Five Offaly winners in National Lottery's Good Causes Awards 2023 announced

FIVE local organisations from Offaly have been announced as County Winners in the National Lottery Good Causes Awards 2023.

Initiatives recognised at the awards include Birr Theatre & Arts Centre, who offer a year-round programme of arts events and community development activities as the hub of arts activity in Birr, contributing to the cultural environment in the region; Kilmorac Development Association, providing a wide range of community services through many innovative projects which ensure the enhancement of the local community; Moneygall Football Club CLG, who give the community an opportunity to compete and enjoy the sport of soccer as well as providing garden and walking spaces for the locality and more meaningful projects countywide.

The awards aim to honour, showcase and celebrate the inspiring work being carried out nationwide by thousands of projects, clubs and individuals who have received support from Good Causes funding. Nearly 30 cents of every euro spent on National Lottery games goes back to Good Causes all over the country.

The five County Winners of the National Lottery Good Causes Awards from Offaly are:

Arts & Culture: Birr Theatre & Arts Centre.

Community: Kilcormac Development Association.

Health & Wellbeing: Peter Bradley Foundation T/A Acquired Brain Injury Ireland.

Sport: Moneygall Football Club CLG.

Youth: Birr Stage Guild.

Announcing the Offaly County Winners today, National Lottery CEO, Andrew Algeo, said: “Good Causes who support communities across Ireland are at the heart of the National Lottery’s purpose. As a result, we are delighted to celebrate each year the exceptional work being carried out by those groups, organisations and sports clubs nationwide. I am thrilled and not surprised to say that we have had another year of inspirational stories from the beneficiaries of National Lottery funding. These stories provide purpose to those of us who work in and with the National Lottery. It has never been easy to narrow down the list of hundreds of entries, however, it is a great pleasure to congratulate the Offaly County winners this year and to be able to show our appreciation for their commitment to communities around the country.”

Gráinne Seoige, host of the Good Causes Awards, said “This is my fourth year being involved in the National Lottery Good Causes Awards, year-on-year my delight to be involved grows. By working with Good Causes, I have had the pleasure of meeting so many individuals and groups that are doing extraordinary work in our communities. They continue to inspire me each year, and I look forward to seeing who makes it through to the National Finals in October!”

Local or national, large or small, the awards will recognise initiatives across a broad list of categories: Sport, Health & Wellbeing, Arts & Culture, Heritage, Community, Youth, and Irish Language. This year’s event will take place on Saturday, October 21st 2023 in Killashee House Hotel, Naas, Co. Kildare.

The 133 County Winners will now compete for a place in the National Finals judging phase next month, after which the National Finalists will be announced.

The total prize fund available on the night of the Good Causes Awards ceremony is €100,000, whereby each of the seven category winners will receive €10,000 and the overall Good Cause of the Year will take home an additional €25,000. A special category, ‘Hero of the Year’, will be announced on the awards night in recognition of outstanding work and the recipient will receive a prize of €5,000. In addition, each of the National Finalists announced in June will receive a cheque for €1,000.

In total more than €6 billion has been raised for Good Causes since the National Lottery was established 34 years ago. In 2021 alone, €304 million was raised for local Good Causes in communities across Ireland.