2024 Co. Monaghan Volunteer Award Winners Announced

The winners of the 2024 County Monaghan Volunteer Awards were announced at an event in the Iontas Theatre, Castleblayney on the afternoon of Sunday 6th October. The event was organised by Monaghan Volunteer Centre, part of Monaghan Integrated Development. It was attended by around 250 people, made up of the nominees, their families and friends and other members of the organisations they volunteer with.

The event demonstrated the incredible work done by volunteers across County Monaghan. Francis McCarron, Community Development Manager at Monaghan Integrated Development noted that the judges had a difficult task to choose just one winner in each category. The nominees are involved in a great variety of different causes, including sports, heritage, the environment, services for older people, people with disabilities and victims of crime, mental health organisations, culture, integration of new communities and many more. Francis also pointed out that MID, like other charities, is reliant on its own voluntary board of directors and thanked them and the Volunteer Centre steering group members for their help.

Volunteer Centre coordinator Sinéad Keenan presented details of all the nominees in each of the three categories and then announced the winners in each category. For the Volunteer Centre staff, it was a great chance to both catch up with volunteers they have known for years and to connect with new volunteers and organisations.

Volunteer Group of the Year

The winning group were the volunteers who make up the The Monaghan Men’s Group. They include men from many different nationalities. Since May 2023 they have been together as an organised group and have supported Monaghan Tidy Towns in many ways. They meet weekly as a group, but many members volunteer extra hours throughout the week. They carry out litter picking, weeding and landscaping and they help maintain the Greenway and the Rotary Garden at Coolshanagh. They were essential to the re-development of the Sage Garden into a wildlife and biodiversity garden and were a great support to Monaghan Tidy Towns and to the National Leaning Network students who were also involved in the Sage Garden project.

The group were presented with their trophy by Mary Mullen, chairperson of the MID board of directors. Sinéad Keenan then asked them about their experiences of volunteering and their spokesmen explained the importance of volunteering to members in helping them settle in Monaghan. Gavin Shipley, who works with and supports the group, spoke of the hard work of the men and the support they have received from local people and organisations, in particular Emer Brennan, Kevin Maguire, Monaghan Tidy Towns and St. Joseph’s C.E. scheme.

Volunteer of the Year

This award went to Patrick Caldwell, who volunteers between 3 and 5 days each week with Victim Support in Court. He supports crime victims who need to attend courts in Monaghan and Cavan by explaining court procedures, arranging a private space to wait and providing crucial emotional support during a very stressful time. Staff at Victim Support in Court describe Patrick as a role model to fellow volunteers and one victim described him as “an angel in disguise”.

Patrick was presented with the perpetual trophy by MID Board member Tommy Duffy. Sinéad asked Patrick about his volunteering and he explained that after he retired from the Prison Service he contacted Monaghan Volunteer Centre and was placed with Victim Support at Court. Patrick explained the importance to crime victims of having someone to support them during such a stressful experience. He gave the example of one victim who attended court alone for a serious case, after her family and friends had been intimidated out of going with her. Dympna Kenny, General Manager of Victim Support at Court attended the event.

Lifetime Achievement Award 

The Lifetime Achievement Award is to recognise someone whose volunteering spans a long period of time. This year’s winner was Pat Lennon has been volunteering for 62 years and despite officially retiring from volunteering he still continues to video local community events. Some of his many roles over the years include organising youth clubs and badminton and bowls events, secretary of Latton Football Club and member and director of Latton Social Services. Pat was a member of Cootehil Chamber of Commerce when it attracted Abbotss to set up in Cootehill and was involved in setting up Balti Bus – the rural transport scheme in the early 2000s and lots more besides. Pat also has a strong interest in local history and has made many videos of local community events, assisted with local history books and is part of the Latton Bawn Historical Group. Earlier this year Pat spent 8 videoing the events to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Senator Billy Fox.

When asked about his volunteering by Sinéad Keenan, Pat was very keen to share credit with Alice Forde and other members of the community in Latton. He remembered in particular his time with Cootehill Mental Health and the coming of Abbots to Cootehill.

The other nominees in each category were:

Volunteer Group of the Year

Cu Chulainn Blood Bikes volunteers give their evenings and weekends to transport blood samples and medical equipment between hospitals, as well as transporting breast milk from Ireland’s only milk bank to premature babies in hospital. They also deliver controlled drugs for terminally ill children in their own homes and collect samples from these children’s homes to bring to the lab.

Monaghan Community First Responders are highly trained in first aid and to assist with emergencies like stroke or heart attack until an ambulance arrives. They also provide vital first aid training to other groups. They, and other CFR groups across our county provide a truly lifesaving service.

The Solas Drop in Centre was established in 2001 to support people recovering from mental health difficulties and to reduce their social isolation. It is a u unique service, run by its service users with some help from other volunteers. It runs a variety of activities and provides a welcoming, comfortable space where users can drop in, have a chat and feel they are not alone.

Sosad Monaghan opened in 2021 and support people going through mental health difficulties or dealing with bereavement through suicide. As well as an office open 5 days a week they have a 24 hour phone and text line run by volunteer Suicide Intervention Officers and a counselling service. They have built a strong team that combines paid staff, staff on employment schemes and dedicated volunteers.

Alone is a national charity that provides a variety of services for older people, including arranging volunteer befrienders to visit older people at home. The Alone staff member in Co. Monaghan is Mary Ginley and she has nominated the all the befrienders in Co. Monaghan. She explained that the social interaction from volunteers helps older people who are lonely and can even support them to remain living at home.

The Cairde Centre/ Clones Tidy Towns volunteers are a group of people with disabilities who attend the Cairde in Clones. They have been regularly taking part in Tidy Towns activities for several years. A Tidy Towns committee member described them as “a breath of fresh air” and says they interact without prejudice with the migrant volunteers who have recently joined Tidy Towns. Credit it also due to the Tidy Towns committee and the Cairde staff for creating such an inclusive group.

Castleblayney Social Services Committee has provided services to older people in Castleblayney over the past fifty years. Services have changed and developed over the years, including Meals on Wheels, outings, social gatherings, personal alarms, coffee mornings and art classes. The group managed to return after the covid shut down and encourage older people to get out and socialise again.

Mullaghmore Equestrian Centre Volunteers are a group of young people who help out with horse riding for people with disabilities. One of the nominations for them came from a member of SNAP – Special Needs Active Parents. This parent describes how horse riding relaxes children with disabilities, allows them to gain strength and balance, improves confidence and gives a sense of achievement. As some of the children need three people to assist them while riding, their lessons would not be possible without the volunteers. The SNAP member described the young volunteers as “so kind and thoughtful and attentive to all the children and adults”.

Volunteer of the Year Award

Martin Maguire volunteers with Crocus, the support group for people with cancer. He is particularly involved with the Crocus Men’s Den and in organising the annual Crocus Christmas concert. He shows great dedication to helping those going through cancer.

Margaret McCullagh is described to us as “always cheerful” while she volunteers with Monaghan Tidy Towns. She is often seen litter picking or cleaning street furniture.

Mary Byrne runs the very popular Castleblayney News Facebook page. Local businesses pay for advertising on the page and Mary donates the proceeds to Temple Street Children’s Hospital. Mary could attend the awards as she is on a trip along Route 66 in aid of Temple Street.

Patrick McAloon fundraises for SNAP and for the Holy Family School, which his son attends. He is also an active campaigner, pushing for a new building for the Holy Family School and being one of the founders of “Monaghan Needs Services” which advocates for respite care, day services and a special school for Co. Monaghan. Patrick also established the Monaghan Rhinos inclusive youth rugby team.

Dave Kent, Olive Moran, Mary Gartlan, Susan Savage and Bridie O’Reilly were jointly nominated for their contributions to Carrickmacross Meals on Wheels. They travel the rural areas around Carrickmacross in their own cars to bring nutritious meals to vulnerable older people. As well as providing food, they also provide social contact for isolated people. They also help ease the burden for family members caring for older people, as meal preparation is one less thing for them to worry about.

Sinead Fidgeon is one of the parents who founded the Down Syndrome Centre in 2018 and is still heavily involved as a board member and fundraiser. In particular, she produces the annual calendar and is very involved in running the fashion show. Sinéad also makes a special effort to meet and support families who have recently had a new baby with Down Syndrome and to guide them towards what supports are available.

Paul Bond is the person who thought of creating the Drumlin Giants in Rossmore Park and who has organised various children’s events around the Giants, including film screenings, model boat decorating and a story competition. Paul has also volunteered at 140 weekly park runs. He sets up the course, takes photos and tells stories! During covid lockdowns he also did deliveries from local pharmacies to elderly and vulnerable people.

Gertrude Ní Mhiacháin is a committee member of Muineachán le Gaeilge, a community group that encourages people to speak the Irish language. She has set up two conversation groups and a walking group as well as arranging weekends away to the Donegal Gaeltacht. Gertrude is always on hand to welcome new members and put them at ease.

The Vision Ireland charity shop in Carrickmacross has such an amazing collection of volunteers that their manager couldn’t bring herself to select just one. She has jointly nominated

• Violet Babinton
• Hollie Bang
• Gillian Nolan
• Anna Murray
• Clare Coleman
• Galina Nazarenko
• Oana baciu
• Gillian Lambe
• Ridwan and Kafi Fagade
• Ulyanna Gudziy

All bring different talents and experience to the role and together they make it an excellent place to shop.

Lifetime Achievement Award

Emer Brennan was nominated in both this category and the Volunteer of the Year category for her many years of dedication to Monaghan Tidy Towns. Her work includes everything from arranging litter picks and tree planting to applying for funding and establishing a range of biodiversity projects. Emer also keeps all the other Tidy Towns volunteers connected and informed through their Facebook page and WhatsApp group. She has also welcomed a diverse range of volunteers into Tidy Towns, including recent migrants and students from the National Learning Network.

Paula Gannon and Kevin Skinnader are volunteers are Mullinahinch Nursing home. They were nominated by staff there for taking elderly residents out into their local community. Their volunteering reduces loneliness and isolation and helps residents continue their religious practice by taking them to Sunday mass.

Miriam Moore was nominated for 40 years of dedication to the Riding for the Disabled Association Monaghan Group and also to the national organisation. As an instructor, Miriam’s patient and encouraging approach has helped many people gain not just physical skills but also confidence and independence. Miriam also plays a vital role in training and mentoring new volunteers and instructors and building the organisation of the future.

Brian “Beano” Clerkin is involved in many community activities around Monaghan Town, including Monaghan Harps, Monaghan Hurling Club, Spudfest Music Festival, Tidy Towns, Allotments and Family Fun Days. He began volunteering at a young age, through sports clubs and the Neighbourhood Youth Project. He is busy with volunteering five evenings a week and many weekends and will do everything from organising and planning an event to the clean up afterwards.

Seamus Conlon was nominated by Aughnamullen Sarsfields GAA club. He has been volunteering there since the 1970s and is “ever dependable and never one to shy away from a job. Over the years he has fundraised for new facilities and been treasurer and chairman of the club. Seamus was also County Minor Team manager and on the County Board Executive and an Ulster Council delegate. He is still heavily involved and was instramental to the development of a new Astro Pitch, car park and floodlights in the last few years.

Michael McCarron was a founding member of St. Mellan’s Handball Club 50 years ago and is still actively volunteering and playing. His club estimates that he has spent 7,000 hours coaching young players, laying the foundations of the thriving club it is today. As a coach, he has taught countless young players not just the skills of the game, but also the values of commitment, discipline and sportsmanship. He has also been very involved in organising tournaments and fundraising events and maintaining club facilities.

Gerard McArdle was chairman of the Killanny & Reaghstown Group Water Scheme for 19 year, until his retirement earlier this year. Under his leadership water supply for local households improved and the scheme ran efficiently. The scheme recently won the Rural Water Services Conference “Community Engagement Excellence Award” Geard was always contactable and ready to help, not just at regular meetings but with middle of the night emergencies too.

Gerry Murdock was nominated this year for his dedication to Monaghan Tidy Towns. He is also a previous winner of the “Volunteer of the Year” category, which he shared with Alice Creagh in 2018. Gerry is one of the founders of Monaghan Allotments and over the years has also been involved in with Monaghan Men’s Shed, Monaghan County Music Festival and Monaghan Blues Festival.

Darina Maloney-Moffett started volunteering with Monaghan Arch Club over 30 years ago while she was still at school. She helps run the weekly activities for young people and adults with intellectual disabilities, providing fun social activities for them and some respite for family carers. Darina is now a committee member and also director of the Arch Club choir. She encourages everyone to get involved with the choir, gets people dancing and mentors young volunteers.

Tommy Mc Ardle is described to us having spent a lifetime making Drumhowan a better place to live and work and his enthusiasm rubs off on others. He was chairperson of Drumhowan Community Group when it was founded in 2006 and was instrumental in getting extensions to the centre. He is also president of Drumhowan GAA.

Entertainment and Food

Different Keys choir provided a very enjoyable performance, with “I don’t do mornings” performed by Dara McGabhann and Alex Watson and five more songs performed by the whole choir. The afternoon finished with refreshments and chat in the lobby and a chance for all the winners and nominees to have their photos taken. Professional photographer for the event was John Nutley, with additional photos by MID staff member Martina Kelly.

Thanks  

Monaghan Volunteer Centre and Monaghan Integrated Development would like to thank everyone involved in the event, including the nominees and those who took the time to nominate them, all who attended the event, board members and steering group members who presented trophies or acted as judges and the Iontas Theatre. Thanks also to the 2023 winners assisted with the launch event in August. They were Mary Hall and Sinéad Fidgeon of the Down Syndrome Centre North East, Anne Jordan and Fergal McMahon.

Special thanks to the Department of Rural and Community Development for assisting with the costs of the event.

Get Involved!

As Francis McCarron pointed out during the awards ceremony, volunteering provides benefits to both the individuals and communities. To find out more about volunteering or if your voluntary group would like new volunteers, please contact Sinéad Keenan, Grace Sherry or Liza Hackett at Monaghan Volunteer Centre at Monaghan Volunteer Centre.