Offaly woman honoured with Lifetime Achievement Award at Traveller Pride Awards Ceremony

Tullamore woman Maureen Ward has been presented with the Lifetime Achievement award at this year’s Traveller Pride Awards. 

The Awards – whose theme this year is  Hidden Voices: a celebration of those less heard  – took place last week in the Lighthouse Cinema, Smithfield, Dublin at which, RTÉ presenter, and producer Maia Dunphy was the MC. 

The Tullamore woman was recognised by the judging panel as being a tireless advocate for the Traveller Community and a human rights activist for over 40 years

Maureen is Co-ordinator of Minceirs Whiden, which in Cant, the Traveller language, means Travellers Talking, a national organisation based in the ACT Centre, Parnell Square, Athlone. She is also a trained and approved foster carer with TUSLA based in the Midlands.

Accepting the Award, Maureen stressed the importance of the Awards as a celebration of Traveller culture, but also as an opportunity to remind people of the particular challenges faced by Travellers. 

“The Traveller Pride Awards give us a valuable opportunity to celebrate the achievements of Irish Travellers across a variety of fields, as well as showcasing the many positive contributions made by the Traveller community to Irish society.  The Awards also serve as a platform from which we can highlight some of the obstacles that still exist for Travellers in Ireland, while also providing a safe space to celebrate our unique cultural identity, ” said Maureen

The Awards Ceremony marks the beginning of Traveller Pride Week, and has become an important event to celebrate the achievements of the Traveller Community and to promote deeper understanding and respect between the settled and Traveller communities.

Guest presenters at the Awards included Shamrock Rovers footballer, Savannah McCarthy, Senator Eileen Flynn, civil rights campaigner, Bernadette McAlliskey, Maureen Kennelly Director of the Arts Council, singer Sharyn Ward, and long time Travellers’ rights activist, Dr. Thomas McCann. 

The 2024 Traveller Pride Awards winners are:

Enterprise and Innovation: Aaron O’Loughlin (21, Galway) 

Aaron, left school at 15, now employs four people as part of his florist business.

Intersectionality: Annmarie Sweeney (Galway)

Overcame extraordinary personal challenges – including prison, addiction and losing her children to care. She has now graduated from a number of college courses and owns her own home and is a founding member of the Traveller Drug Advisory Board. Annmarie spoke of her personal journey through recovery and highlighted  the barriers to Traveller access to recovery services at the Citizens Assembly on Drugs Use in May 2023.

Sport: Nadine Cawley, 15 (Ballinasloe, Galway) 

An outstanding young footballer who is the only Traveller in her team, Ballinalsoe FC.

Culture: Misleór (Galway)

Innovative and creative theatre and arts festival celebrating nomadic cultures across the world.

Music: Francis Ward, 15, and Peter Mongan, 22 (Galway)

Two gifted singers and guitarists celebrating the richness of Traveller culture and music.

Youth (12-18): Cindy Collins,13 (Mayo)

Young artist and outstanding advocate for Traveller culture. 

Youth (18-25) John Cawley (Galway)

Youth worker in Ballinasloe. Recognised for his skills in breaking down community barriers.

Education: Pamela Cullotty (Donegal)

Left school at 15. Awarded BA in Applied Addiction Studies & Community Development in 2023.

Community: An Tearmann  (Tyrone)

Women’s Traveller Group which meets to provide support about health, education, rights and recognition.

Lifetime Achievement: Maureen Ward (Offaly)

Tireless advocate for the Traveller Community

Maureen Ward  Winner, Lifetime Award

Maureen is a tireless advocate for the Travelling Community and a human rights activist for over 40 years. For that long, she has also volunteered in countless capacities at events, activities, and for many campaigns all over the country. In her free time, Maureen provides foster care, and has even volunteered abroad at the Our Lady of Fatima Shrine. Maureen is selfless. She lends a voice not only to the Traveller Community, but to those who are often overlooked in society for their age, the color of their skin, their ability levels, their country of origin, their educational backgrounds, and more. 

Whenever asked, for any reason, Maureen is ready to give her time, energy, and love to those in need. She need only be asked, and the answer will always be “Yes!” with Maureen. Currently, Maureen is serving as the Interim Coordinator for  Minceirs Whiden. She has already made a tremendous difference in branding and in marketing not only for Minceirs Whiden, but for the entire Travelling Community. Earlier this year, she was featured on local billboards and on bus stop shelters fighting ageism. She has also been on the radio, and in the Westmeath Independent Newspaper along with her dedicated team. As a result of her efforts, Maureen secured a monthly time slot on the local community radio to highlight and promote the positive, uplifting projects and tailored programming in the Traveller community, within the Traveller organizations and beyond. 

We owe Maureen a debt of gratitude for all the time, energy, time, care, concern and dedication to the Travelling community and I think this award would just be one way we could thank her for all she has done. She is a beautiful advocate, and her work has been exceptionally impactful.