Meet This Year’s National Lottery Good Cause Legends
Nine organisations from across Ireland have been crowned National Lottery Good Cause Legends 2026, earning national recognition for the legendary difference they make in communities nationwide.
This year's nine Legends are outstanding examples of the impact being made in communities nationwide through National Lottery Good Causes part funding. From community supports and cultural heritage to sport and wellbeing, their work enriches lives, strengthens communities and demonstrates the incredible value of Good Causes part funding.
The National Lottery is delighted to recognise each of them as National Lottery Good Cause Legends 2026.
This Year’s National Lottery Good Cause Legends!
Fishamble: The New Play Company
Fishamble is an Irish theatre company dedicated to discovering, developing and producing new Irish writing for the stage. From touring productions across the globe to bringing theatre into DEIS schools across Dublin, they champion the role of the playwright and believe that every story deserves to be told. Fishamble is helping to amplify Irish voices, break down barriers to participation and bring powerful Irish stories to audiences around the world.
The Hunt Museum
The Hunt Museum in Limerick houses a remarkable collection of approximately 2,500 artefacts and artworks, spanning Neolithic times to the 20th century. Through its Seeing Without Sight project, part-funded by National Lottery Good Causes and co-created with visually impaired volunteers, the museum has made its collection more accessible through audio descriptions, 3D replicas and Braille labels.
Cape Clear International Storytelling Festival
Cape Clear International Storytelling Festival takes place every September on Cape Clear Island, Ireland's southernmost inhabited island, eight miles off the West Cork coast. Since 1994, the festival has brought together storytellers and audiences from across Ireland and the world for three days of performances, storywalks, workshops, Irish language events and storyswaps, growing into one of the most celebrated storytelling festivals on the international calendar.
Hygiene Hub
Hygiene Hub is a charity that works to tackle hygiene poverty, ensuring people across Ireland have access to essential hygiene and personal care products. Founded in 2020, Hygiene Hub collects and distributes hygiene products through a nationwide network of volunteers, supporters, donors and community partners, to provide essential items to those across Ireland who may otherwise go without.
Naas Community Men's Shed
Naas Community Men's Shed is a community space in Naas, Co. Kildare, where men of all ages come together to connect, share skills and support one another. Since 2014 their members, ranging from their twenties to their eighties, have gathered for carpentry, music, sport, gardening and everything in between, with a particular focus on combating the isolation that can come with retirement, illness or bereavement. The Shed Band performs regularly at nursing homes, dementia cafés and community events throughout the county.
Sensational Kids
Sensational Kids is a charity and social enterprise that provides developmental therapies to children and young people with additional needs across Ireland. Operating from four Child Development Centres in Kildare, Cork, Mayo and Monaghan, their team provides occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, play therapy, educational psychology and autism assessments, offering subsidised and fully funded support to families who would otherwise face long waiting lists or unaffordable private fees.
Shannon's Hopeline
Shannon's Hopeline is a Dublin-based mental health charity that provides low-cost, community-based support to young people and families. Shannon’s Hopeline was established by two sisters, Sandra and Lisa Kelleher in memory of Sandra’s daughter, who tragically passed away by suicide. The charity offers play therapy for children from age four, talk therapy for young people up to age 25, a teens mental wellness camp, a breakfast club and a walking group for adults.
My Canine Companion
My Canine Companion is a Cork-based charity that trains and places autism service dogs and school therapy dogs with children, families and schools across Ireland. Founded in 2011, the organisation runs a volunteer puppy-raising programme through which dogs are raised from ten weeks old before undergoing two years of specialist training. Today over 400 trained service dogs support families nationwide and over 100 school therapy dogs work in classrooms across the country, positively impacting thousands of students.
Mayo Mountain Rescue Team
Mayo Mountain Rescue Team is a voluntary search and rescue organisation that has been providing emergency cover across Co. Mayo for over 30 years. A team of trained volunteers responds to callouts across mountains, uplands and remote terrain at any hour and in any weather, 365 days a year. Beyond their emergency work, the team delivers first aid and CPR training to people across Mayo so that more lives can be saved closer to home.
