VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR
AWARD RECIPIENT
Lorelei Fox-Roberts
Lorelei Fox-Roberts’ volunteer work has ranged from Marriage Equality and Yes Equality to Northwest Pride, Repeal and Palestine solidarity. In 2024, she founded Longford Pride, and she has also supported neighbouring Pride organisations. She places accessibility at the heart of her work, including through her use of ISL and commitment to interpretation at LGBTQ+ events. Her approach is rooted in making sure people are genuinely included, regardless of ability, race, class or neurodiversity.
Accepting the award, Lorelei recognised the people who have supported her work. She thanked everyone involved with Longford Pride, her parents, and her partner Gemma, who she said supports everything she does. She also thanked her child, who “constantly inspires me to learn, better myself and help make the world a safer place for the next generation.”
NOMINEES
Áine Reynolds
Áine Reynolds has made a significant contribution to Navan Pride in her first year as Company Secretary, taking on the administration, governance and paperwork that keeps a volunteer-led organisation running. Alongside this behind-the-scenes work, she has championed accessibility, including efforts to make the festival more welcoming for neurodivergent attendees.
David Rinehart
David Rinehart has become a strong voice within Ireland’s LGBTQ+ community through his work with Mullingar Pride and the Rainbow Library Network. He has chaired a cross-border national library conference focused on resisting homophobia in libraries, while also serving as Chair of Mullingar Pride and sitting on the Westmeath Community Safety
Partnership.
Kieran Rose
Kieran Rose’s decades of voluntary work have helped transform Ireland, while his continued involvement shows that his contribution to the movement is far from finished. He has been involved with the Cork Gay Collective, and campaigns for decriminalisation, workplace equality, Civil Partnership, Marriage Equality, and more recently, the LGBT+ Restorative Justice Campaign.
By Sarah Creighton Keogh