Longford council in running for two major All-Ireland awards

Longford County Council is in the running for two top All-Ireland awards.

The local authority has been shortlisted in two categories in the seventeenth annual All Ireland Community and Council Awards 2023.

They include Connected Communities under the Best Communications Initiative category and Urban Horse Project under the Best Community Health category.

The former encompasses the recently-introduced Longford Text Alert project, a communication platform where information is shared between Longford people, Longford County Council and An Garda Síochána.

The latter, meanwhile, was shortlisted for its role in helping young people from the travelling and Roma communities and from low-income backgrounds to learn about horses, responsible horse ownership and career opportunities with horses.

The All Ireland Community and Council Awards 2023 are in association with the Local Authority Members Association and sponsored by IPB Insurance. These awards recognise and celebrate community and councils working together.

“This shortlisting highlights some of the excellent work of the Council in the areas of communications and community health,” said Cathaoirleach Cllr Turlough McGovern.

“Under Connected Communities, Longford Text Alert has allowed Longford people to be updated on what is happening in their area in a way which is convenient to them.”

Longford County Council chief executive Paddy Mahon was equally enthused.

“These nominations reflect the continued emphasis Longford County Council places on increased communications with Longford people and greater collaboration with all our stakeholders,” he said.

The awards ceremony takes place on Saturday, 15 April in Clonmel, County Tipperary.