Offaly Community and Voluntary Group Awards 2026

What to Expect

Offaly County Council’s Community and Culture Section runs the Community and Voluntary Group Awards to recognise the work done by voluntary groups across the county, and nominations for the 2026 round close on Sunday 6 September 2026. Anyone can nominate: members of the public, community groups, voluntary organisations and residents can all put a group forward, and groups can apply on their own behalf.

There are nine categories in the 2026 programme: Community Involvement, Culture and Heritage, Equality and Social Inclusion, Children and Youth Supports, Environment and Climate Action, Sports, Arts and Culture, Health and Well Being, and Older People Supports. Winners in each category receive a €500 bursary to put back into their community work. The awards ceremony itself takes place in Birr in November 2026, with the date and venue confirmed to shortlisted groups nearer the time. The council has said it wants to see nominations from towns, villages and communities right across Offaly rather than only the larger centres, so smaller rural groups are actively encouraged to apply. Nomination forms and further detail come from the Community and Culture Section at community@offalycoco.ie.

Good to Know

• Nominations close: Sunday 6 September 2026
• Awards ceremony: November 2026, in Birr
• Nine categories, including Sports, Environment and Climate Action, and Older People Supports
• Prize: a €500 bursary per winning group, for community work
• Open to community groups and voluntary organisations across County Offaly
• Nominations accepted from the public as well as from groups themselves
• Contact: community@offalycoco.ie, Offaly County Council Community and Culture Section

Getting There

Nominations are administered by Offaly County Council at Aras an Chontae on the Charleville Road in Tullamore, on the southern approach to the town off the N52. There is parking at the council offices. Tullamore is signposted from the M6 at Kilbeggan and the M7 at Portlaoise, and the railway station on the Dublin Heuston to Galway line is about 20 minutes’ walk from Aras an Chontae. The November ceremony will be in Birr, roughly 40km south west of Tullamore on the N52, with the venue confirmed to shortlisted groups closer to the date.