Fingal wins on the double at LAMA awards

St. Catherine’s Park and Electric Charging points winners for Fingal at LAMA awards

St. Catherine’s Park, Dublin 15 was named Best Public Park and Fingal County Council’s Electric Vehicle Charging on the Public Street Lighting System won the Best Energy Smart Initiative at the 2019 All Ireland Community and Council Awards at a ceremony in Croke Park Stadium on Saturday evening. The two winning projects were among eleven Fingal nominations for the Awards which are sponsored by IPB Insurance and organised by the Local Authority Members Association (LAMA) in recognition of projects that are the joint effort of councils and community groups. 

Speaking in relation to the awards David Storey, Director of Operations Fingal County Council said “This award is recognition for St. Catherine’s Park’s dedicated team of staff, who pride itself in delivering a high standard of grounds and horticultural maintenance. Their commitment has helped St. Catherine’s Park provide the area of Dublin 15, Lucan and environs with an extensive amenity asset which encompasses all the natural conservation and wildlife aspects necessary for a viable sustainable public park, with continuous enhancement and development based on the needs of the community users at present and into the future. The Best Smart Initiative award for the use of public street lighting poles to charge electric vehicles provides recognition for this initiative one of the many ways, including our use of electrical vehicles, that Fingal County Council is working to mitigate climate change and contribute to sustainable communities.”

Mayor of Fingal Cllr Anthony Lavin said “I would like to congratulate Fingal on winning the two awards and commend those involved in these projects, and all those nominated,  on the excellent  work they are doing to enhance Fingal for the benefit of all the community”

Chief Executive Paul Reid paid tribute to all those involved in the various projects saying: “To get 11 nominations is a tremendous achievement and great credit must go to all the staff who were involved in the various projects. I want to congratulate those involved in St Catherine’s Park which was named as the Best Public Park. It is recognition of the great work being done there daily by our Operations staff and the long-term strategic planning of the facility by our Parks Department.”

“Last year during the #Engage process I highlighted the growing importance of Climate Change and the effect it will have on what we do as a Council. One of the initiatives that emerged out of that process was the use of public street lighting poles to charge electric vehicles and the staff in Operations deserve great credit for bringing the idea to fruition. I hope that we can continue to lead our sector in rolling out practical solutions to enable citizens to play their part in mitigating the effects of Climate Change.”

The eleven Fingal nominations in various categories included Council of the Year which was won by Limerick City and County Council. The other projects nominated were: Flavours of Fingal County Show; Fingal Comhairle na nÓg ‘Perfect Imperfections’ short film; Rush Harbour Playground; Tropical Butterfly House, Malahide; Development of Newbridge House & Farm as a Heritage Attraction; Rock Garden Park, Rathbeale Road, Swords. Billy Bebbington from Sutton was nominated as Community Volunteer of the Year.