Volunteer Ireland Awards Shortlist 2025

Arts, Culture & Festivals

  • John Kearns, St Benedict’s Youth Club, Colaiste Brid Musical Committee, inland Waterways Association of Ireland, Clondalkin Youth Band, Co Dublin 
  • Tommy Keogh, Round Towers GAA, Clondalkin Camera Club, Clondalkin Tidy Towns, Clondalkin Round Tower Heritage group, Friends of the Camac, Co Dublin 
  • Jimmy Sheehy, Granagh Players, Granagh Utd. F.C., Macra Na Feirme, Co Limerick 

Campaigning & Activism

  • Joe Condon, Early Onset Parkinsons Disease Ireland, Co Dublin 
  • Paula Crotty, CARED Ireland, Co Dublin 
  • Fahmeda Naheed, Cork 3 Faiths Forum, SALAAM Community Engagement Platform, Irish-Pakistani Community of Cork Group, Co Cork 

Children & Youth

  • Seán Breathnach and John O’Toole, 1st Galway St. Joseph’s Scout Group, Co Galway 
  • Finola Dunne and Sarah Humphries, Irish Girl Guides, Co Louth 
  • Joy and Edwin Harper, Community Connect-Ireland’s Baby Bank, Kilkenny Hub, Co Kilkenny 

Environmental & Animal Care

  • Adeleh Davis, Elgin Wood Residents Association and Bray Tidy Towns, Co Wicklow 
  • Aisling Doogue, VG Environmental Group, Co Dublin 
  • Ray Hurley, The Irish Blue Cross, Co Dublin 

Health & Wellbeing

  • Michelle Cullinane, Waterford Disability Network, Co Waterford 
  • Dr Damien Lowry, The Psychological Society of Ireland, Co Dublin 
  • Patrick Owens, The Thomas Hayes Trust (Teac Tom), Co Kilkenny 

Safety & Emergency Services

  • Gerry Atkinson, Annyalla/Cremartin 1st Responders, Monaghan Civil Defence & Cremartin Shamrock GAA, Co Monaghan 
  • Bernie Gaines, Water Safety Ireland, Co Dublin 
  • Linda Moore, Cu Chulainn Blood Bikes, Co Monaghan 

Social Inclusion & Community Support

Sponsored by PTSB

  • Audrey and Rodney Evans, Tiglin, Co Wicklow 
  • Ann Little, Hygiene Hub Kilkenny, Co Kilkenny 
  • Bernadette McManus, Spirasi, Co Sligo 

Sports & Recreation

  • John Coffey, Sliabh Luachra Boxing Club Castleisland, Co Kerry 
  • Amy Hannon, Monaghan Special Olympics Club & Monaghan Arch Club, Co Monaghan 
  • Kerrie Walsh, Dungarvan Rugby Club, Co Waterford 

Volunteer Manager

  • Opeyemi Elizabeth Adesanya, Aphasia Ireland, Co Dublin 
  • Eilis Cody, The Thomas Hayes Trust (Teac Tom), Co Kilkenny 
  • Enrique Lopez, Dublin City Volunteer Centre, Co Dublin 

Small Group 

  • Little Warriors, Co Wicklow 
  • St Francis Hospice Volunteer Hairdressers, Co Dublin 
  • Volunteer Listeners, The Thomas Hayes Trust (Teac Tom), Co Kilkenny 

Large Group

  • HUGG, nationwide 
  • The Helping Hand Waterford, Co Waterford 
  • Foster Volunteers, National SPCA, Dublin, Co Dublin