South Dublin County Volunteer Centre, and our Community Volunteers Program, have been recipients of many local and national awards, culminating in our Community Volunteers Program being awarded the Freedom of South Dublin, the highest civic honour that can be bestowed upon an individual/group by South Dublin County Council.

The honour is reserved for those who have made exceptional or unique contributions to the common good or to persons who have made outstanding contributions to South Dublin County.

The Mayor of South Dublin County, Councillor Peter Kavanagh, said at the event that, “To volunteer is to give of oneself freely to the community. Volunteerism underpins all of our villages, towns, cities and indeed our country. Without Tidy Towns, Community Councils, Lions Clubs, Active Retirement Associations, sports clubs, walking groups and more, life as we know it would be bereft.

These volunteers here tonight not only give of themselves freely and without hesitation, they are paragons of community spirit, lifesavers, angels and above all, heroes.