Waterford City and County Council has been shortlisted for three All-Ireland Community & Council Awards in 2025.
The awards, presented by the Local Authority Members Association (LAMA) and sponsored by IPB Insurance, recognise the collaborative spirit demonstrated by communities and councils across the island. Now in its nineteenth year the awards offer a valuable platform to showcase the achievements and positive impact of these partnerships within local areas as well as highlighting the unsung heroes in our communities.
Mayor of Waterford City and County, Cllr. Jason Murphy said, “Being shortlisted in three categories of the All Ireland Community & Council awards is testament to the vision and dedication of the Council. There is a great team working behind the scenes to consistently innovate, build, create, improve and maintain.”
In the Best Town / Village Regeneration category, Waterford City and County Council’s efforts in tackling dereliction and vacancy have been shortlisted. 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.
“Waterford’s efforts in tackling vacancy and dereliction are regularly cited as best practice, with the Council accounting for a substantial number of dwellings brought back into use through the Repair and Lease scheme.”
The Repair and Lease Scheme has been pioneered in Waterford and is a significant driver in providing high quality affordable housing solutions and at the same time has significantly addressed and delivered the return to use of vacant buildings in Waterford. Almost 800 dwellings have been revitalised through such initiatives, signifying substantial progress in addressing vacancy and dereliction in Waterford.
“In the Dáil last year, Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien said Waterford City and County Council is the leading local authority in delivering units under RLS, and Waterford was also recently cited as best practice in the draft Programme for Government,” the mayor added.
Waterford City and County Council has also been shortlisted in the Best Tourism Initiative category for the City of Lights project.
The local authority launched the City of Lights project, funded by Fáilte Ireland, to illuminate 19 key locations across the city. This initiative enhances Waterford's tourism appeal by creating a captivating nighttime experience that showcasing the city’s rich heritage, boosting the local economy, and enhancing safety for visitors.
The light trail connects the four main areas of the city: the historical Viking Triangle, the vibrant Apple Market and City walls beyond, the retail spine, and the Cultural Quarter. This luminous trail unites these diverse districts, inviting all to explore their unique charm under the captivating glow of the night.
Located on a landmark site on Manor Hill, St. Joseph’s House contains 71 dwellings. The former convent now consists of 50 units located within the main building, while 21 units are located in the various out-building clusters on the site. The former chapel on the site has also been repurposed as a community space for multiple uses by tenants.
The 2025 All Ireland Community & Council Awards, sponsored by IPB Insurance take place in Rochestown Park Hotel in Cork on February 22nd.
