Offaly County Council celebrates LAMA National Impact Award win

Offaly County Council is celebrating a significant national achievement following its success at the LAMA All Ireland Community & Council Awards, where it won the prestigious National Impact Award for Driving STEM in the Midlands together with its partners Laois, Longford and Westmeath County Councils. This highly regarded award recognises a single project that has delivered a profound and lasting positive impact at a national level.

The LAMA Awards shine a national spotlight on the very best of local government in action, celebrating strong collaboration between communities and local authorities. They highlight initiatives that demonstrate best practice and have the potential to be replicated nationwide, ensuring that successful local solutions can deliver wider benefits for communities across Ireland.

Now in their 20th year, the awards continue to grow in scale and significance. The 2026 ceremony, hosted by Marty Whelan, attracted a record 533 nominations from all 31 local authorities, which were shortlisted to 137 projects across 26 categories. On the night, Cathaoirleach John Leahy proudly represented Offaly in the Parade of Counties at the Dublin Royal Convention Centre.

Offaly County Council was shortlisted in two major categories: the Local Authority Energy Decarbonisation Award for the Tullamore Decarbonising Zone, and the National Impact Award for Driving STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths) in the Midlands.

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The Tullamore Decarbonising Zone (DZ), which received a Highly Commended award, highlights how locally led climate action can deliver meaningful national impact. The initiative showcases Offaly’s commitment to innovation, sustainability and place-based solutions, serving as a testbed for progressive approaches that support climate action, community engagement and economic resilience.

The Driving STEM in the Midlands initiative further underlines Offaly’s leadership. STEM equips young people with essential skills such as critical thinking, creativity and problem-solving, preparing them for future careers in an evolving job market.

 Speaking about the win, Chief Executive of Offaly County Council, Eoghan Ryan, said:
“Recognition for both the Tullamore Decarbonising Zone and Driving STEM in the Midlands firmly positions Offaly as a county at the forefront of innovation and leadership, with projects that extend beyond local boundaries to influence national policy and practice. This reflect how Offaly County Council is leading meaningful change through innovation, sustainability and education. From the Tullamore Decarbonising Zone to inspiring thousands of young people through STEM, we are investing in skills, creativity and opportunity for Offaly’s future.”

 Cathaoirleach Cllr John Leahy added:
“It was a proud moment to see Offaly County Council recognised on a national stage. The Tullamore Decarbonising Zone is a vital project for our county, demonstrating how climate action can be delivered at a local level in a way that supports communities, encourages innovation, and creates a more sustainable future while Driving STEM in the Midlands highlights the power of collaboration between local government, education, industry, and the wider community, and they reflect Offaly’s commitment to preparing our young people for the challenges and opportunities ahead.”

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