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06 Sept 2025
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06 Sept 2025
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Mary Ellen McGroarty, who is from Mountcharles, is the country director of the United Nations World Food Programme in Afghanistan
Two women with strong south Donegal links are to be honoured by the President for their contributions as members of the Irish diaspora.
Paralympic cyclist Katie-George Dunlevy, whose father is from Mountcharles, and Mary Ellen McGroarty, a native of Drinkeelan, Mountcharles, are to receive the Presidential Distinguished Service Award during a ceremony in Áras an Uachtaráin this afternoon.
The award recognises high-achieving members of the diaspora and their contribution to Ireland and to Irish communities abroad.
The two women are among ten people being honoured for 2022, including Professor Teresa Lambe, the co-designer of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, which is the most widely used vaccine against Covid-19 in the world.
Katie-George Dunlevy is one of the most successful para-athletes to represent Ireland. Born in London to Irish parents, she has medalled consistently in elite sport since 2014 and is a triple Paralympic cycling gold medallist and five times World Para-cycling Champion for Ireland.
Katie-George Dunlevy, whose father is from Mountcharles, is receiving the Presidential Distinguished Service Award
She was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa at the age of 11 and registered blind. Despite having just 10% vision, she took to sport excelling at swimming, rowing, and athletics.
Mary Ellen McGroarty is the country director of the United Nations World Food Programme in Afghanistan where she leads 600 staff, who have fed more than 18 million people since the Taliban took over, saving countless lives, and bringing hope to destitute families that feel abandoned by the outside world.
She stayed in the country after the takeover by the Taliban in August 2021 and has been a frequent and powerful voice in the international media, calling the world's attention to the plight of millions.
She has been instrumental in supporting Ireland on the UN Security Council and has ensured that the devastating humanitarian collapse in Afghanistan remained front and centre of the UN Security Council’s response to the Taliban’s takeover.
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