Donegal County Council named Council of the Year

Donegal County Council has won the prestigious Council of the Year Award at this year's Local Authority Members Association All-Ireland Community and Council Awards.

The Local Authority Members Association (Lama) Awards are the benchmark for excellence and recognise and celebrate community and councils working together.

The award follows Donegal Council’s previous success at the end of 2024, winning Local Authority of the Year Award at the Chambers Ireland's Excellence in Local Government Awards.

The Lama awards ceremony was held on Saturday evening at the Rochestown Park Hotel, Cork.

The council also won two Best Communications Initiative for its Love Donegal Campaign and its impactful approach to showcasing Donegal’s identity, fostering community engagement, and driving economic growth and Best Business working with the Community award for Spraoi agus Spórt, a leading social enterprise in Carndonagh which reinvests its profits to strengthen the local community and stimulate economic growth. The local authority was also shortlisted in a further six categories.

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Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council Cllr Niamh Kennedy, who represented Donegal County Council at the awards ceremony along with chief executive John G McLaughlin, Council Members and staff, were delighted to receive the accolade for the county.

“I am delighted to see Donegal County Council receive yet another top accolade,” she said. “This reflects the relentless work that councillors and council staff do day in and day out for the people of our community, developing innovative projects and initiatives to improve and enhance the social environmental, cultural and economic aspects of community lives in Donegal. It was an honour to attend on the night and watch our county shine.”

Chief executive of Donegal County Council John G McLaughlin also welcomed the award and said: “This is a great reflection on the work of the council. It celebrates the unique and symbiotic relationship enjoyed by Donegal County Council and its communities and showcases how collaborative work between the council, the community and volunteers create a better place to live and work. I am incredibly proud of the entire team in Donegal, grateful for the support of our elected members and the work of our communities, volunteers and stakeholders.”

The Lama Community and Council Awards are held annually and are sponsored by IPB Insurance. They showcase the potential of local level community volunteerism when it is fostered and championed.

Other Donegal County Council projects shortlisted included: The Civic Dollars Project in the Best Mental Health Initiative; ii Inovation Hub in the Best Enterprise & Start-Up Category; Donegal Town Diamond – Outdoor Public Space Scheme in the Best Town or village Regeneration Category; Cuirt an Troisc – Exemplar Age Friendly Housing in the Best Housing & Urban Planning Category, Food Coast Donegal in the Best Tourism Initiative Category, Lionra Leitir ceanainn in the Best Irish Language Initiative.