Kilkenny landmark plays host to prestigious national seminar

Exceptional local authority projects from across the country were showcased in the historic Kilkenny setting

Published 12th Mar 2026, 14:00 BST Minister of State for Planning and Local Government, John Cummins TD, opens the seminar in Kilkenny Castle Exceptional local authority projects from across the country were showcased in the historic Kilkenny setting At Kilkenny Castle on Tuesday, Minister of State with responsibility for Planning and Local Government, John Cummins TD opened the National Oversight and Audit Commission’s (NOAC) eighth Good Practice in Local Government seminar.

At the event, six local authorities showcased innovative projects that demonstrate leadership and excellence in local government service delivery.

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NOAC, as an independent body, is a cornerstone in providing oversight of the local government sector in Ireland. The organisation hosted this seminar in collaboration with the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) and the County and City Management (CCMA).

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Speaking at the event, Minister Cummins said: “Our local authorities are at the heart of delivering services to the public. The work they do touches the lives of every person in Ireland every single day, often in ways they might not realise.”

“Innovations, like the ones we are hearing about today, are crucial for our sector, and help us to continually improve these important services for the public. I sincerely thank NOAC for hosting this event to showcase these projects and for its excellent oversight work in this area,” he added.

Among the projects featured were Galway County Council’s 60+ Climate Drive Programme, a volunteer-led initiative which supports older adults taking part in climate actions and Offaly County Council’s Lámhleabhar Gaeilge, a practical Irish language handbook for staff and elected members to aid the embedding of the language in the organisation.

Related topics: John Cummins Kilkenny Castle Offaly County Council Kilkenny Sign up to our Kilkenny Live newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know you can manage your profile, and explore all of the available newsletters from Kilkenny Live within your account.