Katie-George Dunlevy among 12 Irish Women to receive 'Nollaig na mBan' honour

Multi-medal winner Katie-George Dunlevy has been named as one of the 12 Irish Women to receive Nollaig na mBan or Women's Christmas honour.

The paracyclist, whose father, John is a native of Mountcharles, had another tremendous year representing Ireland in the Paralympics in Paris and in the World Championships. It was her third Paralympics in-a-row winning gold.

In Ireland the twelve days of Christmas conclude with Nollaig na mcBan on January 6th.  In the past it was a day when the women, after choreographing two weeks’ worth of Christmas celebrations, were relieved of their household duties and allowed to relax, while the men took over the chores.

As the division of housework has become more and more equal, however, Nollaig na mBan has evolved into a broader celebration of women’s achievements and a day to honour their contributions in every aspect of life, from career to community.

To mark Nollaig na mBan, Ireland.ie  are celebrating twelve contemporary Irish women who have left a lasting impression on Irish society and the wider world.

Katie-George Dunlevy shows her delight after a medal winning performance on the track with Eve McChrystal in Paris Picture; Sportsfile

Dunlevy's citation reads: 

Katie-George Dunlevy

Para-cyclist Katie-George Dunlevy has gone from strength to strength since her debut in 2014, and 2024 was no exception. She earned a gold medal at the Summer Paralympics, a spot on the Cycling Ireland Hall of Fame, and along with her pilot, Linda Kelly, won the RTÉ Sport Team of the Year award. With eight Paralympic medals earned in Rio, Tokyo and Paris, Dunlevy is one of Ireland’s most decorated athletes.

Beyond cycling, Dunlevy views advocacy as part and parcel of her career. Diagnosed with retinitous pigmentosa at the age of 11, she has spoken about the power of representation for visually impaired children and members of the LGBTQ+ community. When her busy schedule clears, she plans to dedicate time to visiting schools and continuing her mission of inspiring young people.

The other 11 Women honoured were: Rhasidat Adeleke, Nicola Coughlan, Simone Rocha, Síofra O'Leary, Dr Norah Patten, Samantha Barry, Dr Katriona O’Sullivan,  Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson, better known by the acronym CMAT, Dr Helena McMahon, Latisha McCrudden and Sharon Horgan.