The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
CLARE County Council being named Local Authority of the Year at the Chambers Ireland Excellence in Local Government Awards was an honour and a humbling experience, said the Council CEO.
The Council was also named overall winner in the ‘Festival of the Year’ (for Ennis Mela Festival) and ‘Sustaining the Arts’ award (for House! Open Air Aerial Dance Spectacle with Fidget Feet).
At the Council’s budget meeting, its Chief Executive Pat Dowling said, “It was an honour and a humbling experience last night to be chosen amongst our peers.
“Morevoer I think it’s important that these awards are endorsed by the business community, as overseen by various chambers of commerce across the country.”
He added, “The two other authorities that we competed with for the overall award were Limerick City & County and South Dublin, two very large urban-based authorities. I take particular pleasure that we did come out on top.”
Mr Dowling said the Council staff and the councillors work particularly well together.
“The one key factor that saw us get the award was the relationship between the elected member and staff, how we collaborate and work together. There’s no doubt about that, and that it doesn’t happen by accident.”
He also said that it has been a difficult time for local authorities.
“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.”
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.”
Fianna Fáil’s Pat Daly congratulated everyone involved in taking the award.
“If we can’t beat Limerick at hurling we’ll beat them at local authority level. It’s a great achievement and the collaboration between Councillors and staff, it can be cool at times, but in general it’s fairly good.”
Independent Gerry Flynn said it was “a fabulous award” to win, while he claimed that “it shows the public out there that the money we get is being spent wisely”.
Fine Gael’s Joe Cooney said, “Like winning a championship, it’s not easy. A lot of time, commitment and dedication has to go into a winning an award like this. Well done to everyone involved, it’s great for our county, it’s great for our local authoirty and it’s great for us as Council members.”
As well as the honours it took, 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.
Owen Ryan
Owen Ryan has been a journalist with the Clare Champion since 2007, having previously worked for a number of other regional titles in Limerick, Galway and Cork.
