2009 Awards
On the 5th of November 2009, Volunteer Ireland honoured thirty individuals at an awards event and dinner hosted by the Office of An Taoiseach in the Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Dublin. Ten overall category awardees were announced and President Mary McAleese presented the award for the Irish Volunteer of the Year 2009 to Christine Buckley from the Aislinn Education and Support Centre for Survivors of Institutional Abuse. This event celebrated the amazing work of all those who volunteer in Ireland.
Christine as Irish Volunteer of the Year represented Ireland at the European Parliament in Strasbourg where on Saturday 5 December – International Volunteer Day was awarded the Trophee Europeen du Benevolat in the European Parliament in Strasbourg along with the title European Volunteer of the Year in recognition of the years of work to raise awareness of institutional child abuse.
Volunteer of the Year
Christine Buckley, Aislinn Education and Support Centre for Survivors of Institutional Abuse, Dublin
Christine Buckley
Irish Volunteer of the Year 2009
Aislinn Education and Support Centre for Survivors of Institutional Abuse
2009 Nominees
Animals and Environment
Michael Long
Cabragh Wetlands Trust
(Category Winner)
Rachael Holland
Dublin Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (DSPCA)
Suzi Walsh
Dogs in Distress
Arts, Culture and Media
Jennifer Cooke
Music Theatre 4 Youth
(Category Winner)
Guy Jones
Irish Lebanese Cultural Foundation
Sean Radley
Millstreet Museum
Campaigning and Awareness Raising
Meg Rybicki
MARDI
(Category Winner)
Brian Daly
Ian Daly Swim A Mile With A Smile
Ray Kelly
Unmarried and Separated Families of Ireland
Children and Youth
Jeramiah O’Donoghue
Social Action Group, Rathmore
(Category Winner)
Christina Starr
Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Appeal
Patricia Ryan
Meath Youth Federation, Ballivor
Community
Penny McGowan
Kells Pink Ribbon Walk
(Category Winner)
Jack Roach
SAOI Network/ IRD Duhallow
Jeremiah O’Donoghue
Social Action Group, Rathmore
Education and Training
Frances Soney-Ituen
Women’s Integrated Network
(Category Winner)
Aaron Downes
The Dublin Job Club
Sr Kathleen Fitzgerald
Information and Support Unit for New Communities,
Health and Disability
Sean Kavanagh
Cystic Fibrosis Association Of Ireland
(Category Winner)
Brian Gaynor
Samaritans Dublin
Sr Veronica Gilsenan
Irish Wheelchair Association, Offaly Branch
International Development
Liam Burke
Concern World Wide
(Category Winner)
Donal Toolan
International Service Ireland
Theresa Sullivan
The Hope Foundation
Social Work
Christine Buckley
Aislinn Education and Support Centre for Survivors of Institutional Abuse, Dublin
(Category Winner)
Mary Cleary
Amen
Sr Consilio Fitzgerald
Cuan Mhuire
Sports and Recreation
Kathleen McNamara
Killanena Camogie Club
(Category Winner)
Michael Larkin
Wicklow Basketball
Patrick Kelly
St Abban’s Athletic Club