Top award for Tipp CEO
Joe MacGrath, CEO of Tipperary Co Council, was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the All-Ireland Community and Council Awards 2023 in Clonmel last weekend.
The annual awards are held by the LAMA (Local Authority Members Association) and sponsored by IPB Insurance. The finalists represented their counties at the Hotel Minella, Clonmel, on Saturday, April 15.
The awards provide a great opportunity to highlight the work done within local communities, to reward unsung heroes and recognise the remarkable contribution they’ve made to our lives, as well as acknowledge achievements by county councils, partnerships and projects across Ireland. In their 17th year, these awards continue to grow nationally, celebrating communities and councils working together.
The 2023 awards saw a record number of nominations across the 31 councils, which was whittled down to 100 shortlisted projects in 25 categories. Following an in-depth judging process, the deserving winners were chosen, among them Nenagh man Joe MacGrath with this year's Lifetime Achievement Award. The award is presented to an individual who, during their lifetime, has made an outstanding significance and contribution to their local community or county.
With many new categories such as Best Irish Festival, won by Cork City Council’s ‘Cork Lifelong Learning Festival’, to Best Micro Start Up, taken by Wicklow’s ‘Aqualicence’, to Community Volunteer of the Year, shared by Jill Kennon and Elaine Murphy-Byrne from Monaghan's ‘Carrickmacross Toy Library’, the winners were varied and across the country.
Highlights of the evening included the coveted Grand Prix Award, being awarded to Cork County Council, which won as it had the most shortlisted and winning projects combined over an aggregate score. Council of the Year went to Mayo Co Council for its stellar year-long work, while Clare Co Council was recognised with the National Impact Award for their four-pilar approach of Rural, Economic, Physical and Social Development alignment.
Tipperary's Cllr Micheál Anglim, Chairperson of LAMA, commented: “The 31 local authorities throughout the country have been always very supportive of the awards and of LAMA, and that is very much appreciated. People came for the awards from all the counties throughout the country, and I hope they enjoyed their stay in Tipperary, the Premier County. All the volunteers working tirelessly locally give the best example of what it is to be Irish – where Tipperary leads, Ireland follows.”
Chairman of IPB Insurance, the awards' long term headline sponsor and partner, George Jones, said: “We are proud to be the headline sponsor of the Community and Council Awards in partnership with the Local Authority Members Association. As the mutual insurer to Ireland’s local authorities, we are delighted to support these awards, which celebrate the unique and symbiotic relationship enjoyed by local authorities and their communities. These awards showcase just some of the great initiatives being undertaken by local authorities and their communities, and demonstrate what can be achieved when community volunteerism is encouraged and supported at a local level.”