An impressive 24 finalists comprising of local groups, sports clubs, community projects and organisations from Dublin were recently announced as County winners in the National Lottery Good Causes Awards 2023. Initiatives recognised at the awards include LGBT Ireland, a national charitable organisation providing support services to (LGBTQI+) people and their family members; the Killinarden Family Resource Centre, who provide counselling and support to people of all ages in the community; The Irish Homeless Street League, a non-for-profit organisation that uses the power of sport to help vulnerable people integrate into the community, and many more meaningful projects countywide.
The awards aim to honour, showcase and celebrate the inspiring work being carried out nationwide by thousands of projects, clubs and individuals who have received support from Good Causes funding. Nearly 30 cents of every euro spent on National Lottery games goes back to Good Causes all over the country. The 24 County Winners of the National Lottery Good Causes Awards from Dublin City, North Dublin and Dublin South Dublin are:
Sport: Irish Homeless Street League , Clondalkin Rugby Football Club, Skerries Sailing Club and Vision Sports Ireland
Health & Wellbeing: ChildVision, The Down Syndrome Centre, Blanchardstown Centre for Independent Living and Dyspraxia/DCD Ireland
Heritage: The Little Museum of Dublin
Arts & Culture: Festival in a Van, Chamber Choir Ireland, Dance Theatre of Ireland and Children’s Books Ireland
Community: Chrysalis Community Drug Project CLG, FoodCloud, Donabate Portrane Community Centre, and LGBT Ireland (Support and Advocacy Network Ireland CLG)
Youth: ECO UNESCO, Youth Theatre Ireland, Killinarden Family Resource Centre and YMCA Dublin
Irish Language: Raidió Rí-Rá, AerachAiteachGaelach and Conradh na Gaeilge
Announcing the Dublin County Winners, National Lottery CEO, Andrew Algeo, said “Good Causes who support communities across Ireland are at the heart of the National Lottery’s purpose. As a result, we are delighted to celebrate each year the exceptional work being carried out by those groups, organisations and sports clubs nationwide. I am thrilled and not surprised to say that we have had another year of inspirational stories from the beneficiaries of National Lottery funding. These stories provide purpose to those of us who work in and with the National Lottery. It has never been easy to narrow down the list of hundreds of entries, however, it is a great pleasure to congratulate the Dublin County winners this year and to be able to show our appreciation for their commitment to communities around the country.”
Gráinne Seoige, host of the Good Causes Awards, said “This is my fourth year being involved in the National Lottery Good Causes Awards, year-on-year my delight to be involved grows. By working with Good Causes, I have had the pleasure of meeting so many individuals and groups that are doing extraordinary work in our communities. They continue to inspire me each year, and I look forward to seeing who makes it through to the National Finals in October!”
Local or national, large or small, the awards will recognise initiatives across a broad list of categories: Sport, Health & Wellbeing, Arts & Culture, Heritage, Community, Youth, and Irish Language. This year’s event will take place on Saturday, 21st October 2023 in Killashee House Hotel, Naas, Co. Kildare. The full list of 133 County Winners can be found at www.lottery.ie/good-causes-awards/county-winners.
The 133 County Winners will now compete for a place in the National Finals judging phase, after which the National Finalists will be announced. The total prize fund available on the night of the Good Causes Awards ceremony is €100,000, whereby each of the seven category winners will receive €10,000 and the overall Good Cause of the Year will take home an additional €25,000. A special category, ‘Hero of the Year’, will be announced on the awards night in recognition of outstanding work and the recipient will receive a prize of €5,000. In addition, each of the National Finalists announced in June will receive a cheque for €1,000.
