At a special award ceremony Alastair Coey Architects and the Armagh City and District Council received certificates commending their efforts toward the restoration and conservation of the Mall in Armagh City, which was awarded the 2005 Civic Trust Northern Ireland Public Realm Special Award, sponsored by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, earlier in the year. Arts Council’s Chief Executive, Roisín McDonough, presented the award to Alastair Coey Architects, and said that she was “especially delighted that this year’s winner has at its heart the sensitive regeneration of the public space of one of Northern Ireland’s most beautiful and architecturally striking cities”. Ms McDonough praised the “sensitive and well considered approach to the delightful open green space of the Mall in Armagh”, and said she welcomed the Armagh City and District Council's 'endeavours to bring life back to this restored green space.' The Arts Council of Northern Ireland sponsors the award as part of its work in promoting quality of design in the built environment and has further demonstrated its ongoing support for the project with new plans to organise a minimum of six major events in the mall per annum. Speaking on behalf of the Planning Service, who organised the awards ceremony, Chief Executive David Ferguson said, “the restored Armagh Mall is an asset to be enjoyed by the citizens of the City and visitors for many years to come” and emphasized the important role of public places in providing solitude, recreation and entertainment for members of the community. The Northern Ireland Public Realm Special Award is presented through the UK through the Civic Trust Award scheme, and is one of eleven special awards presented this year. The scheme represents 'one of Europe’s most prestigious architecture and environmental design schemes.' Vivienne Newlands, Awards Manager for the Civic Trust, says “the awards programme has been running now for over 45 years and aims to raise awareness of the everyday impact that buildings and places have on our lives; winning projects such as the Mall are an inspiring example of the positive impact the public realm has on the local community”. For further information, CLICK HERE