The work of Midlands Ireland was recognised recently at two national awards ceremonies.
Midlands Ireland, led by Laois County Council in collaboration with Longford County Council, Offaly County Council and Westmeath County Council, has been recognised as a winner at this year’s Excellence in Local Government Awards, celebrating outstanding projects delivered in 2025.
The Excellence in Local Government Awards, hosted by Chambers Ireland and sponsored by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, honour the exceptional work carried out by Local Authorities across Ireland.
Midlands Ireland was the winner of the Local Authority Innovation category for the Driving STEM in the Midlands Initiative.
Earlier in the day, Midlands Ireland was recognised at the #OurEUStory Awards by Access Europe, delivered by The Wheel as Ireland’s capacity-building programme for Irish civil society organisations to better access EU funds and engage in EU policy.
The #OurEUStory competition required entries to be based on a video presentation.
Midlands Ireland highlighted how their European Union funded project, ‘Driving STEM in the Midlands’, has benefitted the communities around the region in promoting STEM participation and retention for a sustainable future in technology and digitalisation.
The video highlighted the work that the STEM Engagement Officers of Laois County Council (Seanie Morris), Longford County Council (Siobhán Grealy), Offaly County Council (Dean Hodge), and Westmeath County Council (Kelley Keogh).
Funded under the EU Just Transition Fund, the video entry was awarded second place on the day for excellence in communicating the impact of EU funding on Midlands Ireland and its community.
Barry Walsh, Cathaoirleach of Laois County Council said: “The recognition Midlands Ireland has received is a proud moment for Laois County Council.
“It demonstrates the strength of our vision and the dedication of our teams to deliver projects that not only meet local needs but set a benchmark for excellence nationally.”
Angela McEvoy, Director of Services at Laois County Council said: “This recognition is a testament to the power of collaboration and innovation in the Midlands.
“We are proud to play a role in creating opportunities that inspire young people to pursue STEM pathways and make STEM accessible and exciting for all.
“I’d like to thank our fantastic STEM Engagement Officers and the teams in Laois, Longford, Offaly and Westmeath for their dedication in inspiring the next generation of innovators and problem-solvers.”
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