Three projects up for social housing awards
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St Brigid’s on Main Street, Cavan Town, has been shortlisted for a Community Housing Award.Image 2 of 4
People can vote for Elm Park housing development in Cavan Town, which has been nominated for a Community Housing Award.Image 3 of 4
From left: Falak Deeb, a resident of Clúid Housing’s Killarney Court in Dublin 1, the overall winner of the inaugural Community Housing Awards in 2003; CEO of the Irish Council for Social Housing, Donal McManus and Head of Underwriting Operations at awards sponsor IPB Insurance, Alice Foley. Photo: Shane O’Neill / Coalesce Picture by Shane O'Neill Coalesce.Image 4 of 4
Birch Court in Ballybay is among the finalists. Chris Bellew / Fennell PhotographyPEOPLE in Cavan and Monaghan are being encouraged to ‘vote local’ in this year’s Community Housing Awards.
Run by the Irish Council for Social Housing (ICSH), the programme is designed to reward innovation and sustainability in public housing in urban and rural areas across the country.
There are two nominees from Cavan and one from Monaghan on the shortlist of 31 from around Ireland.
In Cavan, Elm Park, which is under the Housing with Supports category has been nominated, along with St Brigid’s under the Regeneration Project section. Both housing schemes are delivered in Cavan Town by Cavan County Council.
Revitalising two vacant sites in a prime town centre location, Elm Park comprises of 12 two-bed semi-detached bungalows and one two-bed bungalow specifically catering towards older people.
The energy-efficient development has “breathed new life” into the area at the rear of Church Street. The infill site on a gentle slope, makes it accessible to town and the homes can be easily adapted for persons with disabilities.
Eight derelict homes from the 1930s were demolished on the main thoroughfare into Cavan Town to make way for St Brigid’s. The 20 sleek, modern, and energy efficient social homes in two blocks has revitalised the area’s appearance.
In Monaghan, meanwhile, the selected finalist is Birch Court in Ballybay, which is in the Small Regeneration Project category and is delivered by North & East Housing Association.
Birch Court is an over the shop, main street apartment development of four homes, developed on an existing premises in Ballybay. The configuration consists of four two-bed apartments, with two commercial units beneath: a municipal library and a thrift shop.
ICSH is the national representative federation for approved housing bodies (AHBs) in Ireland.
CEO Donal McManus explains why the Public Choice award is a valuable part of the programme: “This award is an opportunity for these communities to get behind local teams and show their neighbourhood,” he said.
In recent years, approved housing bodies, local authorities and the Land Development Agency have been working to increase delivery of secure and affordable social and cost rental homes in response to a pressing need for housing across the state.
The goal is to ensure that 20% of our homes are social and cost rental.
In 2024, AHBs provided 4,385 new social homes and 1,213 cost rental homes - 41% of total social housing and 56% of total cost rental delivery.
Voting for the public choice award closes at 23:59 on October 13. If you would like to vote for Birch Court in Ballybay or Elm Park or St Brigid’s in Cavan Town then visit the following website: Community Housing – Public Choice Award 2025 - Irish Council for Social Housing