Donegal County Council was named the ‘Local Authority of the Year’ for 2024 at the 21st Chambers Ireland Excellence in Local Government Awards ceremony on 21 November 2024. The awards, which were first presented in 2004, are hosted each year by Chambers Ireland in partnership with the Department of the Housing, Local Government and Heritage to showcase the best practice in local government across Ireland.
Margaret Considine, President Chambers Ireland, said that local authorities continue to make substantial efforts across multiple areas of Irish society, “with wide-ranging positive impacts for local communities and the local economy, the Local Government Awards serve as the platform to highlight the irreplaceable value that results”.
Congratulating Donegal County Council on winning the Local Authority of the Year award, all the category winners, shortlisted organisations and the people behind all of these projects, she said that “Donegal County Council is the well-deserved winner of the overall Local Authority of the Year Award, having shown engagement across the different facets of the Donegal community, and with the development and sustainability of Donegal’s localities and environment, to achieve this accolade.
“For the commitment to serving their community and raising their area’s profile nationally as a stand-out destination, Donegal County Council deserves to be commended and has earned the award title of Local Authority of the Year.”
TJ Hunter, Senior Director, Development & Operations Ireland of Orsted (overall awards sponsor) also congratulated the staff and executive of Donegal County Council on their achievement.
A total of 15 category awards were also presented on the night, with individual awards sponsored by European Recycling Platform (ERP), the Office of the Planning Regulator, Healthy Ireland, Fáilte Ireland, Submit.com, IPB Insurance and EirGrid. Specially commissioned Waterford Crystal awards were presented to the winners during the ceremony.
THE LIST OF CATEGORY WINNERS FOR 2024:
Age Friendly Initiative
Kildare County Council – Ballymore Eustace as an Age Friendly Climate Friendly Village
Climate Change
Fingal County Council – Wildfire Management Howth Head
Communications
Galway City Council – Galway City Your Council Podcast
Diversity & Inclusion
Limerick City & County Council – Limerick Migrant Integration Forum
Urban Revival
Waterford City & County Council – Reviving urban living by reducing property vacancy & dereliction in Waterford
Festival of the Year
Limerick City & County Council – Riverfest Limerick 2024
Health and Wellbeing
Donegal County Council – Model Beach Accessibility to improve Health and Wellbeing – A Strategic Approach
Heritage and Built Environment
Dublin City Council – 14 Henrietta Street
Municipal Districts Initiative
Wexford County Council – The Emigrant Park. New Ross
Local Authority Innovation
Limerick City & County Council – Living again: Vacancy, Dereliction and Reuse initiative
Promoting Economic Development
Dublin City Council – Community Wealth Building Dublin City
Supporting Sustainable Communities
Donegal County Council – Burtonport & Arranmore – Harbour to Island Regeneration
Supporting Tourism
Monaghan County Council – Rossmore Forest Park, Monaghan
Sustainable Environment & Biodiversity
Cork City Council – Enhance Clogheenmilcon Fen Bog to create an ecological visitor attraction
Sustaining the Arts
Galway City Council – Reflections – A Commemoration of the Irish Women of 1923
