Lord Mayor's Community & Voluntary Awards: Top mayoral award for migrant charity

The Lord Mayor of Cork, Green Party councillor Dan Boyle, honoured some of the city’s finest volunteers and community groups this evening at the annual Lord Mayor’s Civic, Culture and Community & Voluntary Awards gala event.

The event, now in it’s 22nd year, saw Nasc — an organisation which supports migrants and refugees in understanding their rights — announced as the overall winners in the Lord Mayor’s Community and Voluntary Awards.

Other groups recognised included: Mayfield Men’s Shed in the recreation, sport, health, and wellbeing category; The Hut Youth Project in the social services charities and environment category; Clogheen Kerry Pike Community Association in the community development and lifelong learning category; Save Our Bride Otters in the climate action, active travel, and sustainable development category; Cycling for All Cork in the social inclusion advocacy and integration category; and the Mexican Community Cork in the arts, culture, recreation, and heritage category.

“We have all been touched or had our lives enriched by the work of one or more of tonight’s Community Award winners, and this is the location and occasion to acknowledge and recognise that,” Mr Boyle said.

A number of people were also honoured with Lord Mayor’s Civic Awards — including Graham Clifford, in recognition of his work with Sanctuary Runners; Joanna Dukkipati, for her commitment to supporting migrant communities; and Maria Young, in recognition of her dedication to environmental sustainability.

Jimmy Crowley was honoured for his outstanding contribution to the musical landscape of Cork; Nora O’ Donovan for her efforts in championing the rights of older people in Cork; and Siobhán O’Dowd, in recognition of her long-term contributions to community development, inclusion, lifelong learning and LGBT+ activism in Cork.

This year’s Culture Award winner was John Spillane, recognised for his lifelong contribution to the popularising of the Irish language and the mythology, music, and storytelling of Ireland.

The chief executive of Cork City Council, Valerie O’Sullivan, said that “while the council is an important presence in the community, it is not the sole means for making improvements”.

“Your presence tonight is very important recognition of the fact you, the community, are the activists on the ground that plot and plan how to improve your area,” she added.

John Dolan, features editor of The Echo, which was media sponsor of the awards, said: “For 133 years, The Echo has been a voice of the communities of Cork, and has advocated for, publicised, and celebrated the kind of community and voluntary groups that we see before us tonight.

“These groups, and the people who propel them, enrich our communities, and we want you to know that we will always be there to support you in your endeavours.”