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Launch of the 2026 Lord Mayor’s Civic, Community & Voluntary Awards

24/02/2026

The Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Fergal Dennehy, launched the 23rd edition of the Lord Mayor’s Civic, Community & Voluntary Awards.

Since 2004, the Lord Mayor's Community and Voluntary Awards have recognised the outstanding voluntary commitment, dedication, and community building ethos in Cork City. With more than 500 organisations active in the community and voluntary sector, these groups form the very heart of Cork City - embodying its caring DNA of togetherness and solidarity.

The public are invited to nominate community and voluntary groups they believe deserve recognition for the valuable work they do. The awards are presented to six category winners and to one overall winner.

The six categories include: 

  • Arts, Culture and Heritage
  • Community Development and Lifelong Learning
  • Social Inclusion, Advocacy and Integration
  • Social Enterprise Innovation
  • Climate Action and Sustainable Development
  • Recreation, Sport, Health and Wellbeing

 

The Lord Mayor will also honour outstanding individual contributions to life in Cork through six Civic Awards and a Culture Award at the upcoming ceremony and will announce his chosen recipients of these distinctions in the coming weeks. 

Speaking at the launch the Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Fergal Dennehy said:

“It is my great honour to launch this year’s Lord Mayor’s Civic, Community and Voluntary Awards. For more than two decades, these awards have offered a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the invaluable contributions of individuals and organisations whose voluntary efforts enrich our communities and strengthen the very fabric of our city, making Cork a better place for all of us.

I now encourage the people of Cork to nominate the community and voluntary groups who deserve recognition for the vital work they do, and I look forward to celebrating these remarkable contributions at our awards ceremony in June - an event in the year that always fills me with immense pride. I would also like to extend a special word of thanks to our media partner, The Echo, for their continued support of this important event”.

John O'Mahony, Editor of the Irish Examiner / Echo said:

"The Echo/Echolive.ie is once again very proud to be part of the Lord Mayor’s Community and Voluntary Awards as we have been since their inception.

It's so important that we celebrate and share the stories of those who give so much of themselves, so often selflessly and tirelessly, to their communities and city yet ask so little in return. With these awards, we have an opportunity to give something back."


CLOSING DATE FOR NOMINATIONS IS FRIDAY, APRIL 3 2026

Winners will be announced at a Civic Ceremony in Cork City Hall on Wednesday, 10 June 2026. 

Nominate your community and voluntary groups by visiting https://submit.link/4EU 

Application form:  https://submit.link/4EU 

Website link : https://www.corkcity.ie/en/council-services/services/community/community-participation/lord-mayor-s-community-and-voluntary-awards/

 

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