Dublin City Volunteer Centre is delighted to announce the shortlist for the 14th annual Volunteer Ireland Awards.
Those shortlisted will be honored at the national awards ceremony in December which celebrates the commitment and dedication of volunteers across Ireland.
With 36 nominees across 12 categories, the shortlist includes volunteers aged 18 to 80 and showcases the remarkable impact of volunteering across all sections of society. Drawn from across 15 counties, the work done by nominees encompasses everything from climate action to animal welfare and showcases the key role played by volunteers in supporting our communities. Dublin City Volunteer Centre are delighted to have local finalists.
“I would like to congratulate volunteers Seamus Connolly & Raymond Carr; organisations A Lending Hand & FLAC (Free Legal,Advice Centres), Volunteer Mentors - INSPIRE Mentoring programme and our own Aviva Central Vaccination Centre Volunteer Manager Robbie Stack for being shortlisted in this year’s Volunteer Ireland Awards. Volunteers across Ireland give their time every day without asking for anything in return. The Volunteer Ireland Awards afford us an opportunity to share the stories and experiences of volunteers and show our appreciation for their generosity of spirit. The hundreds of nominations received by Volunteer Ireland are a testament to the impact of volunteers in communities across Ireland.”
The Volunteer Ireland Awards have been supported by the Department of Rural and Community Development (DRCD), which recognises the importance of volunteers in our communities.
"The Volunteer Ireland Awards shine a light on the remarkable contribution of volunteers across Ireland. Over the past year, we have seen new volunteers step forward in response to emerging challenges, while others have continued to give their time and experience in roles which they have been diligently carrying out for years. Today’s shortlist announcement highlights the key role volunteers play at the heart of their communities. My Department is delighted to support the Volunteer Ireland Awards again this year and I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all the shortlisted nominees."
Volunteer Ireland have also been delighted to partner with Healthy Irelands once again, who share in Volunteer Ireland’s belief that volunteering contributes to healthier, happier, and more connected communities.
“Healthy Ireland recognizes the importance of volunteers in supporting healthy, happy and resilient communities, and it is clear from this year’s shortlist that volunteer engagement continues to have a profoundly positive impact across Ireland. Though we have faced challenging and uncertain times over the past year, it is heartening to see the unwavering dedication of volunteers in supporting their neighbors and wider communities. Healthy Ireland is delighted to once again partner with Volunteer Ireland in making these awards.”
The fourteenth annual Volunteer Ireland Awards take place on Friday 3rd December in the Carlton Hotel, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15. Shortlisted nominees will be invited to share the celebration where Volunteer Ireland will announce the winners in each category and name Ireland’s Volunteer of the Year for 2021.
ENDS
For more information contact Edwina Dewart, Manager, Dublin City Volunteer Centre, Edwina@volunteerdublincity.ie / 086 174 1317
Volunteer Ireland Awards Shortlist 2021
Animals & Environment
- Susan Hewitt, MADRA (Mutts Anonymous Dog Rescue and Adoption, Co. Galway
- Sheena Twist, Burren Animal Rescue, Co. Clare
- Michael O’ Halloran, Waterloo Renewal Group, Co. Louth
Arts, Culture & Festival
- Uta Uí Almhain, Oriel Traditional Orchestra, Co. Louth
- Elena Sawczenko, Tipperary Gold Star Project & HSE Disability Services, Co. Tipperary
- Jennifer Sullivan and Robert McBurney, Living Well with Dementia Sweet Memories Choir, Co. Dublin
Campaigning & Activism
- Seamus Connolly, Autism Equality Dublin Bay, Co. Dublin
- Larry Magnier, Blackrock Tidy Towns & Louth Tidy Towns Together, Co. Louth
- Aisling Maloney, Various Organisations, Co. Tipperary
COVID-19
- Majella Beattie, CARE Champions, Co. Longford
- James and John Lynch, Age Action, Co. Cork
- Raymond Carr, Aviva Centralised Vaccination Centre Programme, Co. Dublin
Social Inclusion and Community Support
- Joe Cribbin, Ballyleague Mens Shed, Ballyleague & Cloontuskert Tidy Towns, Co. Roscommon
- Phillip Gaffney, Naul Community Council, Co. Meath
- Mgada Hladka, Tipperary Gold Star Initiative, Co. Tipperary
Children & Youth
- Nigel Heneghan, Community Creations, Co. Dublin
- Mary Browne, Children’s Grief Centre, Limerick
- Angela Locke-Reilly, AIRC Mayo and Midlands, Co. Westmeath
Health & Wellbeing
- Noreen O’Flaherty, Recovery Haven Cancer Support House, Co. Kerry
- Ellen Tuffy, Down Syndrome Limerick, Co. Limerick
- Marian Kierans, Healthy Ireland – Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda & LMETB, Drogheda, Co. Louth
Safety & Emergency Services
- Brian Niland, Galway RNLI, Co. Galway
- Jonathan Lynch, Meath Civil Defence, Co. Meath
- Tony O’Brien, Cork City Community First Responders, Co. Cork
Sports & Recreation
- Michael Kenny, Cullen-Lattin AFC, Co. Tipperary
- Susan McCahill, Donegal Dynamos Special Olympics Club, Co. Donegal
- Seamus O’Doherty, Hillview Sports Club, Co. Tipperary
Volunteer Manager
- Robbie Stack, Aviva Centralised Vaccination Centre Volunteer Programme, Co. Dublin
- Shirley Hewston, 40th Company Manorhamilton Girls Brigade, Co. Leitrim
- Tricia Nolan, South Dublin County Volunteer Centre, Co. Dublin
Large Group
- Volunteer Listening Group, Recovery Haven Cancer Support House, Co. Kerry
- Innovate Communities – INSPIRE Mentoring Programme, Co Dublin
- Free Legal Advice Centres, Co. Dublin
Small Group
- Meitheal21 – Down Syndrome Tipperary, Co Tipperary
- Carrick-on-Suir Meals Assistance Service, Co Tipperary
- A Lending Hand, Co. Dublin