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Helen O’Donnell announced as All-Ireland Community Volunteer of the Year 2026

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Helen O’Donnell announced as All-Ireland Community Volunteer of the Year 2026. Photo: Diarmuid Greene

Helen O’Donnell has been announced as the LAMA All-Ireland Community Volunteer of the Year 2026 at a special awards ceremony

Helen O’Donnell has been announced as the winner of All-Ireland Community Volunteer of the Year 2026

Team Limerick Clean-Up co-founder and Limerick City Tidy Towns chairperson, Helen O’Donnell, has been announced as the winner of All-Ireland Community Volunteer of the Year 2026 at the Local Authority Members Association (LAMA) All-Ireland Community and Council Awards.

Representing the very best of civic pride, innovation, community spirit and volunteerism, the shortlisted nominations for the LAMA awards showcase the breadth and vibrancy of local initiatives underway across Limerick.

Following the announcement, Team Limerick Clean-Up shared a message of congratulations, saying, “TLC would like to extend its congratulations to our wonderful co-founder, Helen O’Donnell, who was awarded Volunteer of the Year at the LAMA All-Ireland Community and Council Awards 2026 on Saturday night.


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What an achievement, well done Helen! Let’s look back at TLC throughout the years. We are celebrating 11 years this Good Friday, and registration is currently open. A reminder that all groups must register to take part!”

Having been nominated for the award by Limerick City and County Council, the local authority shared its pride in Helen’s win, saying, “Congratulations to Helen O Donnell. LAMA All Ireland Community and Council Award winner 2026.

Helen O'Donnell announced as All-Ireland Community Volunteer of the Year 2026
Helen O’Donnell pictured with Joe Cleary of Mr Binman at Team Limerick Clean Up 9. Picture: Olena Oleksiienko/ilovelimerick

“As Chair of Limerick City Tidy Towns and co-founder of Team Limerick Clean-Up, Helen, a longstanding advocate for community improvement and environmental stewardship in Limerick, has seen her leadership drive hundreds of volunteers to transform public spaces and foster civic pride across the city and county.”

The 2026 Awards took place at the Dublin Royal Convention Centre on Saturday, February 28, 2026, celebrating major milestones for LAMA including the 20th anniversary of the Awards, 40 years of the LAMA Executive.

The Awards shine a spotlight on the collaboration between communities and councils and provide a platform to showcase outstanding local initiatives, honour unsung heroes, and acknowledge the remarkable contributions that enrich and strengthen our communities.

Richard Lynch and Helen O’Donnell pictured at Team Limerick Clean Up 9. Picture: Olena Oleksiienko/ilovelimerick
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Richard is a presenter, producer, songwriter and actor. He was named the Limerick Person of the Year (2011) and won an online award at the Metro Éireann Media and Multicultural Awards (2011) for promoting multi-culturalism online. Richard says that the ilovelimerick.com concept is very much a community driven project that aims to document life in Limerick. So, that in 20 years time people can look back and remember the events that were making the headlines.