Irish Red Cross call on people of Tipperary to nominate local humanitarians
The Irish Red Cross has launched a call for nominations for the seventh annual Irish Red Cross Humanitarian Awards. The Awards recognise those who exemplify the vital spirit of humanitarian action in Irish society and celebrates that ‘good deeds matter’.
The Irish Red Cross is part of the largest humanitarian organisation in the world, working both in Ireland and internationally to provide emergency response in times of disaster and crisis. The charity also provides a range of health and wellbeing services to support vulnerable people in local communities and including those who arrive to Ireland fleeing conflict. In today’s world of global conflict and climate related challenges, humanitarian work has never been more crucial. From neighbours helping each other to get essential supplies during the recent snow days to organisations providing crisis relief, humanitarians play an essential role in protecting and promoting human dignity, alleviating suffering, and fostering resilience in communities facing adversity.“A humanitarian can be anyone – a world leader to a local volunteer; a business professional to a community worker,” explains Deirdre Garvey, Secretary General of the Irish Red Cross. “What they demonstrate is their commitment to putting humanity first and taking action to help others in need. Every humanitarian action contributes to a mor compassionate society.”
The awards celebrate these contributions across six categories:
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Humanitarian of the Year
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Young Humanitarian of the Year
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Community Organisation of the Year
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Humanitarian Journalist of the Year
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Corporate Impact
The Irish Red Cross will also present a Lifetime Achievement Award. Nominations can be made at www.irchumanitarianawards.ie.
Since their establishment in 2018, the Irish Red Cross Humanitarian Awards have highlighted remarkable stories of everyday heroes whose good deeds have transformed lives across Ireland. These awards not only recognise outstanding contributions but also remind us that acts of kindness, both big and small, are the foundation of a stronger, more united community.
“The humanitarian spirit shows us that good deeds matter more than ever,” Garvey adds. “Whether it’s helping a single person or supporting thousands, each positive action contributes to building a better world. Through these awards, the Irish Red Cross continues to champion the belief that good deeds matter, demonstrating how individual actions, guided by compassion and humanity, can create lasting positive change in our communities and beyond.”
The public can submit nominations through the awards website at irchumanitarianawards.ie/
Case Study:
From 250 to 180,000: How an Irish Red Cross Award Helped Transform Young Lives
When Tammy Darcy won the Irish Red Cross Humanitarian of the Year award in 2021 for her work as CEO of the Shona Project, she couldn’t have predicted the cascading effect it would have on the Shona Project’s mission to support young girls across Ireland. “It was a huge thing for me personally and professionally,” Darcy reflects. “The level of recognition in winning the award was fantastic – to even be nominated was an honour – so many amazing people doing amazing work. It was a real moment of recognition that spurred Shona and myself on to greater success.”
The numbers tell a remarkable story of growth: from supporting 250 girls in their first year to reaching 180,000 young people across all programmes in 2024. This exponential impact mirrors the organisation’s internal growth, expanding from a team of four in 2021 to eleven dedicated professionals today.
The Irish Red Cross Humanitarian Award proved to be more than just recognition – it became a catalyst for expansion and collaboration. “Winning the award opened up partnerships and collaborations. It unlocked new communities and created a great deal of goodwill around our offerings,” Darcy explains.
Through a dynamic combination of workshops, an Ambassador
The Irish Red Cross has now opened nominations for its 2025 Humanitarian Awards, with submissions being accepted until Friday, February 14th. Categories include the Humanitarian of the Year and the Corporate Impact Award, recognising both individual changemakers and organisations driving social impact.
For those hesitating to put themselves forward, Darcy offers encouraging advice: “I would recommend anyone who is considering applying to just go for it. While there is only one winner in each category, even being nominated highlights your work and gives you an opportunity to get feedback. Writing applications helps me hone my message and get my thoughts straight, and you get to meet other people in this space doing similar work.”
