The invaluable contributions made by volunteer leaders, who empower and inspire others to make a difference in their community was recognised on Tuesday of this week when Louth Volunteer Centre, in collaboration with Louth Public Participation Network (Louth PPN), announced the winners of the county’s Volunteer Leader Awards for 2024.
Nominee were acknowledged for their tireless efforts in supporting volunteers and presented with a Certificate of Appreciation. Two outstanding winners were celebrated for their exceptional dedication and leadership in the categories of Louth Volunteer Leader of the Year and Leading Young Volunteers.
The winner of the Louth Volunteer Leader of the Year Award was Eileen McCormack of Vision Ireland (formerly National Council for the Blind). Eileen has been involved with the group for 7 years and is the Ardee Store Manager.
According to Eileen’s nomination, the volunteers at the Ardee store “adore Eileen for her unique way of encouragement within her team, which has allowed volunteers who have never worked before to develop skills to help them succeed.”
“Eileen is deeply passionate about volunteers. She is so kind, has amazing patience and is a great listener, she takes time with all her volunteers and helps encourage them to be a better version of themselves. If a Volunteer is keen to develop retail skills and gain employment, she will 100% support them and teaches them all they need to know.”
The Leading Young Volunteer Award was presented to Fiona O’Connell of Drogheda Pantomime Society. Fiona is the Writer and Director of the much-loved annual festive event, which for so many families is the highlight of the holiday season.
Her nominator described how Fiona “encourages inclusion and provides a safe space for the children of the town to be creative in drama and dance. She leads by example promotes positive friendships. Fiona “helps build confidence from backstage to onstage. She promotes open communication and creativity.”
Three further awards were presented by the Louth PPN in the areas of Social Inclusion, Community and Voluntary and Environmental, which correlate with the three Pillars of the PPN.
The Social Inclusion award went to Drogheda & District Support for Older People, represented by Brendan Boylan. Councillor Fiona Mhic Chonchille accepted the Community and Voluntary award on behalf of Cooley Community Alert. Haggardstown Tidy Towns won the Environmental award with Shane Mc Guinness presented with this one.
The Manager of Louth Volunteer Centre, Kayleigh Mulligan, shared her thoughts on the significance of the awards saying: “Behind every successful event, project, and initiative is a team of unsung heroes who, with dedication and care, bring people together, aligning their passions to meet our community’s needs.
“Managing volunteers isn’t just about scheduling and tasks; it’s about inspiring people to give their time, to feel valued, and to make an impact. This role requires empathy, patience, and vision, and the people who take it on are truly exceptional.
“One of the great pleasures of organising this award is reading through the nominations we receive. It’s incredibly uplifting to see the depth and range of work being done – work that’s making a tangible difference in people’s lives and building stronger, more resilient communities. Each nomination is a window into the amazing stories unfolding every day, thanks to the dedication of our volunteer coordinators.”
For information about volunteering in Louth see www.volunteerlouth.ie
