Latest news with #DroghedaCivicOffices
Irish Independent
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
New Mayor in Louth highlights ‘emerging vision of a thriving Drogheda'
She was elected unopposed at the Annual General Meeting of Drogheda Borough District on Monday evening, and in her inaugural speech spoke of the 'absolute pleasure and privilege to be elected Mayor of Drogheda for the second time.' She thanked all of her council colleagues ' for trusting me with this position,' adding: 'I hope we can all work together, all parties and none yet again to ensure the voice of Drogheda is heard loud and clear.' "Being Mayor of Drogheda is one of the must highly regarded and busiest roles for an elected representative in Ireland, never mind in County Louth. Only one person a year in the world becomes Mayor of Drogheda, not many people can say that.' She added that the Mayoralty 'belongs to the people of Drogheda, from the river to the sea, from Clogherhead to Tullyallen.' She praised the 'joy of meeting the great mix of people and cultures who live in Drogheda.' "Many of us would say that being a councillor in Drogheda is one of the most challenging, even more so than over the last few years. Dereliction remains a blight on West Street, social deprivation has increased and people are suffering due to the housing crisis.' She paid tribute to the officers of local government for their commitment, and highlighted some of the projects that have been completed since her first term as Mayor, including the Port Access Route, the new Drogheda Civic Offices, the Westgate Vision project which is moving through the planning process, the Digital Hub and the plans to transform Westgate House. 'We are busy building homes, forever homes for many people who have been on the social housing list for twelve years.' Mayor Hall welcomed the 'emerging vision of a thriving Drogheda, that will hopefully be realised' and appealed to the government and Dail Eireann to 'look at this town, or city, as it should be, to aim high, to help us succeed, by making it a wonderful place to live, shop and socialise in.' Having made the decision to leave her full time teaching post for the next year to dedicate her time to the role, she added her own personal ambitions to launch a podcast, and to write a book not only about her own time as Mayor of Drogheda, but also examining how the role has evolved over cernturies. from the Anglo Norman invasion to the present day. She looked forward to hosting a series of events over the next year, including International Women's Day, adding; 'I hope we can do it bigger and better in March 2026. ' She voiced her support for women in political roles and across all industries, saying: 'We must always raise women up when we can, and trust that they will do the same.' She pledged to work closely with Louth County Council, the new CEO David Conway, and the other chairs of Municipal Districts across the county, the Drogheda business community, BIDS, An Garda Siochana., Tidy Towns, and the new Deputy Mayor, saying 'We are stronger together.' The cycling enthusiast added: ' I am hoping we will see new cycle lanes commence this year. Cycling is quick, cheap and brings great health benefits.' She also appealed for greater focus on tackling climate change, with projects such as the development of the River Boyne 'above and below the water.' Finally she thanked the Old Drogheda Society for reviving the tradition of firing the canon upon the election of a new Mayor. The event, a visual treat of pomp and ceremony, was marked with a Mayoral reception at Millmount Museum. Funded by the Local Democracy Scheme
Irish Independent
24-04-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Drogheda Civic Offices scoop top honours at national design awards
Designed and delivered by Building Design Partnership Ltd (BDP) and completed in September 2024, the transformative project saw the revitalisation of two historically significant yet long-vacant protected structures. These buildings have now been sensitively restored and unified through a striking, modern architectural intervention. Located within the Architectural Conservation Area of Fair Street, the development includes Louth County Council's administrative offices, a restored council chamber, public service counters, meeting spaces, and a large multipurpose exhibition area. A rejuvenated public plaza, offering an accessible and welcoming green space for the community in the heart of Drogheda town centre, was also delivered as part of the project. BDP's ambitious project received three major accolades. At the BAYA, the Drogheda Civic Offices won the award for Building Refurbishment for a Single Building Development. While at the IBDA, the project received awards for the Retrofit/Renovation Project of the Year and Heritage & Conservation Project of the Year.. The Obelisk Bridge Rehabilitation, which was delivered by O'Connor Sutton Cronin & Associates, was also nominated in the Heritage & Conservation Project of the Year category. Commenting on the success, David Conway, Chief Executive of Louth County Council, said: 'The recognition for the Drogheda Civic Offices from both IBDA and BAYA affirms the value of thoughtful collaboration and sustainable design. We are immensely proud to have collaborated with BDP to see these beautiful buildings brought back to life, and we are proud to see them now serving as a vibrant hub for local government and civic engagement in the heart of Drogheda.' 'Winning these prestigious awards is an incredibly proud moment for our multidisciplinary team at BDP. The Drogheda Civic Offices project sensitively restores two protected structures, now linked by a contemporary building and an enhanced public realm. Significant embodied energy and carbon benefits were achieved. This is not just a win for design - it's a win for Drogheda, as the project revitalises the civic heart of the town,' said Elliott Ballam, Associate at BDP. 'The Drogheda Civic Offices project showcases our commitment as a practice to sustainability and our ability to design and implement innovative approaches to deliver exemplary adaptive re-use projects,' said Michael Mullen, BDP Principal & Head of Dublin Studio. 'This project is a true reflection of the collaborative effort between our multidisciplinary design team and Louth County Council, whose vision for sustainable, adaptive reuse has been key to its success. We believe this project sets a new benchmark for how heritage buildings can be thoughtfully reimagined for the future, and we are truly honoured to receive this validation for the thought leadership displayed by our client, partners and our incredible design team!'
