Volunteer Ireland Awards Winners 2018
Mary Fitzgerald from Co. Clare was named Christine Buckley Volunteer of the Year 2018 at this year’s Volunteer Ireland Awards
Following a national call for entries, we received over 500 nominations to the 2018 Volunteer Ireland Awards. The shortlisting panel had a tough job but after many hours decided on the shortlist of 33 nominees below. On 7th December 2018, at gala awards ceremony in Dublin, eleven category winners were announced along with our Christine Buckley Volunteer of the Year.
Mary Fitzgerald from Co. Clare was named Christine Buckley Volunteer of the Year 2018 for her support for those suffering domestic abuse in the area. Having been touched by the number of people fleeing domestic abuse in the Clare area, Mary Fitzgerald took some of the women and children into her own home and then set up Clare Haven Services to provide 24 hour refuge. Seeing the need, she also set up Haven Horizons to establish prevention programmes which address the lack of awareness and education around the underlying causes of domestic abuse.
Animals and Environment
- Jane and Tamsyn Harris (Mother and Daughter Duo), ISPCA, Westmeath
- Helen Nolan, ISPCA, Longford
- Maeve O’Donoghue, Mullingar Dog Shelter, Westmeath *WINNER*
Arts, Culture and Media
- Kim Mackenzie-Doyle, Institute of Designers Ireland, Carlow
- Lolo Robinson, Drogheda Comhaltas, Louth
- Louise Borre, Galway International Arts Festival (and others), Galway *WINNER*
Camapigning and Awareness Raising
- Laura Brennan, HSE (and others), Clare *WINNER*
- Marian Carroll, The Ronald McDonald House, Dublin
- Nadya Doyle, An Taisce Climate Ambassador Programme, Wexford
Children and Youth
- David O’Hara, Solas Project, Dublin *WINNER*
- Padraig Sheeran, Kilimanjaro Achievers, Dublin
- Sharon Clarke, STEPS – Engineers Ireland and Seagate, Donegal
Community
- Cormac Sertutxa, Irish Red Cross – Tralee Branch, Kerry *WINNER*
- Mike Fisher, Wicklow Dementia Support, Wicklow
- Willie Walsh, Carrigaline Family Support Centre, Cork
Health and Disability
- Joan Ryan, Parkrun, Kildare
- John Conroy, Irish Wheelchair Association – Lucan, Dublin
- Mary Arrigan-Langan, Octopus Swimming Club, Galway *WINNER*
Safety and Emergency Services
- Colm O’Byrne, Limerick Suicide Watch, Limerick
- David Byrne, St John Ambulance, Kildare
- Nancy White, Lorrha Community Responder Group, Tipperary *WINNER*
Social Work and Social Inclusion
- Jim Moore, Friends of the Elderly, Dublin
- Mary Fitzgerald, Haven Horizons, Clare
- Sheila Busher, Wickow Community Action Resource Centre, Wicklow *WINNER*
Sport and Recreation
- Chris Toomey, Tipperary Boxing Club, Tipperary
- Constantino ‘Tino’ Fiuza Castineira, Suir Dragon Paddlers, Tipperary
- Sinead Kelly, Raphoe Town Football Club, Donegal *WINNER*
Outstanding Group
- Children at Risk Ireland (CARI) Child Forensic Accompaniment Officers (40), Dublin and Galway
- Pullough Community Action Group – Community Shop Volunteers (8), Offaly *WINNER*
- Waterford Marine Search and Rescue (48), Waterford
Volunteer Manager of the Year
- Ann Birney, Inner City Helping Homeless, Dublin
- Majella Fennelly, SVT Activity and Wellness Hub, Laois
- Sara Murphy, Victim Support at Court (V-SAC), Dublin *WINNER*
