This years Zurich LAMA Awards acknowledged the very best of Ireland's talent in local projects of Construction, Engineering and Infrastructure. Held in the Burlington Hotel last Saturday January 30th, the Zurich LAMA Awards, now in its 4th year, saw key representatives from government, heads of local authorities, construction and the corporate business community attend to show their support of the many finalists. Mr. Michael Finneran, T.D., Minister for Housing and Local Services was delighted with the attendance saying "tonight's nominated projects pay tribute to local authorities, individuals and private sector organisations whose work contributes to the quality of life of our local communities. I'm especially pleased to see that the achievements of both local government and the business community have been recognised. This reflects the reality on the ground where the public and private sectors work successfully together to yield real benefits to local communities."

The Zurich Lama Awards took place on the 30th January at the Burlington Hotel. The annual awards showcased the best projects and companies in communities across Ireland. Over 450 guests were in attendance on the night at which Miriam O'Callaghan was MC and Minister Michael Finneran, Minister for Housing and Local Services was guest of honour. The winners can be found under the winners tab. Congratulations to all the winners and finalists.

The Local Authority Members Association and Zurich are delighted to announce that judging is almost complete for the Zurich LAMA Awards, as they move into their fourth year. For 2010 we hope to further highlight and recognise excellence in construction at local, county, and national level. Next year's gala event will be held on the 30th of January 2010 at Burlington Hotel in Dublin and nominations are currently being received.

In these challenging times, it is more important than ever to celebrate excellence and to acknowledge the well planned and expertly executed projects which are still taking place. Construction will be key to Ireland's recovery.

This year, we have revamped and revised the categories, reflecting climate conditions and enhancing the awards, to include a National Impact Award and a Leader Board, showcasing the strongest county with winning projects. The awards themselves provide an opportunity to acknowledge projects in construction, engineering, and infrastructure. This year, 20 unique categories will commend individuals, initiatives, and projects of benefit to the community.

LAMA play a pivotal role in local government, representing constituents on local issues. Each LAMA Representative and County Councillor of Ireland can nominate in all categories, excluding architect and developer (these categories are entered by companies directly).

We are delighted to once again welcome Zurich as our headline sponsor for the second year. As one of Ireland's leading insurers of commercial property and construction projects, Zurich is a natural fit for these awards.

Conor Brennan, Director of Broker Distribution at Zurich commented 'Zurich is delighted to be associated again with the LAMA Awards. The construction industry remains a key element of Ireland's economy and will play a crucial role in our recovery. These awards provide an important opportunity to acknowledge the well planned and executed projects which enhance our daily lives. We are delighted to be able to recognise some of the outstanding projects which have taken place over the past year.'

For more details on the event or to nominate/enter, please contact Hannah Bates on 432 2205 or hannah.bates@ashville.com

A full list of the winners from 2010 can be found here.