Pictured at the launch of the Cathaoirleach’s Awards 2024 was cathaoirleach Councillor John O’Hara and Lynda Huxley from Swift Conservation Mayo, winners of the Contribution to Local Biodiversity and Natural Heritage award at the 2023 awards. PHOTO: HEVERIN PRINT

Nominations now open for Mayo Cathaoirleach Awards 2024

Mayo County Council is accepting nominations for the 2024 Cathaoirleach’s Awards.

Do you know a person or a community group who deserve to see their efforts recognised at Mayo County Council’s civic awards?

The Cathaoirleach’s Awards has gone from strength to strength since its inception in 2021, with 98 nominees shortlisted for the 2023 Cathaoirleach’s Awards in 14 categories.

The 2023 awards culminated with a gala awards ceremony held in March this year attended by over 350 people.

This year’s awards will see 15 different awards spread out over eight different categories from a wide spectrum of individuals and community groups across the county and our diaspora abroad.

The cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council, Councillor John O’Hara, welcomed the opening of the nomination process for the 2024 Cathaoirleach’s Awards.

He stated: "I’ve seen first hand how successful these awards have been since they began and the joy it has brought to the winners over the past number of years.

“I’ve also seen how proud the people and groups who have been nominated to see the work they have been doing in their communities recognised and celebrated by these awards.

“These awards are a testament to those incredible individuals and groups that make this county a vibrant and thriving community.

“Be it through their dedication to community service, their contributions to environmental protection, the arts, culture or the promotion and protection of the Irish language – there are thousands of people across this county and beyond who need to be recognised and I encourage everyone, if you know of someone who falls into one of the categories, to nominate them and give them the recognition they deserve.”

There are eight categories in this year’s Cathaoirleach’s Awards, with 15 awards in total open for nomination.

The chief executive of Mayo County Council, Kevin Kelly, added: “The Cathaoirleach’s Awards continue to be one of the cornerstones of Mayo County Council’s calendar.

“We are committed to acknowledging and recognising the people and groups who put in countless hours behind the scenes to deliver services and support to communities in every corner of the county.

“From our bustling town centres to the smallest townlands in the most remote parts of Mayo, there are people who dedicate their spare time to their community and make a profound difference to lives day in day out.

“We feel it is our duty to recognise these people and we are delighted to have seen these awards go from strength to strength over the past number of years, with more and more nominations coming in each year, and we hope to see even more nominees again this year, so those who are doing this great work get the recognition they deserve.”