Louth County Council shortlisted for two Excellence in Local Government Awards

Dundalk Sports Centre, which became a temporary rest facility as part of Louth County Council’s response to the Ukraine- Russia war

placeholder image — Dundalk Sports Centre, which became a temporary rest facility as part of Louth County Council’s response to the Ukraine- Russia war

Louth County Council have announced that they are in the running for two awards at the Chambers Ireland Excellence in Local Government Awards (2023), taking place later this week.

In its 20th year, the awards feature a total of 94 Local Authority projects shortlisted over 15 categories.

The awards, taking place on Thursday 23rd November at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Dublin, are held in conjunction with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

Louth County Council have been shortlisted in two categories at the event.

The humanitarian response to the Ukraine crisis was named as a finalist in the ‘Local Authority Innovation’ category, while the council’s tourism and economic development initiative ‘Sea Louth’ was shortlisted in the ‘Supporting Tourism’ category.

Louth County Council say they took the decision to act promptly, and in the most humanitarian way possible, to the unprecedented crisis following the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

The response saw Louth County Council’s Crisis Management Team mobilised, with two strategic priorities identified - to set up a temporary ‘Rest Centre’ to quickly receive refugees arriving nationally and to identify local 'quick fix' units for more sustainable accommodation. The council owned Sports Centre was repurposed as a temporary rest centre for seven weeks, managed by the Sports Centre staff working with colleagues and the statutory agencies.

They say their ongoing work, through the https://offerahome.ie/ initiative provides a stable accommodation model, supported by the community response forum, agencies and the local community, ensuring safety and stability for families and children who had to flee from their homes due to war.

The second shortlisted project Sea Louth - County Louth's scenic seafood trail – features in the ‘Supporting Tourism’ category of the Excellence in Local Government awards 2023.

Launched just over two years ago, the council say hundreds of visitors to the county, and encouraging local people to explore all the county has to offer.

Sea Louth aims to increase inward tourism and economic development, build tourism footfall and entice visitors to spend more time in Louth.

The aim of the trail is to utilize the 70km long coast line of the smallest county in Ireland, ranging from Drogheda to Omeath), encompassing the rich, quality seafood and Artisan food producer offerings, the maritime heritage cultural assets and the history of seafood in many of the towns and villages across County Louth .

Louth County Council Chief Executive, Joan Martin said:

“These initiatives are an example of the broad range of excellent work being led by Louth County Council, and we wish both projects shortlisted in the Excellence in Local Government awards the very best of luck.”