Good Causes Awards 2025
Congratulations to all our winners!
2025 Category Winners
Festival in a Van
Festival in a Van brings live performances directly to communities across Ireland, transforming everyday spaces into stages of connection and creativity. With a focus on inclusion, they remove barriers to access and empower people of all backgrounds to engage with the arts. By meeting audiences where they are, they foster belonging, celebrate local voices, and make cultural participation a joyful, shared experience.
AkiDwA
AkiDwA is a leading organisation advocating for the rights of migrant women in Ireland. Through outreach, education, and policy work, AkiDwA addresses key issues including gender-based violence and integration. Their efforts have supported thousands of women and raised national awareness en-suring that migrant women and girls are protected, empowered, and heard.
Kinaffe Community Garden
Kinaffe Community Garden is a youth-led project supporting over 100 young people from diverse backgrounds, including those who’ve experienced trauma. The garden fosters emotional healing, connection, and confidence through nature-based learning. Maintained by local volunteers and supported by schools and services, it’s become a vibrant space for integration, creativity, and community pride, earning national recognition for its inclusive and transformative impact.
Dragon Boat Club Ballina
Dragon Boat Club Ballina is a volunteer led group using dragon boating to support physical and emotional well-being, especially for those affected by cancer and life-limiting conditions. With over 100 members, the group fosters connection, resilience, and joy through sport and community action. Rooted in care and sustainability, they champion inclusion, environmental stewardship, and the healing power of shared experience on and off the water.
Irish Whale & Dolphin Group
The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) is Ireland’s leading marine conservation charity, protecting whales, dolphins, and porpoises through rescue, research, and education. Their Live Stranding Response Program empowers volunteers and coastal communities to take action, saving marine life and raising awareness. Through science, advocacy, and hands-on conservation, IWDG inspires a deeper connection to Ireland’s marine environment and a shared responsibility to protect it.
Na Gaeil CLG
Na Gaeil CLG is an Irish speaking GAA club in Tralee, welcoming over 600 members from underage to senior level. Known for its strong community spirit, the club promotes Irish language and culture through sport, education, and events. With outreach to schools and local groups, and success at County and National levels, Na Gaeil fosters pride, participation, and a vibrant Irish-speaking environment for all.
The Cavan Centre
The Cavan Centre is a long-standing residential project supporting young people and families from disadvantaged areas of Dublin. Through outdoor education and experiential learning, it offers a safe, empowering space for personal growth, skill-building, and positive life choices. With a strong focus on inclusion and resilience, the Centre helps participants build confidence, connect with others, and create lasting, life-enhancing memories.
Hero of the Year
Liam Brereton, St. Brigid’s Edenderry Boxing Club, Offaly
The National Lottery Good Causes Awards Hero of the Year winner 2025 is Liam Brereton, a dedicated coach and mentor whose work has transformed lives in St. Brigid’s Edenderry Boxing Club and beyond. Liam was chosen for this award due to his exceptional dedication as head coach of St Brigid's Edenderry Boxing Club. A man who doesn’t take no for an answer, Liam has made a significant impact on female boxing worldwide and is an inspiring mentor and life coach to many athletes. He is a truly selfless individual, whose unwavering commitment and genuine care for others make him a true hero.
St. Brigid’s Edenderry Boxing Club is one of the oldest clubs in the area, founded in 1933 to give the community of Edenderry a safe and positive outlet through sport. Today, it remains true to its founding ethos, offering affordable membership and an open-door policy that welcomes people from all backgrounds.
The club has become a recognised centre for female boxing, both nationally and internationally. In 2012, there were no female members. Today, women make up 75% of the club’s boxers, coaches, and committee. With support from National Lottery part-funding, the club installed female facilities and launched an annual All-Female Sparring Camp, which now attracts over 175 boxers from 25 countries.
The club also plays a vital role in the local community, supporting young people from over 15 nationalities and helping families integrate through sport. It works closely with schools and encourages parents to get involved as coaches and committee members, strengthening its connection to the wider community.
National Lottery Good Causes Awards is proud to honour Liam Brereton as Hero of the Year 2025 for his lifelong commitment to boxing, inclusion, and the young people of Edenderry.
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