghan County Council - Rossmore Forest Park, Monaghan

Sustainable Environment & Biodiversity

Cork City Council - Enhance Clogheenmilcon Fen Bog to create an ecological visitor attraction.
Cork County Council - Introduction of Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) - Alternative Fuel
Galway City Council - Buaile Bó Ballyloughane
Limerick City & County Council - GoGreenRoutes (2020-2024) Horizon 2020 project.
Monaghan County Council - A Sustainable Solution for Regional & Local Road Pavement Renewal
Wexford County Council - The Establishment of Sustainable Clothes (Textiles) Banks

Sustaining the Arts

Carlow County Council - GNÁTHÓGA NÁDÚRTHA / Natural Habitats - arts led project at Drummin Bog
Cork County Council - Events at Living Youghal
Dublin City Council - Gaeilge365 - Building Local Government’s First Irish Language Innovation Unit
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council - Nature and Place
Galway City Council - Reflections – A Commemoration of the Irish Women of 1923
Meath County Council - Trim Library and Cultural Centre
Monaghan County Council - A Deep Ravine