Limerick council wins 'Noise Oscar' for park project
The project became the first Quiet Area designation in Ireland
LIMERICK City and County Council has won the John Connell Local Authority Award 2026 for its “pioneering” work to establish the People’s Park as a statutory Quiet Area.
Over three years, the council combined acoustic measurements with active listening and community participation to understand and protect the park’s sound environment.
The project became the first Quiet Area designation in Ireland based on a rigorous soundscape approach, recognising the importance of natural and restorative sounds alongside traditional measures of environmental noise.
A spokesperson for the John Connell awards said: “The project provides a valuable and replicable soundscape framework for protecting quiet spaces through future urban planning, while placing community experience at the heart of decision-making.
“Its potential to be adopted by local authorities nationwide offers an opportunity to influence how quiet spaces are recognised and protected across Ireland.”
The Local Authority Award recognises Limerick City and County Council’s commitment to soundscape, community engagement and healthier urban environments.
The John Connell Awards 2026 took place at the Palace of Westminster on Wednesday, October 21.
These unique awards are named after the Noise Abatement Society’s far-sighted founder John Connell OBE, who lobbied the Noise Abatement Act through Parliament in 1960 when noise became a statutory nuisance in the UK for the first time.
These annual awards, known as the ‘Noise Oscars’, are celebrating their 25th year. They acknowledge “the importance of the quality of sound in our lives, championing vital advances in reducing the negative impact of unnecessary noise for the public benefit”.
The Local Authority Award recognises local authority environment and planning teams dealing with the challenges of neighbourhood noise and promoting sustainable placemaking.
It commends “innovative services, campaigns and initiatives” that show strong community engagement and creative approaches to reducing excessive noise and shaping healthier sounding environments.
The spokesperson explained: “Over 350 recipients from local authorities, industry, organisations and individuals have now been honoured for the significant impact they have made to improve the sound environment.
“The John Connell Awards serve not only as a celebration of acoustic excellence and community action, but as a national call to value quiet and better sounding environments as fundamental components of everyday life.
“Each award is a powerful reminder that quieter solutions enable a more healthy, productive and positive life for all.”