The deadline is approaching for the submission of nominations for the inaugural Irish government Presidential Distinguished Service Award for Irish people living abroad.

Nominations for the award should be forwarded to the Press and Information Section, Embassy of Ireland, 2234 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20008 or sent by email to washingtonembassy@dfa.ie by 5 p.m. on May 21.

The new awards will honor mainly Irish citizens as well as people of Irish descent who have made a sustained and distinguished service to Ireland or Irish communities abroad.

Nominees for the award should be drawn from the following areas of achievement -- Irish community support; arts, culture and sport; charitable works; business and education; peace, reconciliation and development.

Each submission should state the category under which the nomination is being made.
The nominee must have rendered distinguished service to Ireland and/or its reputation abroad. 

The nominee must also have actively and demonstrably contributed to Ireland and/or its international reputation and/or Irish communities abroad in at least one of the categories outlined.

The nominee must have a track record of sustained support and engagement with Ireland and/or its international reputation and/or Irish communities abroad over a period of not less than five years. In order for consideration, the nominee must reside outside of Ireland.

An expert panel based in Ireland will review all nominations before recommending 10 winners for the national accolade. It is expected that the first awards will be presented by Irish President Michael D. Higgins towards the end of this year.

“This initiative allows Ireland to give special recognition to those who have given distinguished service to Ireland or the Irish community abroad,” Michael Collins, Irish ambassador to the U.S., said in a statement.

“It is obviously important that we do so, in view of the extraordinary contribution of our global family and the interest, generosity and devotion of so many members of that family towards Ireland and its future and towards our people, at home and abroad.”

Further details are also available via the Presidential Distinguished Service Award page of Embassy’s website at www.embassyofireland.org.