The Echo is showcasing and investigating the broad spectrum of personality that makes up the Rebel County with a new series called The Characters of Cork. Every week The Echo will be chatting to a character about their life and seeing what makes a Cork character tick.

Roisin Burke speaks with Meitheal Mara volunteer Fran Lynch about her love of the water and for helping young people gain confidence and develop their skills in this area.

Eilis O’Brien tells Roisin Burke about her work with Ballyphehane Tidy Towns, seeing it as investing her time in something that’s important to her, her family and the community

Mary Groeger is the first female chairperson of Cork Mental Health in its 60-year history. Roisin Burke hears how Mary finds working in the sector so fulfilling

Leaving Cert student Megan Fox tells Roisin Burke about her work at the local NCBI shop in Mitchelstown

Olivia Keating was recently recognised with a Volunteer of the Year award. She tells Roisin Burke how a life-changing accident led her to rethink her life and make a decision to try to give back to the community.

After retiring following 45 years of teaching, Noreen Minihan is still hard at work in her local community, involved in a plethora of organisations, and tells Roisin Burke she lives by the mantra: “If I can help somebody as I pass this way, then my living will not be in vain”.

Blood Bike South’s Conor Hemlock tells Roisin Burke why he volunteers to transport blood, human milk, and PPE to and from hospitals

Having volunteered with Foróige for almost 30 years, chairperson of the Blackpool Youth Club, Bernadette Daly, tells Roisin Burke that she believes volunteering is something that is in her blood

From serving her country as a member of the Defence Forces to giving up her free time to give back to veterans, Tracy Connollyis the epitome of selfless service, writes Roisin Burke

Volunteering with Cork Penny Dinners seven days a week, for the past 15 years, Caitriona Twomey is an integral part of Cork’s charitable community. She tells Roisin Burke how and why she started to volunteer

Chairperson of Cork city LGBT+ running group Frontrunners, Evan Murphy Keogh, tells Roisin Burke about his love for helping people

Youth worker Megan Sarl has been volunteering on Childline phones since she turned 18, because she always wanted to help young people, to hear their stories, and to be a positive adult in their lives, she tells Roisin Burke

Roisin Burke speaks with Cork Barrack Street Band chairperson, Billy O'Callaghan about his role with the band and how volunteers have helped ensure many have had access to a musical education 

Roisin Burke speaks with Fiona Kennedy about how she was drawn back into volunteering during the pandemic, and how she hopes her efforts will benefit her local community.

Proinsias Ó Tuama tells Roisin Burke volunteering has lots of benefits and has taught him many important things.

Director of Cork Samaritans Jonathan Neville has been a volunteer for 13 years with an organisation that helps so many people, writes Roisin Burke

After a scholarship to the US in 1968, Donie Walsh competed for Ireland in the marathon in Munich in 1972. He gives back by coaching, he tells Roisin Burke

Roisin Burke talks to volunteer Debbie Lahive, who has fallen in love with the atmosphere and ethos of Cork Community Art Link. 

GIVING back to the community is a family affair for the O’Leary household in Fair Hill, with both Cal and his wife Lilian involved with the Friendly Call organisation which keeps older and vulnerable people connected with the community.

Roisin Burke speaks with volunteer Maria Bateson about how she got involved with Cork Community Bikes and why volunteering is important to her

AFTER 30 years as a volunteer and 25 years with Meals on Wheels, retired nurse Patricia Harrington is a key asset to the Bishopstown community.

Roisin Burke speaks with Gill Weyman about volunteering with the Cork Nature Network and how they are working to protect wildlife and rare flora in Cork.

Gráinne Fee talks to Róisín Burke about volunteering with Alone, saying she hopes she makes the lives of the older people she phones a little bit brighter.

Ashleigh Ellis tells Roisin Burke how being a part of the eco-social groupmade her realise that one person really can make a difference.

A retired couple, from the Rochestown community, says giving back to the area they live in is a rewarding and satisfying experience that benefits their local society.

Donie Lucey is a passionate volunteer who dedicates his time to helping others. He tells Roisin Burke about the joys volunteering brings him

Cobh woman Kelly Mellerick tells Roisín Burke she loves helping horses and ponies to find a new lease of life through her work with the animal charity organisation ‘My Lovely Horse Rescue’.

PERSISTENCE, resilience and perception are the top three traits needed to thrive and survive in volunteer advocacy, according to the head of the Cork Cycling Campaign Conn Donovan.

For the past 20 years, Kate Durrant has dedicated her time and talent to helping the most vulnerable in society through a range of charity organisations.