Volunteers & groups celebrated at the dlr Community and Volunteer Awards 2024

Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council hosted the dlr Community and Volunteer Awards event earlier this week.

The Awards brought together community groups and volunteers and provided an opportunity for the Council to recognise and celebrate the number of people and projects across our county which all contribute to make this a vibrant place to live.

The awards were presented by An Cathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, Cllr Denis O’Callaghan and Therese Langan, Director of Services, Community and Cultural Development in dlr.

Speaking at the event Cllr O’Callaghan (pictured above) said:

“These awards help to celebrate the excellent work achieved by our volunteers and groups working together, striving to make a difference in their respective communities.

“It is wonderful to see such amazing work happening around the County. You all bring a wealth of knowledge, skills, commitment, and creativity to your communities.

“You should be highly commended.”

This year’s event saw 61 community groups and 54 volunteers formally acknowledged and celebrated for their positive contributions to community life across the County; together they promote a wealth of community development activities in different areas including child and youth development, age friendly, arts and culture, environment and climate action, inclusion and integration, health and wellbeing, disability and neurodiversity and civic pride.

The awards were divided into eight categories with awards given out to groups & individuals in each category.

Age Friendly

Group Winner: Shankill Day Care Centre

Group Runner Up: Garda Old Persons Association (GOPA)

Volunteer Winner: Richard Larkin, Ballyogan Active Retirement Group

 

Arts & Culture

Group Winner: Dublin South FM Community Radio

Group Runner Up: Art Hill

Volunteer Winner: Sally Connors, Southside Travellers Action Group (STAG)

 

Child/Youth Development & Education

Group Winner: Southside Partnership Parents Early Education Programme (PEEP)

Group Runner Up: My Project… Minding You

Volunteer Winner: Donncha O’Dhonnchadha, Le Cheile Mentoring

 

Community & Civic Pride

Group Winner: Shankill & Ballybrack Community First Responders

Group Runner Up: Dún Laoghaire Lions Club

Volunteer Winner: Georgina Potts, Shanganagh Park House Community Centre

 

Disability & Neurodiversity

Group Winner: St. Augustine’s Past Pupils Association

Group Runner Up: This Is Me Neurodiversity

Volunteer Winner: Graham Merrigan, National Rehabilitation Hospital & Ballybrack Bulls Wheelchair Basketball Club

 

Environment & Climate Action

Group Winner: Shanganagh Community Garden

Group Runner Up: Dún Laoghaire Tidy Towns

Volunteer Winner: Fiona Kelly, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Estate Management County Fora

 

Equality, Diversity, Inclusion & Integration

Group Winner: dlr Integration Forum

Group Runner Up: The Ukrainian Bike Project Operators

Volunteer Winner: Brian Connolly, Loughlinstown Ballybrack Men’s Shed

 

Health & Wellbeing

Group Winner: Hollyhouse Women’s Social Group

Group Runner Up: Southside Travellers Wagon Project

Volunteer Winner: Grainne Gallwey, Cuidiú

 

Special Recognition Awards

Nan O’Brien, Southside Travellers

Harry Traynor, Wayside Celtic

Mairead Mc Loughlin, Kilcross Resource Centre

Pam Robinson, Patrician Community Centre

 

Therese Langan, Director of Services, Community and Cultural Development in dlr thanked the volunteers and community groups for their ongoing commitment and work, supporting and connecting through local activities and shared interests which is at the heart of what community development is all about.