Kilkenny County Council shortlisted in the Excellence in Local Government Awards 2023

Chambers Ireland have revealed the shortlist for the Excellence in Local Government Awards 2023, and Kilkenny County Council have secured a nomination in the 'Age Friendly Initiative' category for its work with Kilkenny Age Friendly Train Station.

Now in its 20th year, the awards feature a total of 91 local authority projects shortlisted over 15 categories, including a new addition, ‘Urban Revival’, which showcases local authorities’ innovative efforts to take action in transforming their urban areas. 

Below are all the nominees across all the different categories:

Age Friendly Initiative

Cork City Council - Cork Cultural Companions
Kildare County Council - Celbridge as an age friendly Town
Kilkenny County Council - Kilkenny Age Friendly Train Station
Limerick City & County Council - Crafting Connections
Wexford County Council - Waterford Story Collector Project
Wicklow County Council - Intergenerational Digital Learning Supporting Seniors using their personal Digital Devices

Climate Change

Cork City Council - LED Lantern Upgrade & Energy Efficiency Project
Kildare County Council - Local Authority Climate Action Training Programme
Limerick City & County Council - Limerick's First School Street - An Mhodhscoil
Meath County Council - Trim Air Quality Project
South Dublin County Council - Tallaght District-Heating Network
Waterford City and County Council - Business Rates Waiver to promote and support sustainability

Communications

Cork City Council - Pathways to Participation 
Fingal County Council - 3D/Virtual Reality Models of Public Realm Projects
Kildare County Council - Get Konnected, Stay Connected: Internal Communications Campaign
Laois County Council - MidlandsIreland.ie: A Digital Roadmap to Promote the Midlands region
Limerick City & County Council - Limerick Student City
Longford County Council - Dog Rehoming Campaign
Waterford City and County Council - #CelebrateWaterford - Ireland's Best Place to Live

Diversity & Inclusion

Cavan County Council - GAA County All Stars Programme
Donegal County Council - AMBITION
Dublin City Council - Library in the Community
Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council - Enhancing Traveller culture and ethnicity in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown
South Dublin County Council - Voices of Ukraine
Waterford City and County Council - Waterford's Ukrainian Refugee Response Project
Wexford County Council - Travelling Tales, visual arts and writing project for Traveller Children

Urban Revival

Clare County Council - Life after Landfill - Ennis Men’s Shed Community Initiative
Cork City Council - Springville House 'Rightsizing'
Kerry County Council - Positioning Tralee as a Regional Economic Driver and Destination Town
South Dublin County Council - The Street; Kick starting the Tallaght Innovation Quarter
Waterford City and County Council - Tramore Town Centre Public Realm Works
Wexford County Council - The High Hill Norman Gardens

Festival of the Year

Cork City Council - The Cork LGBT+ Pride Festival
Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council - dlr Festival of Inclusion 2022
Fingal County Council - Fingal Ukrainian Festival of Cultures and Communities
Kildare County Council - Brigid 1500 St. Brigid's Festival 2023
Longford County Council - Longford Lights Festival
South Dublin County Council - Balgaddy Better Block Event

Health & Wellbeing

Clare County Council - Promoting Health and Wellbeing across County Clare
Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council - Inclusive Cycling For All
Kildare County Council - Kildare Sports Ability Day 2022
Limerick City & County Council - Limerick on Foot
South Dublin County Council - Teenspace Programme
Wexford County Council - Experiencing Success The Rag Tree project
Wicklow County Council - Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Initiative in County Wicklow

Heritage and Built Environment

Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council
Fingal County Council - Dublin Mountains Community Archaeology
Galway County Council - Digitising Galway's Graveyard Heritage
Kildare County Council - Reimagining the Potato Market in Naas
South Dublin County Council - Dublin Mountains Community Archaeology Initiative
Waterford City and County Council - Waterford's newest museums - Time and Silver

Municipal Districts initiative

Clare County Council - The Shannon Embankment Scenic Trail
Cork City Council - Cork City to Passage West Greenway Phase 1
Kildare County Council - Newbridge Women’s shed
Kildare County Council - Wellbeing roadshow
Limerick City & County Council - Regeneration Community Jobs Fair

Local Authority Innovation

Cork City Council - Lancaster Quay Cost Rental Apartment
Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council - Beaufort - a unique heat pump district heating system
Limerick City & County Council - HAP APP
Louth County Council - Response to the Ukraine Crisis
Monaghan County Council - MyCoCo - Delivering Local Authority Services Online
Wicklow County Council - Wicklow County Council Innovation - Solar Car Park

Promoting Economic Development

Clare County Council - Female Entrepreneurship and Leadership
Donegal County Council - #MoveToDonegal Relocation Campaign
Kerry County Council - Kerry Food Hub
Kildare County Council - Connected Hubs - Kildare Hub Network
Limerick City & County Council - Engine Collaboration Centre

Supporting Sustainable Communities

Clare County Council - Clare Library Service - World of Welcome Project
Fingal County Council - Fingal Welcome Rooms
Kildare County Council - Kildare Library Service Reader in Residence
Limerick City & County Council - Student Planners: Inspiring Future Generations
South Dublin County Council - Green Infrastructure Strategy 2022-2028
Wexford County Council - Enniscorthy Community Allotments

Supporting Tourism

Cavan County Council - Cuilcagh Lakelands Geopark Business Sustainability Network
Limerick City & County Council - Discover Limerick
Louth County Council - Sea Louth Scenic Seafood Trail
Waterford City and County Council - Reinvigorating one of the great gardens of the world - Mount Congreve
Wexford County Council - Celtic Routes
Wicklow County Council - Samuel Hayes Bridge

Sustainable Environment & Biodiversity

Clare County Council - The Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark
Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council - Fernhill Park and Gardens AR Experience
Dublin City Council - Project Air View
Kildare County Council - Grass to Gas - Sustainable open space management through fuel generation
Meath County Council - URBACT - Global Goals for Cities
South Dublin County Council - Dublin Urban Rivers LIFE project

Sustaining the Arts

Carlow County Council - Borris Lace By Post and Exchange
Cork City Council - The KinShip Project 
Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council - Framing the Senses
Limerick City & County Council - Decarbonising Together
Meath County Council - Supporting Creative Engagement in Older Age
South Dublin County Council - Sightless Cinema Tallaght

The awards are held annually in conjunction with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.