ENNIS local Margaret Hurley has been presented with a national award for her volunteering work. Margaret was named a winner in the Health and Wellbeing category in the national Volunteer Ireland Awards for her commitment to the Irish Wheelchair Association.
Margaret Hurley has been volunteering with the Irish Wheelchair Association in Ennis for over 15 years. Known to her friends as ‘Mags’, she has been the backbone of the Ennis branch, and has been the driver, literally and metaphorically, of hundreds of activities over the years. She is currently the Branch Treasurer, but also acts as a driver of IWA’s wheelchair accessible minibus when required.
Despite the considerable time commitment Margaret gives to the local volunteer branch, her dedication to the organisation is so strong that she also has another volunteer role with the Irish Wheelchair Association charity shop in Ennis.
According to Clare Volunteer Centre Manager, Sharon Meaney, “The Clare branch of the Irish Wheelchair Association were determined to recognise and acknowledge the contribution that Mags has made over the last 15 years. We all benefit when people like Margaret volunteer and the Volunteer Ireland Awards give us an opportunity to say thank you and celebrate the difference volunteers make every day.” Sharon went on to acknowledge the work of volunteers, groups and communities during the Covid-19 pandemic.
At the awards Arthur and Deborah Carr were named Christine Buckley Volunteer of the Year for their outstanding commitment to supporting those in crisis in Galway.
Joe O’Brien TD, Minister of State for Community Development and Charities, stated, “It gives me great pleasure to congratulate all the winners of the Volunteer Ireland 2020 Awards, which are supported by my department. After what has been a very challenging year for us all, it is all the more important to thank those volunteers who have gone the extra mile to support the most vulnerable in our communities. In addition to the winners, I would also like to thank Volunteer Ireland for their work to support and champion volunteering around the country”.
As a physical event was not possible this year each awardee received a special surprise delivery from Volunteer Ireland announcing their win. It included an engraved trophy, a framed message from President Higgins, complimentary tickets to EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum and of course, a hamper of goodies to celebrate with. All 805 volunteers nominated in this year’s awards also received a special thank you card from Volunteer Ireland earlier this month.
The Volunteer Ireland Awards are now in their thirteenth year and aim to shine a light on the ordinary people doing extraordinary things in our communities every day.