LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Dominic McGreal
The GALAS posthumously honoured Dominic McGreal with a Lifetime Achievement award at the 2026 ceremony. Dominic, who passed away on May 19 of this year, was an advocate, community leader, artist, and historian who made a lasting difference to the lives of others. He was a prominent figure within the Irish deaf and hard-of-hearing community, involved with various organisations including the Irish Deaf Society, Chime, Greenbow Deaf LGBT, Deaf Village Ireland, Dublin Deaf Theatre, Deaf Heritage and more. Through his commitment, leadership and determination, he helped ensure that people who can sometimes feel overlooked have had a voice, a community and a place where they truly belong. Dominic has been remembered for “his kindness, his soft smile, his love of reading, writing and history, and the way he always had time for people.”
Accepting the award, Greenbow Chairperson John Fennell shared, “We always looked up to Dominic. Over the past 30 years, he dedicated so much of his time, energy and passion to supporting others. We are truly grateful for everything he has done. Dominic loved Greenbow. It was more than an organisation to him; it was his family.”
Fennell added, “We are so happy and proud to see Dominic receive this Lifetime Achievement award. He deserves this recognition for everything he has given to the community over the past 30 years. On behalf of everyone at Greenbow, we miss him very much. Although he is no longer with us, his work, dedication, actions and memories will live on forever.”
By Alice Linehan