Monaghan Volunteer Centre and Monaghan Integrated Development this week launched the 2024 Co Monaghan Volunteers Awards. The launch event took place at the Four Seasons Hotel in Monaghan and was attended by the 2023 winners. Sinead Keenan who is Coordinator of the Volunteer Centre based in Monaghan said that the event was a chance for Volunteer Centre staff to catch up with last year's winners and hear about their most recent voluntary activities. Speaking to Northern Sound, Sinead also revealed that the 2024 awards are now open for nominations. Sinead believes that the Volunteer Awards is a "fantastic way" to say thank you and show appreciation for the "hard work" and "dedication" of local volunteers.
Nomination forms are available by contacting Monaghan Volunteer Centre or at www.volunteermonaghan.ie These awards recognise and celebrate the efforts and achievements of volunteers and voluntary organisations across County Monaghan. There are three categories; Volunteer of the Year, Lifetime Achievement and Volunteer Group of the Year. Organisers are hoping to receive a broad selection of nominations from across the county to recognise both experienced volunteers and those who have taken up volunteering more recently. This year the winners will be announced at an event in the Iontas Theatre in Castleblayney on Sunday 6th October. All nominees will be invited, and their contributions celebrated at the awards ceremony.
The awards have been held annually since 2007. Winners of the individual categories from the past few years have included volunteers from sports clubs, heritage groups, older people's groups, disability groups and many more. The Volunteer Group of the Year category celebrates the work of local voluntary organisations, especially those that work hard to involve new volunteers and find new ways to carry out their work.
