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Ireland Involved Awards
Ireland Involved Awards 2009 website launched!
The Ireland Involved Awards website is up and running for this year's campaign! Visit www.irelandinvolved.ie for more information about the awards scheme, nomination form and coverage of last year's campaign!
Launch of this year's Ireland Involved Awards!
Volunteering Ireland launched this year's Ireland Involved Awards on Monday 27th July. Elaine Bradley, CEO of Volunteering Ireland, was joined by Claire Byrne from Newstalk and Marie Carroll, founder of Bayside Gymnastics and Irish Volunteer of the Year 2008, as well as a number of children from Marie's gym, along with Hugh Morris from Specsavers and Mark Phelan from BHP Insurance. The event in sunny St. Stephen's Green saw Elaine, Claire, Marie, Hugh, Mark and the kids playing with a giant parachute, posing with hula hoops and celebrating the launch of this year's annual scheme to recognise Ireland's volunteers.
Following the success of last year's inaugural awards campaign, this year's Ireland Involved Awards with primary sponsors Specsavers is looking for volunteers who donate their time and effort to make a difference to the lives of others. It is an awards scheme that makes a difference. It is about showcasing the work of volunteers across the country and celebrating Ireland’s volunteers!
Do you know someone who:
• Volunteers for a community group or charity on an on-going basis
• Contributes to the organisation in a meaningful and practical way
• Donates personal time for the benefit of others in an unpaid role
• Makes a difference in the community and world around them
Nominate someone today!
We will honour thirty individuals at an awards event on the 5th November, at a Dinner hosted by the Taoiseach’s Office in the Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Dublin. We will announce the ten overall category awardees and President Mary McAleese will present the award for the Irish Volunteer of the Year 2009. This event will celebrate the amazing work of all those who volunteer in Ireland. The Irish Volunteer of the Year will go on and represent Ireland at the European Parliament in Strasbourg. This international final is taking place in the French city on Saturday 5 December to coincide with International Volunteer Day.
For more information, please visit the Ireland Involved website.
Download the Ireland Involved launch press release!
2008 Campaign
The awards ceremony for this first annual initiative took place last night in the Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin. The event was a great success and Volunteering Ireland and sponsor BHP Insurances were delighted to host the 30 short listed individuals across ten categories. Newstalk's Claire Byrne, as Master of Ceremonies, did a brilliant job of presenting the 30 nominees and announcing the 10 overall category awardees. Minister of State in the Office of the Taoiseach and Government Chief Whip, Pat Carey spoke eloquently about the impact that volunteers have on Irish Society and presented the final award to Marie Carroll, of Bayside Gymnastics, who will go on to represent Ireland at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France on the 5th of December for International Volunteer Day.
We are delighted to celebrate the contributions of everyone volunteering in Ireland and especially want to congratulate the ten individuals selected as over all category awardees:
Arts, Culture & Media:
Helen Prout, Cork Youth Film Arts Group, Cork
Health & Disability:
Ann Lynskey, Ability West, Galway
Children & Young People:
Mary Carmel O'Donoghue, The Blue Box Creative Learning Centre, Limerick
Campaigning & Awareness Raising:
Ailbhe Smyth, National Lesbian & Gay Federation, Dublin 2
Community:
Brian Mooney, IRD Kiltimagh, Co. Mayo
Education & Training:
Mary Nally, Third Age Foundation, Co. Meath
Social Work:
Anthony Fitzgerald, Depaul Trust, Dublin 7
Animals & Environment:
Seamus Connor, Clean Cost Project, An Taisce, Bray
International Development:
Maureen Forrest, The Hope Foundation, Cork
Sports & Recreation:
Marie Carroll, Bayside Gymnastics, Dublin 5
To learn more about the awards in general and all the individuals who were short listed please visit the Ireland InVOLved blog.
To see the film about Marie and learn more about her voluntary contributions and her work visit UnlockYourPotential.
Marie brings home the European Award from Strasbourg
The overall winner, Marie Carroll, went on to represent Ireland in the European Parliament in Strasbourg on the occasion of the United Nations International Volunteer Day, 5th of December at the European Award for Voluntary Contribution. Marie was honoured with the bronze award for her contribution to Irish society and, in turn, European society.
Links and More information...
To know more about the launch event of the campaign, the nomination and judging processes, press communications, the volunteer stories, as well as the final event, visit the blog.
On 26th November 2008 the volunteers were recognised and honoured at unique awards event in Dublin which was hosted by a well known member of the Irish media. The ceremony also included words of congratulations from several high ranking government officials, including the Government Chief Whip who conveyed support for the work of Volunteering Ireland as well as good wishes from the Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister).
Department of the Taoiseach. Presentation of the Ireland InVOLved Awards Ceremony, 26th November 2008
Marian Harkin MEP spoke at the presentation of the Ireland InVOLved awards
Follow this link to see photographs of the ceremony
The stories of many of these volunteers were highlighted by coverage in both local and national media including profiles on RTE Radio and Television, Newstalk radio, The Irish Examiner newspaper as well as local coverage across the country.
Ark volunteer Doreen Davitt short listed for 2008 Ireland InVOLved Awards
GCN publisher wins major Irish award
Malahide's Rose up for volunteer award
We are delighted that the Ireland InVOLved Campaign has allowed allowed these volunteer stories to be heard!
Minister Pat Carey speaks at the Ireland InVOLved Awards, 26th November 2008
A Chairde
I want to congratulate all of the award winners and thank you for your many hours of effort in your own communities.
In some small way, this award repays you for the hundreds of hours of your time that you have given over to helping others over many years.
As Minister with responsibility for Active Citizenship and the generation of a renewed spirit of community in Irish society I thank Elaine Bradley and all at Volunteering Ireland for asking me to be part of this evening’s special event. Although my brief may seem lofty, tonight is an embodiment of how people can bring a renewed sense of community in today’s Ireland.
The chance to share a stage with the real heroes of our communities is truly an honour and the award winners this evening are truly deserving.
Through your volunteer work you have distinguished yourselves as active and energetic citizens.
You have looked beyond your personal interests, your own ambitions, and you have sacrificed the time you could spend with your own families.
Instead you have turned to helping your community - your local group or team.
In doing so you have played your part in strengthening Irish society.
In making the town or townland that you live in a better place. And most importantly in enriching the lives of others.
As a former teacher and long time activist in voluntary and community groups, I know that there are huge rewards from being involved in your local community. These rewards will be known to all the volunteers here this evening. From right around the country, you have led the way in volunteering. Tonight, the leadership you have all shown is being rightly recognised and awarded.
As Minister for Active Citizenship, along with colleagues such as Minister John Curran and the Taoiseach, I look forward to working with organisations such as Volunteering Ireland.
I have no doubt that you can – and must – continue to play a central role in energizing our communities - and our society.
Indeed, we can learn from each other on how best to develop a stronger volunteering ethos in the Ireland of tomorrow.
This strengthened ethos will ensure that we have more success stories such as Marie Carroll and the other award winners here this evening.
And tonight is your night to celebrate those success stories.
You should all feel proud of the contributions you have made to the lives of others.
Feel proud in the quiet knowledge that you have made a positive impact on your community.
And feel proud that you have gained the respect of your community and the acknowledgement of your peers.
You are an inspiration to us all to make a greater effort in building stronger communities. I commend you all for your ongoing hard work.
Although I know that people such as yourself do not become involved to get awards or recognition, tonight gives us an opportunity to shine a light on your work – and to thank you wholeheartedly for it.
It is an honour to share the stage with people such as Marie Carroll and all those involved in Bayside Gymnastics.
I think that you will all agree that Marie represents all the best aspects of Irish society. She represents a true spirit of kindness and real giving which has been at the core of tonight’s awards ceremony.
I want to particularly congratulate Marie and all at Bayside for this great achievement.
And in presenting the Award tonight I want to wish you the very best in representing Ireland on the European stage. I have no doubt that you will do us proud.
Enjoy the night agus go raibh míle maith agaibh.
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