Environmental & Animal Care Shortlist 2024

Thomas Callery joined Kilsheelan Tidy Towns about 16 years ago and brought with him commitment, enthusiasm, energy and a lot of hard work! With Thomas’ leadership, Kilsheelan Tidy Towns has done a great deal to innovate biodiversity in the area. They were the first group in Ireland to have creeping urban walls, and plant Miyawaki, a Japanese urban forest. He also is a fearless advocate, getting sponsorship and legal action when necessary to protect the area. In the last 6 years, Kilsheelan Tidy Towns has planted 11,000 saplings, and 1290 trees, 2000 of those saplings in the past year!  

When he’s not revolutionising Kilsheelan’s relationship with nature, Thomas also has spent 8 years on his local national school board of management, has been the treasurer and chairperson of Village Lotto and is a member of Clonmel Theatre Guild.  

His nominator recalls the first meeting Thomas attended in 2015 where he announced that they should be aiming for a National Title. The audacious response was met with laughter…but it was only a couple years later that they ranked third nationally! 

Elsie Higgins has been an icon of Westport for nearly 50 years. From planting vibrant flowers around town to organising and leading collaborative projects with local schools, she continuously fosters a sense of togetherness and pride in Westport. Under her leadership, Westport was named Ireland’s Tidiest Town in 2006. She has been described by the organisation as ‘instigator, motivator and hands-on in almost every project Westport Tidy Towns undertakes’. 

When she isn’t beautifying the town with nature, she is often found beautifying the town with art, teaching art classes and performing in the Community Panto. Whether it’s painting beautiful murals that brighten the streets or inspiring creativity by planning and designing costumes and floats for the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Elsie turns every initiative into a celebration of community spirit. 

Her nominator writes “More than just her impressive list of accomplishments, it’s the way Elsie makes things happen—with laughter, encouragement, and a joyful approach that brings out the best in everyone she works with. She has an unmatched ability to cajole volunteers into action, often making it fun and rewarding, no matter the task at hand.” 

Alison O’Reilly is a one-woman animal rescue machine! You will find her up ladders, under bonnets of cars or climbing high up to help a trapped or injured bird or mammal in the Dublin, Drogheda and Louth area. She set up her own facility in her garden to rehabilitate animals who need help, and has a sweet spot for the much maligned seagull. She uses her own funds to pay for vet bills and medications for wild animals.  People reach out to her when they notice an animal in distress and Alison is quick to drop everything and come to help. She also uses her time to highlight the simple things that people can do to prevent the pain and suffering of wildlife.   

Her nominator writes about a time Alison spent 12 hours tracking a cormorant who had a plastic ring stuck around his neck. At 2am, she was able to catch him, drive over an hour to a vet to remove the litter, and release the magnificent bird. “I’ve seen her drive 16 hours straight to pick up birds and mammals that need help and she will not stop until she gets them all and gets them to safety” her nominator writes.