‘Activists on the ground’ take centre stage at Cork City Hall gala ceremony

On Wednesday, Lord Mayor councillor Dan Boyle honoured some of Cork’s finest volunteers and community groups at the annual Lord Mayor’s Civic, Culture, and Community and Voluntary Awards gala event.

Joined by hopefuls at City Hall, representatives from a range of groups came together to celebrate the dedication of those making a difference in communities across Cork.

The event saw several community and voluntary groups recognised across a number of categories, with Nasc announced as the overall winners.

Nasc, the Irish word for ‘link’, is an organisation that works to achieve an inclusive and equal Ireland for refugees and migrants.

Following what Cork City Council CEO Valerie O’Sullivan, described as an “overwhelming response” to the 2025 awards, 18 nominees were shortlisted across six categories.

The Lord Mayor said: “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.”

Gurranabraher-based group, The Hut Youth Project, was announced as the winners in the Social Services Charities and Environment category, which was followed by a celebratory chant of ‘Up the Hut’.

Clogheen Kerry Pike Community Association was awarded the Community Development and Lifelong Learning category award for its work in enhancing, maintaining, and improving the local area since 1987.

Following an impromptu singalong by members of the Mayfield Men’s Shed, the group were announced as the winners in the Recreation Sport Health and Wellbeing category.

Save Our Bride Otters was celebrated in the Climate Action, Active Travel and Sustainable Development category, with Cycling for All Cork taking home the award in the Social Inclusion Advocacy and Integration category and the Mexican Community Cork in the Arts Culture Recreation and Heritage category.

Ms O’Sullivan said: “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.”

The event was also an occasion to recognise the contribution of individuals to the life of the city.

Speaking at the awards, Mr Boyle said: “The Lord Mayor’s Civic Awards are an opportunity for me to pick just six from the many hundreds I could have chosen, not for any one event or occasion but in the main a lifetime of dedication and service in the common good. And for every six I could have chosen there could have been 600 others.”

Among those recognised with civic awards were Graham Clifford, in recognition of his work with Sanctuary Runners; Joanna Dukkipati, in recognition of her commitment to supporting and empowering migrant communities; and Maria Young, in recognition of her dedication to environmental sustainability.

Jimmy Crowley was recognised for his outstanding contribution to the musical landscape of Cork, as a collector and performer of the city’s cultural heritage; and Nora O’Donovan was celebrated for her advocacy and efforts in championing the rights of older people in Cork.

Siobhán O’Dowd was met with a standing ovation from all those in attendance in City Hall as she was recognised for her long-term contributions on community development, inclusion, lifelong learning and LGBTI+ activism in Cork.

Master of ceremonies and Irish development officer of Cork City Council, Chris Dorgan said: “I have been involved in this event for many years, and it is the first time I have seen everyone stand to attention for a civic award recipient and I think that speaks volumes to the work that Siobhán has done for this city.”

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

In his address, Mr Dorgan described Mr Spillane as, “a musician, songwriter, performer, recording artist, storyteller, poet, and dreamer. What a lovely thing it is to be described as a dreamer”.

In recognising the immense contribution Mr Spillane has made to the city and further afield, the Lord Mayor, presenting him with his award, said: “John Spillane is a man at the height of his creativity, energy, and enthusiasm. John has given us so much and has so much left to give and it is only fitting then that we recognise this in a special way.”

Mr Spillane gave a special performance of his song Cherry Trees.

In his speech, John Dolan, assistant editor/features editor of The Echo, media sponsors 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.

“It’s a cliché, but all the groups represented today, and the many others doing fine work out there in the Cork community, are all winners.”