Wicklow County Council win at LAMA National Awards

Damien Ryan Chairperson of LAMA, Cllr. Shane Langrell, Cllr. Paul O’ Brien, Pat Clark, Cllr. Avril Cronin, Michael Nicholson, Sean Keane, Brian Wildes and Cllr. Justin Moylan LAMA

This past weekend, Wicklow County Council attended the LAMA All Ireland Community and Council Awards. We were shortlisted in seven categories, including the prestigious Council of the Year, which we won in 2024.

The event took place in Cork City and was attended by representatives from local authorities across Ireland.

Wicklow County Council won the award for ‘Most Inclusive Project’ for the Wicklow Sports & Recreation Partnership initiative titled, ‘Wicklow Travelers Urban Outdoor Programme,’ submitted by Coordinator, Aisling Hubbard. This project was recognised amidst competition from Fingal, Carlow, Leitrim and Roscommon.

In January 2023, Wicklow Sports Partnership provided funding for Wicklow Travellers Group to provide an Urban Outdoor Recreation project for members of the Travelling Community in Wicklow. The objectives of the project were to allow members of Wicklow Travellers Group to embrace the outdoors through education, facilitation and support.

The programme was centered around an ‘Urban Triathlon,’ which included delivering running and walking programmes, learn-to-cycle and mountain biking sessions, and swimming lessons, including both coral leisure and sea swimming during the summer, all facilitated through the Wicklow Travellers Centre.

The swimming component was particularly successful, with teenagers and younger children learning to swim. Sessions were also organised for adult men, which led to a sea swimming series during the summer. Swimming has traditionally presented an element of fear within the traveller community, so the involvement of kids, parents, and adults reflects a significant positive shift in attitudes towards water. This change promises to transform perceptions for future generations.

A significant highlight was conducting the first-ever Darkness into Light event specifically starting from the CEART at the Wicklow Travellers Centre. All in attendance agreed it was a very successfully event, that will be repeated in the year to come.

The Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council, Paul O’Brien, commented on the achievement by saying, “It’s fantastic to see County Wicklow receiving multiple nominations and being shortlisted in this prestigious awards competition, often referred to as the ‘Oscars of Local Government.’ Each of the shortlisted projects highlights the diverse contributions made by the local authority to the social and economic development of communities throughout County Wicklow.”

Emer O’Gorman, Chief Executive of Wicklow County Council, expressed her congratulations to everyone involved. “I am pleased to see these nominations acknowledging the hard work and achievements over the past year. Our efforts to engage with community leaders and businesses have successfully delivered projects that have a significant social and economic impact, benefiting our county. I am delighted that the LAMA and the adjudicators have once again recognised the fantastic work being carried out here in County Wicklow.”

This recognition for Wicklow County Council is particularly noteworthy as we have been shortlisted in seven categories.

The shortlist entries were:

• Best Green Sustainable (Monastery Grove, Enniskerry),
• Best Energy Smart Initiative (The Green, Kilcoole and Energy Retrofitting, Monastery Grove, Enniskerry),
• Most Inclusive Project (Wicklow Travelers Unban Outdoor Programme), Local Authority Energy Decarbonisation Award (Bray Fire Station),
• Local Authority Energy Decarbonisation Award (Energy Retrofitting, Monastery Grove, Enniskerry
• Local Authority Energy Decarbonisation of The Green, Kilcoole)
• Nominated for Council of the Year 2025

Now in its 19th year, the award scheme hosted by LAMA (Local Authority Members Association) and IPB Insurance recognises and celebrates communities and the country’s 31 local authorities working together.

These awards recognise and illustrate the collaborative work between Wicklow County Council, the community and volunteers creating a better place to live and work in Wicklow.