2014 Awards
Read the inspiring stories of all the shortlisted volunteers below.
10 Category Awardees were announced at the gala Volunteer Ireland Awards Ceremony on December 4th at Dublin City Hall, in celebration of International Volunteer Day. Jim Kavanagh was announced as the first recipient of the annual Christine Buckley Volunteer of the Year Award.
Volunteer of the Year
Jim Kavanagh, Adi Roche’s Chernobyl Children International, Co. Kilkenny
Jim has volunteered since the mid-1990s and has made his life’s work the alleviation of suffering for thousands of children, young adults.
2014 Nominees
Animals and Environment
Stephen O’Gara
Irish Coast Guard – Howth
(Category Winner)
Mary Price
Irish Seal Sanctuary, Co. Dublin
Ricky Whelan
Birdwatch Ireland, Co. Laois
Arts, Culture and Media
Bríd Finn
Elemental Arts & Culture Festival, Co. Limerick
(Category Winner)
Louise Wilson
Midleton Food & Drink Festival, Co. Cork
Susuana Komolafe
Afro in Diaspora Centre, Co. Cavan
Campaigning and Awareness Raising
Carmel McDonnell – Byrne
Aislinn Education & Support Centre, Dublin 1
(Category Winner)
Bernadette Sullivan
Dignity4Patients, Co. Louth
Monica McElhinney
Donal Parsons Trust, Co. Sligo
Children and Youth
Annette Wooley
Foróige, Dublin 24
(Category Winner)
David Jewell
Brú Youth Service & Club, Dublin 12
Jerome Gibson
LEAF Garda Youth Diversion Project, Co. Donegal
Community
Paraic Noone
Keadue Development Association, Co. Roscommon
(Category Winner)
Michael Hooper
Flanagan’s Fields Community Garden, Dublin 8
Micheál O’Sullivan
Ard Cúram Day Care Centre, Co. Kerry
Education and Training
Quaid Cleland
The Sign Language Association
(Category Winner)
Joan Wadsworth
Solas Project, Dublin 2
Peggy Jones
Galway Citizens Information Service, Co. Galway
Health and Disability
Majella Forde
Irish Red Cross Tralee, Co. Kerry
(Category Winner)
Breed McMahon
Daughters of Charity Disability Support Services
Kath Burke
Little People of Ireland, Co. Meath
International Development
Jim Kavanagh
Adi Roche’s Chernobyl Children International, Co. Kilkenny
(Category Winner)
Frances O’Keeffe
Concern Worldwide
Louise Quill
Tír na nÓg Orphanage, Co. Kerry
Social Work
Michael Mackey
Galway Simon Community & Simon Communities of Ireland
(Category Winner)
Karen Byrne
Depaul Ireland, Dublin 12
Mary Walsh
Depaul Ireland, Dublin 1
Sports and Recreation
Linda Gaffney
Whitehall Colmcille GAA, Dublin 9
(Category Winner)
Agnes Fitzmaurice
Senior Tribes Special Olympic Swimming Club, Co. Galway
Hannah Fox
Lakers Social & Recreational Club, Co. Wicklow
