Awards for unsung heroes
By William O'Connor
From over 300 nominations, 30 exceptional volunteers have been shortlisted for this year’s Volunteer Ireland Awards including two from South Dublin County.
South Dublin County’s unsung heroes will be lauded at a special ceremony in City Hall, Dublin on December 2.
Each nominee has shown great dedication and a willingness to forgo their own personal time to help others.
Below are just a few examples of the exceptional volunteers we are lucky enough to have in South Dublin County.
Brenda O’Donnell volunteers two days a week to counsel members of the Swan Family Support Organisation. She provides help, counselling and support to families who experience loss through suicide.
Paula Galvin spearheaded the campaign to have Fairtrade Town status conferred on Clondalkin in 2014.
She is also a volunteer with Focus Ireland and is a Right Sparks facilitator with Amnesty Ireland.
Through her work as volunteer CEO with iVosta she seeks to involve people in global citizenship in educational, cultural and environmental projects.
Commenting on the shortlist for the Volunteer Ireland Awards, South Dublin County Volunteer Centre Manager Tricia Nolan said “We are thrilled to celebrate these volunteers and their dedication to their causes.
They really are the unsung heroes that drive our communities. Reading their individual stories is truly inspiring.
Thanks to volunteers such as these, Ireland is ranked number one in Europe on the World Giving Index and Ireland should be proud.”
For more information on the Volunteer Ireland Awards 2015 or to read the inspiring stories of the all shortlisted volunteers, see the attached document or visit www.volunteer.ie
