Success on the double for West Cork at LAMA awards

By Jackie Keogh Saturday February 6th, 2010

A WEST Cork company and a voluntary organisation took top honours at the National Zurich Local Authority Members’ Association awards ceremony, which was held at the Burlington Hotel in Dublin on Saturday night.

The Clonakilty-based com­pany, Hillback Developments, which is owned and managed by Bob and Maria Hilliard, took the top award for best development.

The company had no less than five nominations on the night for best building, best sculptor, best housing development, best public building and best mixed-development, known as The Waterfront.

The prize for the ‘best use of external communications’ was won by the Ardfield-Rathbarry Community newsletter. The ARC is a free community weekly newsletter that is edited and produced by local man, Hugh O’Reilly.

The annual awards ceremony commends individuals, initiatives and private companies for their outstanding contributions, as well as projects that are of benefit to the community.

The nominations for the Local Authority Members Association, otherwise known as LAMA, are made by elected councillors and of the 101 finalists, Cork County had twelve and West Cork had eight.

Courtmacsherry-based councillor, Mr. John O'Sullivan, said: "It was a proud night for Cork and West Cork, especially Clonakilty, which had finalists in eight of the twenty categories."

Mr. O'Sullivan, who nominated the award-winning projects, said: "To win two national awards on one night is a wonderful achievement."