Prizes will be presented to winners and finalists at a special Awards Ceremony to be held at the Irish Cultural Centre in Hammersmith on 27 June.
The Awards are supported by our generous sponsors: Innisfree Housing, Moreland Investments Ltd, Irish International Business Network, Crown Clayton Hotels, Architect and artists Angela Brady and restauranter Anna Haugh.
The judges’ panel, comprised of Sinead Dineen (London Rose Committee), John Jolly (Chief Executive of Blenheim) and Phil Pyatt (CEO of Timebank), all kindly gave their time to take part in assessing the nominations. They were faced with a strong field and the votes were very close.
This year the winner of Irish in Britain’s Individual Volunteer Award is Sister Moira Keane, who works with Irish prisoners as part of the Irish Chaplaincy. Moira is described as “a natural carer” with “boundless energy”. She gives invaluable hours to assist with prison visits, advice, advocacy, suicide attempt prevention, pastoral care as well as providing much needed support for distressed family members.
The runners–up in this category are Tom Brannigan of Leeds Irish Health and Homes and Richard Lucas of Irish Community Services in Greenwich, Bexley and Lewisham.
The Lunch Club team at the Southwark Irish Pensioners Project wins the Award for an outstanding group of volunteers this year. This remarkable group of six women, all in their 80s, has been praised for their breath–taking energy and ability to laugh and lift the spirits of the members who attend the Lunch Club, which could not function without them.
The runners–up in the group category are the Wirral Irish group, which is part of Irish Community Care and a group of volunteers at Luton Irish Forum.
Finally, the winner of the Award for Trustee is Rose Morris, who is Chair of Irish Community Care Manchester (ICCM). She was nominated for her role in creating sound governance for ICCM, which has enabled it to flourish and see its funding and services grow.
The runners–up in the Trustee category are Luke Donovan, Chair of Irish Network Stevenage, and Ann Lucas, Chair of Irish Community Services in Greenwich, Bexley and Lewisham.
Brian Dalton, Irish in Britain CEO, said, “Irish in Britain launched these Awards in 2018 to highlight the difference volunteers make in our community every day. We are proud to celebrate their contribution within diverse Irish organisations up and down Britain. Irish in Britain would like to thank all those who took part in judging and nominating, and our sponsors’ generous contributions. We congratulate all the nominees and winners of this year’s Awards.”
Irish in Britain has invited all the finalists and winners to the Awards Ceremony, which will be compered by Niall Jackson from The Irish Jam radio with music played by harpist Maev McDaid.