President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins presented the 2023 Presidential Distinguished Service Awards at a ceremony in Áras an Uachtaráin in Dublin on Tuesday evening, January 16.
The Awards are presented by the President every year in recognition of the service given to this country, or to Irish communities abroad, by those who live outside Ireland.
The Awards were created in 2011 as a means to recognize the contribution of members of the Irish diaspora, and the first awards were presented by President Higgins in 2012.
Throughout his term in office, President Higgins has emphasized the global nature of Ireland’s cultural heritage, the significance of the diaspora, and the common history and identity we share “despite the borders, oceans and miles that may separate us."
The Presidential Distinguished Service Awards 2023 recipients are:
- Mr. Aidan Connolly and Ms. Pauline Turley - Arts, Culture, and Sport (USA)
- Dr. Beatriz Kopschitz Xavier Bastos - Arts, Culture, and Sport (Brazil)
- Mr. Philip Treacy - Arts, Culture, and Sport (Britain)
- Dr. h.c. Fritz Senn - Arts, Culture, and Sport (Switzerland)
- Dr. Howard Keeley - Business and Economic Development (USA)
- Ms. Caoilfhionn Gallagher K.C. - Charitable Works and Advocacy (Britain)
- Dr. Stanley Quek - Charitable Works and Advocacy (Singapore)
- Dr. Patricia Mary Lewis - Education, Science, and Innovation (Britain)
- Ms. Maria Doyle - Inclusion and Equality (France)
- Ms. Sinéad El Sibai - Irish Community Support (UAE)
- Mr. Seamus Sullivan - Irish Community Support (Australia)
- Fr. Gabriel Dolan - Peace, Reconciliation, and Development (Kenya)
The Presidential Distinguished Service Awards ceremony takes place this evening.
Thirteen members of Ireland’s diaspora will be recognised for their contribution to Ireland and its people abroad.
Find out more about those being awarded 👉 https://t.co/yqo5TaLgQi#PDSA23 pic.twitter.com/VSKTZ0Rnfc
— Irish Foreign Ministry (@dfatirl) January 16, 2024
Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs noted that this year, the recipients were acknowledged for their outstanding contributions to Ireland and to the Irish abroad in a variety of fields, including human rights protection and advocacy, development, Irish community care, disarmament, education, Irish Studies, the arts, and business.
Only people who live outside the island of Ireland can be nominated for the Distinguished Service Award. While the scheme is open to all people living abroad, it is primarily aimed at Irish citizens, those entitled to Irish citizenship, and persons of Irish descent, who have made a sustained and distinguished service to Ireland or Irish communities abroad, or on a global or international issue of importance.
Nominations for the Award are made through the network of Irish Embassies abroad and are considered by a High Level Panel. The Panel recommends up to a total of 10 people every year from these nominations.
January 16, 2024: President Higgins presents the 2023 Distinguished Service Awards.
Speaking after Tuesday's ceremony, Tánaiste Micheál Martin TD, said: “I was delighted to meet the 13 recipients of the 2023 Presidential Distinguished Service Awards. Each has in their own way has made a notable contribution in their particular areas of endeavour.
“In doing so, they are representative of the many millions of Irish people who have over the years had such a positive impact in so many different parts of the world, and continue to do so.
“It serves as a reminder to all of us of the capacity of diaspora and immigrant communities to make a hugely positive contribution to their adopted communities.”
Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora, Sean Fleming, TD, said: “The Presidential Distinguished Service Awards is an annual opportunity for us to acknowledge and celebrate the achievements of Ireland’s diaspora.
“Irish communities all over the world enhance Ireland’s global reputation by their actions and by their commitment to tolerance, inclusion and to justice and equality for all. These are values which we continue to hold very dear here in Ireland.”
On X, Claire D. Cronin, the US Ambassador to Ireland, thanked the winners for their contributions:
Congratulations to the winners of @PresidentIRL
— Ambassador Claire Cronin (@USAmbIreland) January 16, 2024
Distinguished Service Awards for Irish Abroad, including @PaulineTurley @AJConnolly from @IrishArtsCenter & @KeeleySavGA from @GeorgiaSouthern
Thank you for your
contributions to 🇺🇸🇮🇪 cultural & economic bonds. pic.twitter.com/bynEuGTNGv
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