Dáithí Ó Sé Announced as Chair of Judging Panel for National Lottery Good Causes Awards 2025

The National Lottery has today (3rd April) officially announced Dáithí Ó Sé as the Chair of the Judging Panel for the National Lottery Good Causes Awards 2025, which honours the inspiring work and achievements of projects, clubs and individuals all over Ireland, who, with the help of National Lottery Good Causes funding, have had an extraordinary impact on their local communities. 

The awards ceremony will take place on Saturday, 18th of October in Killashee House Hotel in Naas, Co. Kildare.     Individuals, community projects and organisations who received Good Causes funding between the years 2020 and 2024 are eligible to apply. Deadline for applications for the Awards has now been extended until 5pm, Friday 11th April and beneficiaries can enter and check eligibility at https://www.lottery.ie/goodcausesawards.   

The Good Causes Awards will have seven categories which are:   • Sport  • Health and Wellbeing.    • Arts & Culture  • Heritage  • Community  • Youth     • Irish Language 

Each category winner will receive €10,000 while the overall Good Cause of the Year will receive an additional €25,000.   A special category, ‘Hero of the Year’, will also be announced at the Awards final, in recognition of outstanding work done by an individual within an organisation and will receive a prize of €5,000. 

Daithi Ó Sé, Chair of this year’s Good Causes Awards Judging Panel, said:
Last year, I had the privilege of presenting the Community Award and was truly blown away by the unbelievable work being carried out on the ground across Ireland. It was an inspiring experience, and when I was asked to become the Chair of the Judging Panel, I jumped at the chance—what an honour! As a proud supporter of these awards and the remarkable causes they celebrate, I encourage all eligible projects, clubs, and individuals to apply to this year’s Good Causes Awards. Your efforts are making a real difference, and I look forward to reading the applications and choosing our new 2025 winners.”

Rebel Wheelers, a previous County Finalist of the Good Cause Awards, is a multi-sports club for adults and children with a physical disability, located in County Cork. The club aims to empower those with a physical disability by introducing them to sport in a fun and safe environment, promoting independence, healthy living and well-being through participation in sport. This May, the club’s basketball team is competing in the IWBF (International Wheelchair Basketball Federation) Eurocup qualifiers in Sardinia. Rebel Wheelers will be the first Irish club to make it to the qualification round for the IWBF Eurocup.

Jerry O’Regan, Co-Founder of Rebel Wheelers, said:
“We strongly encourage all eligible groups to apply for this year’s Good Causes Awards. It is remarkable the journey this club has been on over the last 17 years, from starting with a small team to becoming an established competitor across several sports in Ireland and internationally. This is a remarkable achievement and is testament to the incredible work and dedication of our players and all those involved in the club, made possible with National Lottery part funding. We look forward to continuing to provide a supportive environment for people with disabilities to achieve new heights through sport.”

Nearly 30 cent in every €1 spent on National Lottery games goes back to Good Causes in the areas of sport, youth, health, welfare, education, arts, heritage and the Irish Language. In total, more than €6.5 Billion has been raised for Good Causes since the National Lottery was established 37 years ago. In 2023 alone, €227.9 Million was raised for local Good Causes in communities across Ireland.