The Adamstown housing development near Lucan, Co Dublin, has taken two of the top awards in this year's Local Authority Members Association (Lama) awards for projects benefiting the community.
The awards, which also paid tribute to an eco-community in Tipperary, a nursing home in Westmeath and a public library in west Dublin, recognise "outstanding contributions and projects of benefit to the community".
Adamstown took first place in the Best Private Housing Development and Best Affordable Housing Development categories. The new community of houses and apartments, largely aimed at first-time buyers, is due to have 10,000 homes by 2016.
Sales have slowed considerably since the first phase was launched in 2006. The long queues of buyers which greeted that and subsequent launches were absent when the latest phase of 80 units went on sale last September.
The Cloughjordan eco-village in Co Tipperary was awarded Best Environmentally Friendly Initiative. Although the village has yet to be built, the community has been granted outline planning permission for a 27-hectare (67-acre) site that will include houses and apartments, community allotments and an area for woodland and wildlife.
The new county library in Tallaght received the Best Public Building award, beating off competition from Galway City Museum and the new town hall in Carlow. Oranmore Garda station in Galway was named Best Civil Defence Building ahead of Granard fire station, Co Longford, Mullingar Garda station, Co Westmeath, and Westport fire station, Co Mayo.
In the Best Private Nursing Homes category, the award went to St Camillus Nursing Centre, Co Westmeath, and the Best Recreational Facility went to Portlaoise Leisure Centre.
Murray O'Laoire Architects, which was involved in the redevelopment of Thomond Park rugby stadium and the Athlone Town Centre shopping centre, was voted Best Architect, while Best Engineer went to Tobin Consulting Engineers.
Minister for the Environment John Gormley was guest of honour at the awards ceremony.
