Finalists and Winners

Founder of The Sydney Community Safe Space

Alan runs a non-clinical Pop-up Safe Space at the Little BIG House on Friday and Saturday evenings. The Safe Space is a warm, welcoming environment open to anyone struggling with chronic loneliness or suicidality – or anyone who is feeling unsafe or in need of peer support. It is also a space for carers friends or colleagues to come and seek help.

The Safe-Space itself is a Community Space, that provides a warm, welcoming environment in which to reduce stress. It is an alternative to the emergency department, which are not the best fit for people in emotional pain and distress.

Co-Founders of WNOW

David and Tadhg have created a community where men are proud to be men; comfortable to take their ‘armour’ off and be their authentic selves, feeling supported and safe in a community of like-minded men.

A community where men explore in a fun way what it means to be a better man, tackling challenges together and focusing on improving their mental, physical, and emotional health to be the best role model they can be for themselves and all those around them.

Founder and Director of Keith’s Closet

Keith's Closet is a not-for-profit charity that provides support to members of the community who are accessing the mental health service. Through their walk-in wardrobe facilities, they provide clothing, toiletries, sanitary items, accessories, and homewares on admission or discharge from a mental health facility so patients can embrace their reintegration and thrive in society.

Ned has been involved in the GAA community both in Sydney and Australasia (Australia & New Zealand) since his arrival in 1981.

NSW GAA is the overseeing GAA community organisation that has been running for over 75 years.

Ned has been formally on the committee since 1997 and continues to still give his free time in the role of Treasurer.

Totalling 27 years of voluntary service thus far.

Chairperson of the NSW Gaelic Athletic Association.

Under Coilin’s stewardship the NSW GAA has grown from strength to strength, each year the membership increased, to unprecedented numbers totaling 1500 at present. There are nine Clubs in total, with 39 teams playing ladies’ football, Camogie, men’s football, and hurling. While the amalgamation of the 3 is a work in progress for GAA, LGFA, and Camogie in Ireland-in Sydney this works seamlessly with Coilin overseeing 18 games, across three pitches each Sunday

Ciara is the Club Secretary for Cormac McAnallen’s GFC, Sydney. She goes above and beyond to ensure the club is run smoothly, which is no easy task.

Outside of her role, she is the chief organiser for club events including the recent beach tournament in Maroubra, she’s a member of the Ladies’ Football management team, and she runs all the club’s social events such as the dinner dance, boat party’s, 12 pubs of Christmas, and most importantly she goes out of her way to ensure everyone feels welcome when they join the club.

She is seen as the Mammy figure in the club which we are all very grateful for, and as a club, we would be extremely proud if she were to be the recipient of this award.

Áine is a passionate supporter of drama and the arts and also the Irish culture. She has been involved in theatre groups for many years and has organised cultural events celebrating Irish literature, music and drama. A founding member of the Prankqueans, Aine has been the driver behind the recent celebrations of St Brigid's Day, Bloomsday and Samhain. Áine is passionate about celebrating all things Irish and promoting ancient Celtic traditions. She is also committed to highlighting the achievements of Irish and Australian women through performances.

Her energy and enthusiasm for the projects she has worked on have brought awareness of the richness of our culture through music, recitals and poetry, and the success of the Prankqueans is in no small part due to Áine's vision and energy.

Tom took over as president of the Kerry Association in 1991 for a brief period, and took it up again in 1996. He has held the role ever since and he is the longest serving president of the Association. He has dedicated so much of his life to ensure the Irish diaspora stay connected and strong.

Tom is passionate about his roots does not begin to encapsulate his presence in the Sydney Irish Community. He speaks year on year about the "Irish Heart".

Dr. Enda Murray is an award-winning filmmaker and educator. His body of creative and academic work spans his interest in culture, education and social change. Enda, originally from Drogheda, founder and creative director of the Irish Australian Film Festival.

The Irish Film Festival is Australia’s finest source of innovative, quality film that showcases the culture, traditions, history and character of Ireland and the Irish people.

Rick is a long standing member of Sydney Queer Irish, since our original inception in the 90s and the revival of the group in the 2010s. A master millner, designing costumes for many theatre productions over the years, this year he went above and beyond to design SQIs Mardi Gras costumes and hand create the elaborate costumes of our float participants. Working late into the night for weeks, he battled through illness and injury to create, on a voluntary basis, our stunning Mardi Gras entry. This man has more energy and drive than people a third his age and is a valued member of our community.

Originally from Tipperary, Michael is a member of the United Irish Ex-Services Association and of Moral Injury International. He has been involved in many organisations, including the ISA (formerly known as the Irish Australian Welfare Bureau), Sydney St Patrick's Day Committee, the Tipperary Association and was host of the Sydney Irish Radio programme on 2SER for many years.

During his radio career Michael was not afraid to call politicians or main stream media out, particularly if there were any anti Irish sentiments and also ran several campaigns. Michael has fully embraced life in Australia and is a well-respected 'elder' of our community.

Since arriving in Sydney (Penrith) back in 1978 John immediately immersed himself into the community through his involvement in Gaelic Games. From then on, John and many others devoted their time to promoting all things involving Irish culture including forming a hurling team, a school of Irish dancing, a social golf club, a soccer club and a drama school. The jewel in the crown came when John helped build the Penrith Gaels Cultural and sporting club house which opened in 1997.

Since opening, John has been a constant figurehead around the club serving in many roles but more so as President for over 20 years. During these 20 years John has been an inspiration to everyone he meets, forever the welcoming figure when one enters the premises. To add to his list of honours, John is also the honorary president of Penrith Gaels GAC.

Irish Family Events Sydney

Alexandra founded Irish Family Events 3 years ago, and since then she has provided phenomenal dedication to the Irish community, working enormous hours (voluntarily) to connect young families through fun cultural events that support other Irish businesses in the process.

She works tirelessly on creating these large-scale events, often single-handedly through a lack of volunteer support. Plus all the marketing, admin, supplier management, logistics, decor, financing etc. It’s a thankless job that she continues to do because of its importance.

There are always between 300-500 coming to these community events in the east showing the sheer demand for the work she’s doing in the community. She does this all while raising 2 young kids.

Ireland Calling has been an important part of the cultural fabric of Sydney for almost 40 years.

Ireland Calling is a weekly radio programme broadcast from community radio station 2RDJ’s studio. The programme first aired in 1985. The weekly Saturday morning show, 8:00 to 11:00, focuses on providing community service to the Sydney Irish and broader Irish Australian Community. It features the latest news from Ireland and the local Irish community; regular interviews with the Irish Ambassador plus Consular staff; Immigration advice; interviews with visiting celebrities and artists plus playing a wide variety of Irish music. Listeners are encouraged to contact the programme, to share their stories, promote their upcoming events, request a song and or say hello to family and friends in Sydney or Ireland.

Ireland Calling’s aim is to bring a smile to listeners faces with their combination of Irish news, music, interviews - good old-fashioned craic!

Since Liam left his native County Cork many years ago, he has thrown himself into stewarding the Irish National Association virtually since its inception in 1973. Over 50 years of service to this organisation, Liam is a dedicated volunteer and only for him & his fellow committee member Denis O'Flynn, the Gaelic Club would no longer be available to our Irish community as a Cultural Centre.

Despite the challenge to keep the INA going Liam is rightly proud of its achievements. It is still there, still successfully promoting Irish culture in the 21st century 100 years after its foundation in 1915. Over the years, the organisation has brought much joy and good entertainment to thousands of people and with the right effort it could continue to do so.