Presidential Distinguished Service Awards for the Irish Abroad
President Higgins with the recipients of the Presidential Distinguished Service Awards, November 2019.
Each year, President Higgins presents the Presidential Distinguished Service Awards to a number of people who live outside Ireland and who have given exceptional service to this country or to Irish communities abroad.
Charitable Works · Fr. Patrick Clarke (Brazil) ·
Irish Community Support · Jackie Donohoe (USA)
The Awards were created in 2011 as a means to recognise the contribution of members of the Irish diaspora, and the first Awards were presented by President Michael D. Higgins in 2012.
Peace, Reconciliation and Development · Sally O’Neill Sanchez (deceased - Honduras) Science and Technology · Jocelyn Bell Burnell (Britain)
The 2019 recipients were: Arts, Culture and Sport · Ian Gibson (Spain) ·
·
William Howlett (Tanzania)
Throughout his term in office, President Higgins has emphasised 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”.
Charlotte Moore and Ciaran O’Reilly (USA)
Business and Education · Paul Drechsler (Britain) ·
Bernard Lynch (Britain)
Michael Kenneally and Rhona Richman Kenneally (Canada) 13
2019 IN REVIEW
