VOLUNTEER

AWARD RECIPIENT

Patricia Carey

A volunteer within the LGBTQ+ community for over 30 years, Patricia Carey is a passionate and experienced advocate and social change leader. She is the current Chairperson of Belong To, Ireland’s LGBTQ+ youth charity, and is a founding member of Outhouse LGBTQ+ Centre. She has previously served as a trailblazing member of NUI Maynooth Gay Society before it was officially recognised, an early volunteer at GAZE International LGBTQIA Film Festival, and as Chairperson of LOT. She has also DJ’d at countless fundraising events throughout the years.

Her experience spans even further beyond these examples, making her a worthy recipient of the Volunteer of the Year award.

Accepting the accolade at the GALAS, Patricia said: “Volunteering in the community was never glamorous, and it was mostly unseen when I came out in the ‘80s. But without volunteers, and so many of you are here tonight and I want to pay tribute to you and all the nominees, we would absolutely not be where we are in terms of our progress for our community.

“In the ‘80s and ‘90s, being a volunteer had the added danger of being criminalised, grotty meeting rooms–if you even could get a meeting room–and absolutely no funding. We did, however, have lots of fun. We were arrested, we protested, we partied, but most of all, we volunteered.

“We need to go back to our protesting and our partying, and please support our trans brothers and sisters,” she urged, before concluding with a big shoutout to the volunteers, board members and staff at Belong To, as well as her wife Linda and best friend Catherine.

NOMINEES

Anastasia McCormac

Anastasia McCormac is a core volunteer at Outcomers LGBT+ Support Service, Dundalk, operating as a Youth Leader three times a week. Not only is she a positive role model to younger community members, she also goes above and beyond to help the organisation carry out its essential work in whatever way possible. Additionally, this year alone she volunteered during the first Inis Oirr Pride in May, the first Balbriggan Pride in June, Dundalk Pride in July and Ardee Pride in August.

Ginell Healy

In 2024, Phoenix Tigers FC is celebrating its 20th anniversary, and Ginell Healy has been at the core of the club for nearly 15 of those years. Her unwavering commitment and leadership have been instrumental in transforming the LGBTQ+-inclusive football team from times of hardship when only three or four players might turn up, to the thriving community it is today with up to 20 regular participants each week. Beyond her indispensable role within the Tigers, Ginell is deeply involved in the broader LGBTQ+ sports community, supporting Sporting Pride’s Summer and Winter Sports Days, as well as organising groups to attend Pride parades across the country.

Mark O’Looney Cannon

Although based in New York, Mark O’Looney Cannon regularly travels back to Ireland for his advocacy. He has done instrumental work as Vice Chairperson of Irish Gay Dads, highlighting how rainbow families are being left behind by the country’s legislation. In the US, he also is a member of the CUNY LGBTQI+ Advisory Council, mentoring younger queer people on their careers.

By Alice Linehan