Volunteer Ireland Awards Shortlist and Winners 2025

Volunteer of the Year 2025

Linda Moore from Cú Chulainn Blood Bikes in Co Monaghan was named Christine Buckley Volunteer of the Year 2025 at the Volunteer Ireland Awards on Saturday 6th December.

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