Awards Shortlist 2025

Volunteer Ireland Awards Shortlist and Winners 2025

Arts, Culture & Festivals

• John Kearns, St Benedict’s Youth Club, Colaiste Brid Musical Committee, inland Waterways Association of Ireland, Clondalkin Youth Band, Co Dublin 

• Tommy Keogh, Round Towers GAA, Clondalkin Camera Club, Clondalkin Tidy Towns, Clondalkin Round Tower Heritage group, Friends of the Camac, Co Dublin 

• Winner: Jimmy Sheehy, Granagh Players, Granagh Utd. F.C., Macra Na Feirme, Co Limerick 

Campaigning & Activism

• Joe Condon, Early Onset Parkinson’s Disease Ireland, Co Dublin 

• Winner: Paula Crotty, CARED Ireland, Co Dublin 

• Fahmeda Naheed, Cork 3 Faiths Forum, SALAAM Community Engagement Platform, Irish-Pakistani Community of Cork Group, Let’s Integrate radio show, Co Cork 

Children & Youth

• Winner: Seán Breathnach and John O’Toole, 1st Galway St. Joseph’s Scout Group, Co Galway 

• Finola Dunne and Sarah Humphries, Irish Girl Guides, Co Louth 

• Joy and Edwin Harper, Community Connect-Ireland’s Baby Bank, Kilkenny Hub, Co Kilkenny 

Environmental & Animal Care

• Adeleh Davis, Elgin Wood Residents Association and Bray Tidy Towns, Co Wicklow 

• Aisling Doogue, VG Environmental Group, Co Dublin 

• Winner: Ray Hurley, The Irish Blue Cross, Co Dublin 

Health & Wellbeing

• Winner: Michelle Cullinane, Waterford Disability Network, Co Waterford 

• Dr Damien Lowry, The Psychological Society of Ireland, Co Dublin 

• Patrick Owens, The Thomas Hayes Trust (Teac Tom), Co Kilkenny 

Safety & Emergency Services

• Winner: Gerry Atkinson, Annyalla/Cremartin 1st Responders, Monaghan Civil Defence & Cremartin Shamrock GAA, Co Monaghan 

• Bernie Gaines, Water Safety Ireland, Co Dublin 

• Linda Moore, Cu Chulainn Blood Bikes, Co Monaghan 

Social Inclusion & Community Support

Sponsored by PTSB

• Winner: Audrey and Rodney Evans, Tiglin, Co Wicklow 

• Ann Little, Hygiene Hub Kilkenny, Co Kilkenny 

• Bernadette McManus, Spirasi, Co Sligo 

Sports & Recreation

• Winner: John Coffey, Sliabh Luachra Boxing Club Castleisland, Co Kerry 

• Amy Hannon, Monaghan Special Olympics Club & Monaghan Arch Club, Co Monaghan 

• Kerrie Walsh, Dungarvan Rugby Club, Co Waterford 

Volunteer Manager 

• Winner: Opeyemi Elizabeth Adesanya, Aphasia Ireland, Co Dublin 

• Eilis Cody, The Thomas Hayes Trust (Teac Tom), Co Kilkenny 

• Enrique Lopez, Dublin City Volunteer Centre, Co Dublin 

Small Group 

• Little Warriors, Co Wicklow 

• St Francis Hospice Volunteer Hairdressers, Co Dublin 

• Winner: Volunteer Listeners, The Thomas Hayes Trust (Teac Tom), Co Kilkenny 

Large Group

• Winner: HUGG, nationwide 

• The Helping Hand Waterford, Co Waterford 

• Foster Volunteers, National SPCA, Dublin, Co Dublin