Carlow nursing home shortlisted for one of the big prizes at the Volunteer Ireland Awards

Carlow nursing home Signacare Killerig Residents has been shortlisted for one of the big prizes at the Volunteer Ireland Awards.

The awards are set to take place for the sixteenth year on Saturday 2nd December at Limerick Racecourse where the winner will be announced and Ireland's Volunteer of the Year will be named.

Thirty-five volunteer groups have been nominated across twelve categories to create the shortlist. Eleven counties have been recognised in this list from animal rescue services to mental health supports.

Signacare Killerig Residents, Carlow, are shortlisted alongside Irish Red Cross Portlaw Branch, Irish Red Cross, Waterford and Thrive Balbriggan, Dublin in the Medium Group category.

The following is the full Volunteer Ireland Awards Shortlist 2023:

Arts, Culture & Festivals 

Michael Butler, Louth Volunteer Centre, Louth 

Freda Carville and Colleen Hardy, Artisans Dundalk, Louth 

Rhys Wallace, Spraoi Street Arts Festival Waterford & Winterval, Waterford 

Campaigning & Activism 

Aisling Byrne and Margaret Fox Lennon, DCA Warriors Online Support Group, Dublin 

Christine O’Mahony, Mullingar 4 All, Amnesty International, Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign, ESN Ireland, Westmeath Winter Pride, and Queer Library Alliance, Westmeath 

Dave Thomas, Wicklow Pride Festival, Arklow LGBTQ+ Social Drop in Group, and The APIC Centre, Wicklow & Dublin

Children & Youth  

Sarah Ann Buday, Family Carers Ireland, Galway 

Mary McDaid, LauraLynn Children’s Hospice, Dublin 

Dermot Moore, Scouting Ireland and Community First Responders, Wicklow 

Environment & Animal Care 

Andy Cullen, Husky Rescue Ireland, Laois 

Dónal McCormack, Community Gardens Ireland, Blessington Allotments Campaign, and Blessington & District Forum, Wicklow 

Stephen Shanahan, Connecting Cabra, Dublin 

Health & Wellbeing  

Edward Devery, Athlone Community Radio, Westmeath 

Diarmuid Gallagher, spunout – Ireland’s youth information and support platform, Dublin 

Christy Gorman, Friends of the Elderly, Dublin 

Safety & Emergency Services 

Gary Coffey, Order of Malta Ambulance Corps, Kerry 

Gary Hayes, Dun Laoghaire RNLI (lifeboat) and Dalkey Community First Responders, Dublin 

Social Inclusion & Community Support  

Brian Fagan, Brian’s Treasure Chest, Midland Simon, GOAL, and Concern, Westmeath 

Jude Mapp, ALONE, Dublin 

John O’Sullivan, A District Senior Citizens Holiday Programme, Dublin 

Sports & Recreation  

Chloe Farrell, Special Olympics Ireland (Team Ireland) and Special Olympics Eastern Region (Swords Basketball Club), Dublin 

Tara McLaughlin, Special Olympics Connaught, Sligo 

Peggie O’Neill, Riding for the Disabled, Dublin 

Volunteer Manager  

Allen Bobinac, Tiglin – The Lighthouse, Dublin 

Barbara Kilbride, St Francis Hospice, Dublin 

Elizabeth Morrin, Children in Hospital Ireland, Dublin 

Small Group 

1-to-1 Child and Family Support Volunteers in Temple Street Children’s Hospital, Children in Hospital Ireland, Dublin 

Kindness Krew Homeless Group, Cork 

The Psychological Supporter Team, Galway Rape Crisis Centre, Galway 

Medium Group 

Irish Red Cross Portlaw Branch, Irish Red Cross, Waterford 

Signacare Killerig Residents, Carlow 

Thrive Balbriggan, Dublin 

Large Group  

Jigsaw Youth Advocates, Jigsaw youth mental health charity, Nationwide

Victim Support at Court Volunteers, V-SAC, Dublin 

In-Patient Unit Hospitality Volunteers, St Francis Hospice, Dublin