Community

Annual dlr Awards Celebrate Dedication to Community Development Across the County

07 November 2025

dlr County

General News

Gallery

dlr Community & Volunteer Award Winners - Stefani Howlett, Megan O'Leary, Pierrot Ngadi.

Cllr Jim Gildea, Cathaoirleach

Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council proudly hosted the dlr Community and Volunteer Awards last night at the Talbot Hotel, Stillorgan, where community groups and volunteers from across the county were honoured for their outstanding contributions to making dlr a vibrant and thriving place to live. Winners on the night included Kilmacud Community Men’s Shed, Sandyford Youth Band, Wayside Celtic FC, Dún Laoghaire Tidy Towns, the dlr Disability Consultation Group, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Estate Management Fora, Hillview Family Resource Centre, and Rosemount FRC—each recognised for their outstanding contributions to community life across the county.

This year, 45 community groups and 40 volunteers were formally acknowledged for the valuable contributions they make to their communities. Awards were presented to both groups and individuals to celebrate the positive impact they have on community life. Groups across the county engage in a wide range of community development activities, including:

Child and Youth Development
Age Friendly Initiatives
Arts, Culture & Heritage
Environment and Climate Action
Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Integration
Health and Wellbeing
Disability and Neurodiversity
Civic Pride

An Cathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, Cllr Jim Gildea, along with Deirdre Baber, Director of Services, Community, Cultural Development and Parks Department, presented the awards. Speaking at the event, Cllr Gildea commended all the groups and volunteers who took part, saying:

“These awards help to celebrate the excellent work achieved by our volunteers and groups working together, striving to make a difference in their respective communities. It is wonderful to see such amazing work happening around the county. You all bring a wealth of knowledge, skills, commitment, and creativity to your communities. You should be highly commended.”

Deirdre Baber also thanked the volunteers and community groups for their ongoing commitment and work, highlighting the importance of supporting and connecting through local activities and shared interests—at the heart of what community development is all about.

List of winners

Volunteer Winners

Age Friendly - Juliann Ewansiha

Arts, Culture and Heritage - Ian Duckenfield

Child/Youth Development - Megan O'Leary

Community and Civic Pride - Zara Kelly

Disability and Neurodiversity - Rossa O'Briain

Environment and Climate Action - Mark Anderson

Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Integration - Pierrot Ngadi

Health and Wellbeing - Louise Leavy

Groups – Winners and Runner Up