Nominations are now open for the Irish Red Cross National Volunteer Awards 2026, affording you the chance to shine a light on the extraordinary Irish Red Cross volunteers who provide reassurance, comfort and practical support in communities across Ireland.
In last year’s awards Cork won across two categories – Tim Kelleher from the Irish Red Cross Clonakilty Branch won the prestigious Volunteer of the Year and Imelda O’Connor of the Ballinora/Ballincollig Branch and Pascal Walsh of the Clonakilty Branch were both awarded Lifetime Achievement Awards.
The Irish Red Cross has 3,400 members in 71 branches across Ireland who train and volunteer to ensure communities have access to relevant and timely supports to help them prepare for emergencies, respond when they happen and recover in a way that makes them more resilient. Now in their tenth year, the National Volunteer Awards celebrate the commitment, compassion and hard work of Irish Red Cross volunteers who generously give their time for the betterment of communities across Ireland.
“Showing up is what our volunteers do best,” said Deirdre Garvey, Secretary General, Irish Red Cross. “Whether it’s a storm, a flood or another emergency that’s turned someone’s world upside down, our volunteers are there with practical help and a steady hand. But they are also there at the more everyday events, which is also so important – running a local first aid class, checking in on someone living alone, welcoming a family into a new community, or standing by with first aid skills at the local match.”
Last year’s National Volunteer Awards celebrated volunteering across the length and breadth of the country. Tim Kelleher of Clonakilty was named Volunteer of the Year for his tireless 17 years of volunteering with the Irish Red Cross; Limerick City took Branch of the Year for the incredible dedication of its 167 members, who covered 66 events and ran over 150 training sessions in 2025; and Isabella Nordon of Dundalk Branch was named Young Volunteer of the Year, recognised for volunteering since age four.
“You don’t have to have responded to a major emergency to make an extraordinary volunteer. Sometimes it is years of small acts of kindness and service that have the greatest impact,” Ms. Garvey continued. “Last year’s winners showed us the incredible range of volunteering happening within the Irish Red Cross. If an Irish Red Cross volunteer has made a difference to you, your family or your community, share their story. A nomination is a simple but powerful way to say thank you.”
Who will you nominate in 2026?
In total, there are eight award categories in the Irish Red Cross National Volunteer Awards: Volunteer of the Year, Young Volunteer of the Year, Community Support Volunteer of the Year, First Aid and Ambulance Unit Member of the Year, Instructor of the Year, Branch of the Year, Newcomer of the Year and the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Nominations are open until 25th September – visit www.redcross.ie/nva to nominate an Irish Red Cross Volunteer today. The awards will be presented at a ceremony on Saturday, 28th November in Croke Park.
