Click here to submit a nomination for 2024 now! 

Want to submit to the Volunteer Ireland Awards photography contest?

The Volunteer Ireland Awards are the major annual initiative to celebrate volunteers in Ireland. The awards shine a light on the remarkable achievements of volunteers around the country by honoring them at a national level.

Every volunteer that is nominated will receive a thank you card from Volunteer Ireland. We want to let everyone who is nominated know that their contributions are greatly valued and that someone took the time to put them forward for an award.

Awardees’ volunteer stories will be shared across our social media channels and with local and national press. By sharing these incredible volunteers’ stories we are honouring their contribution to Irish society and also inspiring others to get involved.

The 2024 Volunteer Ireland Awards are made possible thanks to the support of the Department of Rural and Community Development, and award partners Healthy Ireland.

Christine Buckley Volunteer of the Year

Every year one truly exceptional volunteer is named Christine Buckley Volunteer of the Year. This award is named in memory of Christine Buckley, who sadly passed away in March 2014. As a co-founder of C.L.G. Christine Buckley Centre for Education and Support for Survivors of Institutional Abuse, Christine campaigned tirelessly on behalf of victims of institutional abuse for more than 25 years. Christine was Ireland’s Volunteer of the Year in 2009 and went on to be presented with the award for ‘European Volunteer of the Year’ at the European Parliament in Strasbourg the same year. To learn more about Christine's life and work, watch this free documentary: