Welcome to the
all Ireland community
& council awards

Best Irish Festival

Open to any festival or event staged in a local community or county. The Best Irish Festival of the Year award recognises the huge effort made by both residents and organisers to make an event happen and the sense of community such an endeavour creates. The winning festival/event will also have boosted tourism and attracted business to the area, thereby raising the community’s profile and cementing the area’s commitment to building a healthy and whole neighbourhood.

• Describe your Festival and outline any unique features. (40%)
• Describe the successes of your Festival – include figures and any PR received, describe how it boosted tourism and attracted business to the local area. (30%)
• Describe the objectives/goals and outcomes of the Festival. (30%)

Best Green Sustainable Initiative

This category recognises initiatives which were put in place to achieve green and sustainable objectives. They must have impacted upon the community or improved lives of those in the surrounding area in terms of sustainable development, the economy and the environment.

• Tell us about the initiative – the quality of it, why did you do it ? what it entailed etc. (40%)
• Tell us about how efficiently it was executed –If quantifiable, what did the project achieve in terms of sustainable development, economy, environment and/or equity? (30%)
• Tell us how this community-based initiative contributes to the community – who does it benefit and how? (30%)

Best Mental Health Initiative

This category celebrates outstanding and inspirational initiatives across Ireland starting in the community.  Introduce us to your mental health initiative, how the work was innovative, a new idea or an existing concept delivered in a new or creative way.

• Tell us about the initiative – why it was set up, and with what goals in mind? (30%)
• Tell us how you implemented this initiative ? (30%)
• What benefits does it bring to the community and can it be sustained ? (40%)

Community Volunteer of the Year

This category is for those who go above and beyond for their community and create a positive impact in their community. They also inspire and motivate others.

• Tell us about your community volunteer’s work in either a community group or local charity which has made a significant change to community life. Outline their level of involvement in the community and describe the impact their commitment has had on the locality. (100%)

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Best Community Transport Initiative

This category celebrates outstanding community transport initiatives.  Introduce us to your project, how the work was innovative, a new idea or an existing concept delivered in a new or creative way.

• Tell us about the initiative – why it was set up, and with what goals in mind? (30%)
• Tell us how you implemented this initiative ? (30%)
• What benefits does it bring to the community and can it be sustained ? (40%)

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Best Business working with the Community

This category aims to find the best Irish business working in the community who has recognised a wider responsibility to their people and the communities in which they work. This can be by helping communities by having a positive impact on the people and community around them and working with integrity and responsibility. The business may be involved in charitable and community activities by for example supporting a local club through sponsorship or raising money for a local charity group.

• Tell us about the business, and specifically how it engages with the three pillars of ‘People, Planet, Profit’: In regards to ‘People’, how does the business interact with the community in a social respect, and what is the business’ relationship with the local council? (40%)
• Planet’: Does the business endorse environmental responsibility, and adopt third-party certifications, such as Fair Trade? Refer to any reductions of resources, and levels of energy use and waste. (30%)
• ‘Profit’: How has the business assisted the local community in economic terms? Has the business create new jobs, or ensured job security? (30%)

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Best Enterprise & Start-up Hub

This award recognises a Start-Up that has embraced entrepreneurial talent and skills, as well as working with the local resources provided by service within your county.

• Outline the initiative and why. (40%)
• Details the how this improved Inward Investment. (30%)
• Outline the opportunities future growth and plans for your county. (30%)

Best Micro Start-up

This award recognises a Micro Start-Up that has embraced entrepreneurial talent and skills, as well as working with the local resources provided by service within your county.

• Outline the initiative and why. (40%)
• Details the how this improved Inward Investment. (30%)
• Outline the opportunities future growth and plans for your county. (30%)

Best Irish Language Initiative

This award recognises due credit to the exceptional calibre and outstanding quality of Irish Language initiatives in the community or county.

• Outline the initiative and why. (40%)
• Tell us how you implemented this initiative? (30%)
• What benefits does it bring to the community and can it be sustained? (30%)

Best Town or Village Regeneration

This award recognises interventions or initiatives which seek to regenerate or reactivate existing town or villages, and the needs of the people who live in them

• Outline the initiative and why. (40%)
• Tell us how you implemented this initiative ? (30%)
• What benefits does it bring to the community and can it be sustained ? (40%)

Best Affordable Housing Project

(incl. community, public and affordable housing)

This category acknowledges excellence within social housing projects which have been developed in the last three years enabling stability and sustainability within communities. Projects will have provided homes for traditional families, lone-parent families, the elderly, homeless and disabled people. It will also have succeeded in its aims to provide a high standard of accommodation whilst relieving a local housing need as well as establishing and maintaining socially integrated communities rather than just shelter or accommodation.

• Outline the social housing development from planning to final execution highlighting challenges you may have faced including time constraints, budgets, and accommodation requirements. (40%)
• Outline the construction of the development including the design and sustainability of the building and its impact on its surrounding environment in the community. (30%)
• Describe how the project responds to the needs of the local community, the variety of tenants housed, how their needs are met through ease of access within the building and to local services. (30%)

Best Social Housing Project

(incl. community, public and affordable housing)

This category acknowledges excellence within social housing projects which have been developed in the last three years enabling stability and sustainability within communities. Projects will have provided homes for traditional families, lone-parent families, the elderly, homeless and disabled people. It will also have succeeded in its aims to provide a high standard of accommodation whilst relieving a local housing need as well as establishing and maintaining socially integrated communities rather than just shelter or accommodation.

• Outline the social housing development from planning to final execution highlighting challenges you may have faced including time constraints, budgets, and accommodation requirements. (40%)
• Outline the construction of the development including the design and sustainability of the building and its impact on its surrounding environment in the community. (30%)
• Describe how the project responds to the needs of the local community, the variety of tenants housed, how their needs are met through ease of access within the building and to local services. (30%)

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Best Trail in Ireland

This award recognises local and popular trails in Ireland, be they running, walking, hiking, nature lovers or for campers. Tell us why you think your trail is the best in Ireland?

• Tell us about your trail and why you think it is best ? (50%)
• What benefits does it bring to the community and can it be sustained ? (50%)

Best Innovation in Urban Planning

This award recognises innovation in local projects by teams or organisations that enable good urban planning and design, or a better understanding of towns and cities, and the needs of the people who live in them.

• Outline the initiative and why. (40%)
• Tell us how you implemented this initiative ? (30%)
• What benefits does it bring to the community and can it be sustained ? (30%)

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Best Communications initiative/Innovation

This award will be made to the project which has made the most significant communications innovation for a local product or service during the previous year.

• Outline the initiative and why. (40%)
• Tell us how you implemented this initiative ? (30%)
• What benefits does it bring to the community and can it be sustained ? (30%)

Best Tourism Initiative

Specifically aimed at rewarding an initiative which directly increases visitor numbers to an area or to Ireland overall, this category will recognise an initiative or project that has helped improve the way we care for our visitors. The impact this initiative has had or is having on visitor numbers and on communities will be taken into consideration, as will the effect it is having on businesses, both new and existing.

• Describe this Tourism Initiative and outline the objectives set. (30%)
• Detail your Tourism Initiative marketing campaign. Include details of both online and offline campaigns and any international reach. (30%)
• Outline the success of the Tourism Initiative. Describe the benefits to the community, Business and how visitor numbers increased. (40%)

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Best Energy Smart Initiative

This category recognises pioneering or innovative approaches to sustainable energy; this can range from a unique energy awareness campaign, a forward-thinking approach to retrofitting, inclusion of renewable energy technology, improvements to existing energy-management techniques, novel ways of communicating energy information or the implementation of an ambitious energy management policy. By promoting the use of energy in an intelligent and advanced way, this category recognises the efforts by a local authority (either council-wide, by department or even by an individual) to become more energy-smart in how it operates on a day-to-day basis, with demonstrated savings in energy. The project should be exemplary in its field and should be easily replicated in other organisations.

• Does this project demonstrate a smart or forward-thinking approach to the sustainable use of energy? (30%)
• Does this project apply unique and innovative methods that have previously not been used before? (30%)
• Is this project exemplary in its field, can it lead by example? Can this project be easily replicated in other local authorities? (40%)

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Best Community Health Initiative

This category recognises and celebrates organisations/individuals that have developed activities, facilities, policies and strategies that encourage an active and healthy community, as well as promoting mental, physical or emotional health.

• Outline the project/facility and/or activity that was put in place to improve the health & well being of the community. (50%)
• Tell us how the project/facility and/or activity contributes to the community – who does it benefit and how? (50%)

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Best CSR Project in a Community

This award recognises and rewards organisations regardless of size that are making strides towards a better environment for people and the local economy.

• Outline the initiative and why. (40%)
• Tell us how you implemented this initiative ? (30%)
• What benefits does it bring to the community and can it be sustained ? (30%)

Best Social Enterprise of the Year

(Not open for public entry)

Social enterprises are organisations whose mission is to have a positive effect on society. They generate revenue through their products or services and reinvest their profits back into their social mission. Social enterprises develop solutions to Ireland’s most pressing social issues by creating jobs, tackling disadvantage and supporting community development.

In January 2018, Social Innovation Fund of Ireland launched the Social Enterprise Development Fund to find and back the best social enterprises in Ireland. The fund is run in partnership with Local Authorities Ireland, with the support IPB insurance and the Department of Rural and Community Development from the Dormant Accounts Fund.

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Best Environmental/Ecological Project/Initiative

This category seeks to celebrate projects/initiatives that have taken action to improve their local environment; such projects might work to enhance biodiversity; reduce waste; or improve water or air quality, increase energy efficiency/sustainability. These activities could include campaigns to encourage greener behaviours or installation and restoration projects that have environmental improvement as their primary goal. These programmes should have been carried within the local community and have had a tangible outcome in terms of improving the environment.

• Describe this Environmental/Ecological Project/Initiative and outline the objectives. (30%)
• Tell us how the project contributes to the community and responds to the needs of the local community – who does it benefit and how? (40%)
• Tell us about the outcome of the project, how the success of the project was measured and will the initiative continue to be implemented and how? (30%)

National Impact Award

This category recognises a project which has had a positive effect upon the nation as a whole, enhancing the environment, cultural or social activities, transport links or the economic stability or growth of the local and national communities who use it.

• Tell us about the overall concept – why the end result was decided upon and with what result in mind – cultural, social, economic? (40%)
• Tell us about how the project was received by the public, press or foreign visitors? (20%)
• Tell us how the project benefitted the public, or impacted the lives of the community members through social, cultural, economic or business use. (40%)

Council of the year

Council of the Year recognises a local council which has gone above and beyond for the people of the community. It must have developed and be continuing to develop a range of innovative projects and initiatives which improve and enhance the social, environmental, cultural and economic aspects of community lives. This category is not open for entry; instead County Councils with the highest number of finalists over all the categories will be invited to submit a 600 word entry outlining the criteria below.

• Tell us about the key projects that were undertaken by the council and how they were implemented? (50%)
• Tell us about the success of each project and how the success of each project was measured? (50%)

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Lifetime Achievement Award

The Lifetime Achievement Award, is presented to an individual who, during their lifetime, has made an outstanding significance and contribution to their local community or county.

This Award will be decided by the Judging Panel

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Grand Prix

(Not open for public entry)
Sponsored by IPB Insurance, the Grand Prix Award is a special commendation for outstanding excellence. This prestigious award goes to the project/initiative that received the highest average mark from our esteemed judging panel.

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