Nine Limerick Red Cross nominations for national Volunteer of the Year Awards 2025

Nine Limerick Red Cross nominations for national Volunteer of the Year Awards 2025

Limerick Volunteers receive nine shortlisted nominations in the 2025 Irish Red Cross Volunteer of the Year Awards

Eight Irish Red Cross volunteers and one of its branches have received shortlisted nominations in the Irish Red Cross Volunteer of the Year Awards.

From ‘Young Volunteer of the Year’ to ‘Instructor of the Year’ to ‘Newcomer of the Year’ to ‘branch of the year’, Limerick volunteers have received national recognition for their tireless volunteer service for Irish Red Cross – receiving 9 shortlisted nominations across the island.  

The Irish Red Cross National Volunteer Awards recognise the commitment, compassion and hard work of Irish Red Cross volunteers who generously give their time for the betterment of communities across Ireland.  

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These inspiring volunteers – who provide first aid at local community events, check on isolated or vulnerable people, help communities prepare and respond to severe weather episodes or provide therapeutic hand care to nursing home residents, to mention just some examples – will be celebrated at a ceremony in Croke Park on 29th November.

Eight award winners will be announced during the event, including Volunteer of the Year, Young Volunteer of the Year, Community Support Volunteer of the Year, Unit Member of the Year, Instructor of the Year, Branch of the Year, Newcomer of the Year, and Lifetime Achievement Award.

The Limerick nominations are Amy Shanahan for Newcomer of the Year. Amy Shanahan who volunteers with the Irish Red Cross East Limerick branch has been shortlisted for the Irish Red Cross Newcomer of the Year Award 2025. Amy has been a member of the East Limerick Branch since September 2024. In just a few months, she has made an amazing impact through her time commitment to duties and her dedication as a youth leader.

Sarah & John Collins for Father and daughter nominated for Volunteer of the Year. Father and daughter Sarah and John Collins who volunteer with the Irish Red Cross East Limerick branch have been jointly shortlisted for the Irish Red Cross Volunteer of the Year Award 2025. John, the founder of the East Limerick branch with over 20 years of service, and Sarah, the branch Youth Leader and community first responder, have transformed the presence of the Irish Red Cross in their community through their extraordinary dedication and compassion.

Mary Grehan is nominated for Volunteer of the Year and Instructor of the Year. Mary Grehan who volunteers with the Irish Red Cross Limerick City branch has been shortlisted for the Irish Red Cross Instructor of the Year Award 2025 and the Volunteer of the Year Award 2025. Mary has been a dedicated member of the Limerick City branch for over 25 years. Throughout these years, she has contributed an unquantifiable amount of time to the Red Cross, holding numerous positions including Area Duty Coordinator, Chairperson of Limerick City Branch, EMT Unit Officer, EMT Tutor, Safeguarding Instructor, EFR Instructor, and Patient Transfer Coordinator. Mary is also known for bringing warmth and community to her classes, often accompanied by her dog Oscar, who serves as a beloved mascot supporting volunteers during training.

Rosemary Lucey is nominated for Young Volunteer of the Year. Rosemary Lucey who volunteers with the Irish Red Cross Limerick City branch has been shortlisted for the Irish Red Cross Young Volunteer of the Year Award 2025. Rosemary is a member of the Youth, Novice group and has been involved with the Irish Red Cross since starting their Practical First Aid course with a Cadet group in September 2023. In just over a year, Rosemary has made an extraordinary impact through dedication, professionalism, and an unwavering commitment to helping others.

Niall Boland for Unit Member of the Year. The Irish Red Cross Limerick City Branch has nominated Niall Boland for the Unit Member of the Year Award, celebrating his incredible dedication and critical leadership since joining in 2008. As the Limerick Branch’s Assistant Area Director of Units (AADU) – Major Events and an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), Niall has logged a verified 4,648 volunteer hours at events alone.

Brendan McCormack for Instructor of the Year Nominee. Brendan McCormack who volunteers with the Irish Red Cross Limerick City branch has been shortlisted for the Irish Red Cross Instructor of the Year Award 2025. Brendan has been a member of the Limerick City branch since January 2019. He initially joined to spend time with his daughter who was a youth member, but six years later continues his dedication to the organisation even after she has moved away.

Sinead McCarthy is nominated for Newcomer of the Year. The Irish Red Cross Limerick City Branch has nominated Sinead McCarthy for the Newcomer of the Year Award, recognising her extraordinary dedication and swift impact on the organisation since joining in May 2024. In just 18 months, Sinead has demonstrated a commitment described as “incredible,” accumulating over 350 tracked volunteer hours and rapidly advancing through key training and leadership roles.

The Limerick City Branch is Nominated for Branch of the Year. The Irish Red Cross Limerick City Branch has been shortlisted for the Irish Red Cross Branch of the Year Award 2025. With 67 years of service and 167 dedicated members, the Limerick City Branch has demonstrated exceptional commitment to community service and youth development.

In 2024, the branch provided medical cover to 146 events and held over 200 training sessions. In 2025 to date, they have covered 66 events and conducted 150+ training sessions, supporting sports matches, festivals, concerts, and community events across Limerick.

Limerick City Branch is home to the Generation Heroes youth programme, which has been launched nationwide. The branch manages seven youth groups annually across four locations in Limerick City, with six teams participating in youth competitions in 2024 and six members attending the Youth Leadership Weekend in February 2025.