Galway City Council is delighted to be shortlisted in three categories in the prestigious All-Ireland Housing Awards 2026. The shortlisted projects are Bóithrín na Saoirse – Traveller Group Housing Scheme in the Best housing development; Affordable Housing Communications in the Excellence in Communication Category; and Developer Breakfast Briefing, in the ‘Working in Partnership’ Category. The All-Ireland Housing Awards, organised by the Chartered Institute of Housing, recognise the creativity, passion and innovation of housing organisations and individuals across the sector in Ireland and Northern Ireland. The winning projects will be announced at an awards ceremony in Titanic Belfast, on 20 March 2026.
Elizabeth Fanning, Director of Services, Galway City Council said, “These shortlists are a welcome endorsement of the work of the Housing team in Galway City Council, as part of our housing delivery programme. The recently launched Bóithrín na Saoirse replaced a long-standing 1988 halting site with five permanent, modern, energy‑efficient homes designed specifically for Traveller families. These were designed in close collaboration with the resident families and CENA, the Traveller‑led Approved Housing Body. The project represents a transformative move towards traveller specific and community‑centred Traveller accommodation, reflecting national best practice in public‑sector housing delivery.”
She continued, “The Developer Breakfast Briefing was designed to bring together senior officials from Galway City and County Councils, and property developers, planners and key stakeholders to explore opportunities for delivering new affordable housing projects across Galway. Developers were encouraged to collaborate with the local authorities on future housing schemes and were informed about the latest regulatory frameworks and funding mechanisms supporting affordable housing initiatives. The Affordable Housing Communications project complements this work, with a focus on the potential house purchaser, and what they need to know about the scheme. A targeted ‘advertorial’ was developed sharing the real life experiences of Affordable Home owners, buying their first home. This article is available at www.GalwayCity.ie/Services/Housing/Affordable-Housing This work continues, with the team recently hosting a number of housing information evenings, launches and surveys”.
Event organisers of the 2026 awards indicated that they had received an exceptionally high number of entries, with applications of an outstanding standard that truly reflect the dedication, innovation and impact of work being delivered across the housing sector.
Read more about the awards at https://www.cih.org/events/all-ireland-housing-awards/
Image: Pictured at the Developers Affordable Homes Breakfast Briefing in the Menlo Hotel in October 2024 are; Louise Esler, Galway City Council, Pat Cunningham, Burkeway Homes, Fred Fullard, Burkeway Homes, Micheál Cormican, Galway City Council, Leonard Cleary, CE Galway City Council
