Clare County Council was named Local Authority of the Year at the Chambers Ireland Excellence in Local Government Awards which took place last night.
The 19th annual Awards ceremony was held in association with the Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage and showcases and celebrates the best of Local Government in Ireland.
Ian Talbot, Chief Executive, Chambers Ireland said, “Local Authorities continue to make substantial impacts across multiple areas of Irish society with wide-ranging positive improvements for local communities and the local economy; the Local Government Awards serve as the platform to highlight the irreplaceable value that results.
As ever, it’s an honour for Chambers Ireland to host these Awards as well as a pleasure to highlight, while also gaining insight into, the work and initiatives being produced at local level nationwide.
Congratulations to Local Authority of the Year, Clare County Council, all the category winners, the shortlisted organisations and to the people behind all of these excellent projects. Clare County Council is the well-deserved winner of the overall Local Authority of the Year Award, who have shown engagement across the different facets of the Clare Community, and with the development and sustainability of its localities and environment, to achieve this accolade.
For their commitment to serving their community and also raising their area’s profile nationally as a stand-out destination, Clare County Council deserve to be commended and have earned their Award title of Local Authority of the Year.”
Councillor Tony O’Brien, Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council, said: “Winning the best Local Authority in Ireland in 2022 is an acknowledgement of the commitment and hard work of the staff and elected members of Clare County Council, who work in partnership to serve the people of Clare. Being named Local Authority of the Year is a real honour. I would like to commend everyone involved in achieving this prestigious award.”
Pat Dowling, Chief Executive of Clare County Council, said: “As a progressive local authority our purpose and vision is to be responsive and agile while leading the development of our county.
“Engagement and collaboration is fundamental to the work of Clare County Council, and I would like to acknowledge the valuable input and participation of our communities, partners and stakeholders across the range of our initiatives and activities.
“The challenges in recent years have been far-reaching and ever-changing. The Covid-19 pandemic and the conflict in Ukraine have had a global and local impact like nothing that has gone before. I would like to commend the staff and elected members of Clare County Council for their innovation, adaptability and determination to respond to these events and to deliver services with real social impact.
“We have a structure in Clare County Council which puts sustainable communities at our heart. Our communities will remain at the centre of everything we do to ensure our county continues to develop as a place to live, work and visit,” added Mr Dowling.
Five other Clare County Council initiatives were nominated for an Excellence in Local Government Award:
Age Friendly Initiative – The accreditation of Ennis as an Age-Friendly town
Climate Change – Renewal of site protection and conservation infrastructure at Fanore Beach
Enhancing the Urban Environment – Ennis Public Realm Enhancement: Parnell Street, Laneways and Bow-ways
Initiative through Municipal Districts – Shannon In Bloom
Promoting Economic Development – Tech Disrupt 4.0.
Clare County Council previously was named Local Authority of the Year in 2018.
Minister of State with responsibility for Planning and Local Government, Peter Burke T.D. commented about the Awards, “Each year, the Excellence in Local Government awards provide an opportunity to shine a spotlight on all the great initiatives happening in local authorities across the country, and to officially acknowledge the valuable work that is often done below the radar.
I am proud to say that my Department has been working in partnership with Chambers Ireland on the awards for many years now, and this year, I was particularly pleased to note the introduction of the new Diversity and Inclusion category. I have spent much of my tenure as Minister of State actively addressing the obvious imbalances prevalent in local government, with my Department working hard to ensure that council chambers are reflective of communities throughout Ireland in all its diversity.
I wish to thank Chambers Ireland for their continued support in championing the vital work of local authorities, and I am looking forward to the opportunity to come together once again to celebrate the efforts of the elected members, staff, and all those who work tirelessly in our local communities.”
There were fifteen awards presented on the night plus the overall award for Local Authority of the Year. Individual awards were sponsored by: European Recycling Platform (ERP), The Office of the Planning Regulator, Healthy Ireland, Fáilte Ireland, Truehawk Media, Irish Public Bodies and EirGrid.
Specially commissioned crystal awards designed by Waterford Crystal were presented to the winners on the night.