At the IPB/LAMA All Ireland Community & Council Awards where Westmeath County Council won two silver awards were, from left, Cllr Tom Farrrell, Minister Peter Burke and Paul Hogan, architect with Westmeath County Council.

Two accolades for council at LAMA awards

Minister Peter Burke, on right, with compere Marty Morrissey at the IPB/LAMA All Ireland Community & Council Awards.

Eilís Ryan

Published: Thu 14 Apr 2022, 1:34 PM

Last updated: Thu 14 Apr 2022, 5:24 PM

Two accolades have come Westmeath’s way at the annual All Ireland Community & Council Awards, also known as the LAMA Awards.

Westmeath County Council’s two awards were both silver, the first coming for its Virtual Reality Canal Experience, which was submitted in the Best Education/Training Initiative category, and the second for the Bun Daire Green estate in Kinnegad which was entered for a Best Social Housing Initiative award.

The awards, hosted by IPB Insurance and LAMA (the Local Authorities Members Association), were presented at an event at the Crowne Plaza, Dublin Airport on Saturday April 9.

According to the adjudicators, this year – the fifteenth in which the awards have been held – was “extraordinary” in terms of the number nominations received, which amounted to 160.

Following an in-depth judging process over 100 projects nationwide from 30 counties were shortlisted across 24 categories.

According to the organisers, the awards celebrate community and councils working together.

“They provide a great opportunity to highlight the work done within our communities, to reward our unsung heroes and recognise the phenomenal contribution they’ve made to our lives as well as acknowledge achievements from local Community and County Councils, partnerships and projects that enhance our everyday lives.”