Terrific Treasa picks up volunteer Ireland award

A SUPER senior citizen from Ballygall was honoured for her exceptional dedication to the community at this year’s Volunteer Ireland Awards.

Treasa Martin was one of just two Dubliners to receive a coveted award at a special ceremony held recently in Sligo, the 2017 European Volunteering Capital.

Treasa has been volunteering in various capacities all her life and at an amazing 90-years-old shows no signs of slowing down.

She is a born entertainer and brings the joy of music through singing, guitar and piano or keyboard playing to many around her, most notably during her monthly appearances at the local nursing home with her friends and her weekly singing, both solo and with the Ballygall church choir.

The impact she has had on her local community was described by the award judges as “tremendous”.

Currently Treasa helps many friends around her by driving them regularly to do their weekly shopping, to church, to exercise classes and to the local ladies club as none of her friends of a similar age still drive.

She is currently organising to get a Garda permit so that three generations of her family, along with some friends and members of Ballygall Ladies’ Club and Choir, can go carol singing on Grafton Street this month to raise money for St Vincent de Paul.

The other Dubliner to pick up an award was Michael Cardiff, who has been a member of the St John’s Ambulance Ballyfermot Division for 20 years.

Dublin City Volunteer Centre Manager Edwina Dewart congratulated both local winners on their awards.

“Volunteers are the backbone of communities across Ireland,” she said.

“Michael and Treasa are fantastic examples of the very strong culture of volunteering we have in Dublin City.

“Volunteers are often unseen but the contribution they make to Irish society is immense.

“These awards give us a chance to say thank you and celebrate the difference volunteers make every day.”

The Volunteer Ireland Awards are the national campaign to recognise Ireland’s volunteers supported by the network of Volunteer Centres and Volunteering Information Services. 

Thirty shortlisted nominees and three shortlisted groups and their friends and family attended the gala Volunteer Ireland Awards ceremony on December 1 in the Radisson Hotel, Rosses Point, Co Sligo.