The highly anticipated Irish News School, Club and Volunteer Awards will be hosted tomorrow afternoon in the Wellington Park Hotel.
This will be the 17th year of the awards which acknowledge all the hard work put in by schools, clubs and volunteers to promote Irish culture and Gaelic Games.
Every school and club does its best to make a difference, but these awards recognise the efforts of those who have come up with brilliant ideas and initiatives within their parish or community.
Be it a programme promoting the Irish language, a scheme to aid the elderly, or a novel approach to coaching Gaelic Games, all of these will be celebrated at The Irish News School, Club and Volunteer Awards.
The Awards are also open to clubs from overseas who are making a difference in their new communities.
Two ladies who are leading the way in their respective fields will be overseeing the awards.
Lynette Fay, star of BBC Radio Ulster, will be hosting the event and Clonduff ladies captain Paula O’Hagan will also be a guest speaker.
Lynette hosts her own BBC Radio Ulster show on Saturday and Sunday evenings, while Paula O’Hagan is a standout camogie star for Clonduff and Down.
Paula is also a part of the management team for Sacred Heart Grammar School’s camogie team and has been a vital part in bringing the glory days back for school’s side.
The awards have been growing since their introduction in 2003 and this year sees another new category for our ‘Stats for Success’ initiative in partnership with Performa Sports.
An Irish language award, in conjunction with Foras na Gaeilge, will also continue to celebrate our native language and the people who do their utmost to develop it.
The winning clubs and schools will not only walk away with the coveted Irish News Club or School of the Year title, but also £500 from The Irish News and a £500 voucher from O’Neills.
Once again, The Irish News is delighted to have such committed partners in O’Neills, Volunteer Now, Chest Heart & Stroke, Revive Active, Wellington Park Hotel, Foras na Gaeilge and Ulster GAA.
The awards include
School Awards
- Primary School
- Post Primary School
- School Wellbeing Initiative
Club Awards
- Best Underage Initiative
- Best Coaching Initiative – All codes
- Best Development Initiative
- Best Well-being Initiative
- Best Irish language Initiative
- Overseas Club of the Year
Volunteer Awards
- Young Volunteer of The Year
- School Volunteer of The Year
- Club Volunteer of The Year
