Presidential Distinguished Service Awards 2019

President Michael D. Higgins has honoured recipients of this year’s Presidential Distinguished Service Award for the Irish Abroad in a special ceremony in Áras an Uachtaráin, the presidential residence. The Presidential Distinguished Service Award is presented by the President every year in recognition of the service given to Ireland or to Irish communities abroad by individuals living outside Ireland.

 ‌Following the ceremony, recipients attended a celebratory dinner in Farmleigh hosted by Tánaiste Simon Coveney

 

Following the announcement of this year’s recipients, Minister of State Ciarán Cannon said:

 

“As Minister of State for the Diaspora, I am proud that we recognise all that our diaspora have done and continue to do. These twelve people show the remarkable diversity of Ireland’s reach in the world and signify the breadth and richness of our diaspora. The recipients include those working with the most marginalised and vulnerable, those who have become the voice for those who have none.

 

A total of 189 nominations were considered for the awards this year, and the level and breadth of the achievements of the people nominated are outstanding.”

 

Recipients are chosen within six thematic categories, and this year represent seven different countries of residence.

 

 

 

The full list of recipients of the Presidential Distinguished Service Award in 2019 is:

 

Ian Gibson - Spain)

Charlotte Moore and Ciaran O’Reilly - USA

 

Paul Drechsler - Britain

Michael Kenneally and Rhona Richman Kenneally - Canada

 

Fr. Patrick Clarke - Brazil

Bernard Lynch - Britain

 

Jackie Donohoe - US

 

Sally O’Neill Sanchez (deceased) - Honduras

 

Jocelyn Bell Burnell - Britain

William Howlett – Tanzania