The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
Clare County Council has been named Local Authority of the Year 2022 at the Chambers Ireland Excellence in Local Government Awards.
The Banner county’s local authority was also named overall winner in the ‘Festival of the Year’ and ‘Sustaining the Arts’ award categories.
Clare County Council won the overall award for its commitment to serving the community and for raising the area’s profile nationally as a stand-out destination.
It was also awarded for the Ennis Mela Festival, which saw over 50 performers from countries worldwide perform alongside local diverse communities from Clare in March.
The House! Open Air Aerial Dance Spectacle with Fidget Feet, meanwhile, a dance spectacle that was commissioned by Clare County Council and premiered in Ennis in April won the Sustaining the Arts Award.
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.
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.
The Excellence in Local Government Awards are held in conjunction with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and showcase best practice in local government. The awards recognise the skills, hard work, innovation and enthusiasm within local government that can often go unrecognised.
Now in their 19th year, the awards were presented at a ceremony in the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Santry, Dublin, on Thursday night (24th November, 2022).
Clare County Council previously was named Local Authority of the Year in 2018.
