Eisiúint Meáin: Aitheantas Tugtha d’Fhiontair Shóisialta ag na chéad Ghradaim Náisiúnta Fiontar Sóisialta
Media Release
Wednesday, 15th October 2025
Social Enterprises Recognised at the First National Social Enterprise Awards
- The National Social Enterprise Awards highlight the positive impact social enterprises have on our communities and raises awareness and understanding of social enterprise across Ireland
- 20 social enterprises from around the country were nominated in eight categories, with one Social Enterprise, Turn2Me, a mental health initiative that provides online counselling nationwide, announced as the Overall Winner
- A special ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ was made to Senan Cooke from County Waterford who has shown extraordinary commitment to the social enterprise sector over many decades
Minister Jerry Buttimer TD, Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, with special responsibility for Community Development and Charities, today (Wednesday, 15th October 2025), provided the welcome address at the inaugural National Social Enterprise Awards to an audience gathered from across the social enterprise sector.
The Awards are supported by the Department of Rual and Community Development and the Gaeltacht under the National Social Enterprise Policy 2024-2027, Trading for Impact, to increase awareness of and showcase the sector.
The event took place in the Priory Market and Apex Theatre complex in Tallaght, Dublin.
The awards were organised on behalf of the Department by a consortium of bodies involved in the social enterprise space who have been engaged by the Department to help deliver a number of the Policy’s actions: the Local Development Company Network (LDCN), Social Enterprise Republic of Ireland (SERI), Irish Social Enterprise Network (ISEN), and the Wheel.
Speaking about the awards Minister Buttimer said:
“The social enterprise sector is growing, along with the wider social economy. It is playing an increasingly important role in delivering positive responses to our social and societal issues. The work they deliver throughout Ireland is important to so many communities. They are tangibly helping to address many of the key issues affecting society while providing employment, opportunities and making a positive impact.”
Speaking at the awards, the Minister stated:
“With these National Social Enterprise Awards we are celebrating every social enterprise operating in Ireland today. Those gathered are ambassadors for the sector, representing the many who are actively working to address important issues at every level. It is rewarding to see organisations here who have been supporting our communities and good causes for many years, and also inspiring to see new, up-and-coming social enterprises. These enterprises demonstrate the diversity and vibrancy of the sector. I hope these awards are an inspiration for others to consider how starting a social enterprise can help sustain their own communities.”
Also speaking at the awards, Máirín O Cuireáin, CEO of the LDCN (Local Development Company Network)
“To be shortlisted as a finalist is a remarkable achievement given the overall quality of applications that we received. We know the remarkable work that social enterprises do in communities all around the country, and we know that much of this work goes unseen. The awards give us an opportunity to make that work visible – not only the work of the winners and finalists, but the work of the entire sector.”
Speaking to the nominees today, Minister Buttimer concluded:
“I see huge potential for the sector in the years ahead. I look forward to working closely with you, and seeing your work supported by my Department in continued partnership with stakeholders in the sector, through the delivery of our Policy.”
List of Categories, Winners and Runners-up
Overall Winner: Social Enterprise of the Year
Winner Turn2Me
Category: Health and Wellbeing / Services for Children and Older People
Winner Turn2Me
Runner up Spraoi agus Spórt
Runner up LIFT Ireland Foundation
Category: Climate and the environment
Winner CycleUp Textiles by Roscommon Women’s Network
Runner up Leave No Trace Ireland
Runner up Education for Sustainability CLG
Category: Community Facilities/Infrastructure, Arts and Heritage, and Local Development
Winner Common Knowledge
Runner up Creative Spark
Runner up St. Munchins Community Centre CLG
Category: Training, Work Integration, and Life-long Learning
Winner Connections Arts Centre
Runner up Generation Ireland
Runner up Rise at the Cove
Category: Retail, Hospitality, and Professional Services
Winner Duhallow Community Food Services
Runner up The Bluestack Special Needs Foundation
Runner up The Green Kitchen and Garden Shop (Walkinstown Green)
Category: Startup
Winner AnamVR
Runner up HUGS Community
Runner up Beyond Surviving
Category: Buy social
Winner Rise at the Cove
Runner up LIFT Ireland Foundation
Runner up Spraoi agus Spórt
Category: Social Finance – sponsored by Social
Winner CareBright CLG
Runner up EDI Centre Longford
Runner up Rise at the Cove
Category: Lifetime Achievement (Individual Recognition)
Winner: Senan Cooke
Eisiúint Meáin
Dé Céadaoin 15 Deireadh Fómhair 2025
Aitheantas Tugtha d’Fhiontair Shóisialta ag na chéad Ghradaim Náisiúnta Fiontar Sóisialta
- Díríonn na Gradaim Náisiúnta Fiontar Sóisialta aird ar an dea-thionchar a imríonn fiontair shóisialta ar ár bpobail agus ardaíonn siad feasacht agus tuiscint ar fhiontraíocht shóisialta ar fud na hÉireann.
- Ainmníodh 20 fiontar sóisialta ó fud fad na tíre in ocht gcatagóir, agus bronnadh gradam an Bhuaiteora Fhoriomláin ar Turn2Me, ar tionscnamh meabhairshláinte é trína gcuirtear comhairleoireacht ar líne ar fáil go náisiúnta.
- Tugadh ‘Gradam Saoil’ speisialta do Senan Cooke ó Chontae Phort Láirge, duine atá fíorthiomanta d’earnáil na bhfiontar sóisialta le blianta fada anuas.
Inniu (Dé Céadaoin 15 Deireadh Fómhair) thug an tAire Jerry Buttimer TD, an tAire Stáit ag an Roinn Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta le freagracht speisialta as Forbairt Phobail agus Carthanachtaí, an t-aitheasc oscailte ag na chéad Ghradaim Náisiúnta Fiontar Sóisialta os comhair lucht féachana a tháinig ó fud fad earnáil na bhfiontar sóisialta.
Tá na Gradaim á dtacú ag an Roinn Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta faoin Bheartas Náisiúnta Fiontar Sóisialta 2024-2027, Trádáil ar mhaithe le Tionchar, chun feasacht ar an earnáil a ardú agus í a chur os comhair an phobail.
Tharla an t-imeacht in ionad Priory Market agus Apex Theatre i dTamhlacht, Baile Átha Cliath. Ba chuibhreannas eagraíochtaí, a bhfuil baint acu le réimse na bhfiontar sóisialta, a d’eagraigh na gradaim thar ceann na Roinne. Tá na heagraíochtaí seo i mbun oibre don Roinn ar mhaithe le roinnt de ghníomhartha an Bheartais a thabhairt i gcrích: Líonra na gCuideachtaí Forbartha Áitiúla (LCFÁ), Fiontraíocht Shóisialta Phoblacht na hÉireann (FSPÉ), Líonra Fiontar Sóisialta na hÉireann (LFSÉ), agus The Wheel.
Dúirt an tAire Buttimer, agus é ag labhairt faoi na gradaim:
“Tá fás ag teacht ar earnáil na bhfiontar sóisialta, agus ar an ngeilleagar sóisialta i gcoitinne. Tá borradh ag teacht freisin faoi thábhacht a róil ó thaobh freagraí dearfacha a thabhairt ar ár bhfadhbanna sóisialta agus sochaíocha. Is tábhachtach an obair a dhéanann siad fud fad na hÉireann le mórán pobal. Is léir go bhfuil siad ag dul i ngleic le cuid mhór de na príomhfhadhbanna atá ag an tsochaí, agus iad ag cur fostaíocht agus deiseanna ar fáil agus ag imirt tionchair dhearfaigh.”
Agus é ag labhairt ag na gradaim, dúirt an tAire:
“Leis na Gradaim Náisiúnta Fiontar Sóisialta seo, tá ceiliúradh á dhéanamh againn ar gach fiontar sóisialta atá ag feidhmiú in Éirinn inniu. Is ambasadóirí don earnáil iad siúd atá cruinnithe anseo, a bhfuil ionadaíocht á déanamh acu orthu siúd atá ag obair go gníomhach chun dul i ngleic le fadhbanna tábhachtacha ar gach leibhéal. Is mór an sásamh é eagraíochtaí a fheiceáil anseo atá ag tacú lenár bpobail agus le cúiseanna maithe le blianta anuas, agus is spreagadh é fiontair shóisialta nua atá ag teacht chun cinn a fheiceáil. Léiríonn na fiontair seo éagsúlacht agus fuinneamh na hearnála. Tá súil agam go mbeidh na gradaim seo ina spreagadh do dhaoine eile chun machnamh a dhéanamh ar a bpobail féin a chothú trí fhiontar sóisialta a thosú.”
Agus í ag labhairt ag na gradaim freisin, dúirt Máirín Ó Cuireáin, POF Líonra na gCuideachtaí Forbartha Áitiúla:
“An-éacht ar fad é a bheith ar an ngearrliosta, i bhfianaise an caighdeán ard a bhí ar na hiarratais a fuair muid. Tá a’ fhios againn faoin obair iontach atá ar siúl ag fiontair shóisialta i bpobail ar fud na tíre, agus tá a’ fhios againn nach bhfeictear cuid mhór den obair seo. Tugann na gradaim deis dúinn béim a leagan ar an obair sin – ní amháin obair na mbuaiteoirí agus na daoine eile ar an ngearrliosta, ach obair na hearnála i gcoitinne.”
Chuir an tAire Buttimer deireadh lena ráiteas leis seo, agus é ag labhairt leis na hainmnithe inniu:
“Is mór an acmhainn a fheicim san earnáil seo sna blianta amach romhainn. Táim ag súil go mór lena bheith ag obair go dlúth libh, agus leis an tacaíocht a thabharfaidh mo Roinn do bhur n-obair i gcomhar leanúnach le geallsealbhóirí san earnáil, trínár mBeartas a thabhairt i gcrích.”
Liosta na gCatagóirí, na mBuaiteoirí agus na nAinmnithe Eile
Buaiteoir Foriomlán: Fiontar Sóisialta na Bliana
Buaiteoir Turn2Me
Catagóir: Sláinte agus Folláine / Seirbhísí do Pháistí agus do Dhaoine Aosta
Buaiteoir Turn2Me
Ainmní eile Spraoi agus Spórt
Ainmní eile LIFT Ireland Foundation
Catagóir: An aeráid agus an comhshaol
Buaiteoir CycleUp Textiles le Roscommon Women’s Network
Ainmní eile Leave No Trace Ireland
Ainmní eile Education for Sustainability CLG
Catagóir: Áiseanna Pobail/Infreastruchtúr, na hEalaíona agus an Oidhreacht, agus Forbairt Áitiúil
Buaiteoir Common Knowledge
Ainmní eile Creative Spark
Ainmní eile St. Munchins Community Centre CLG
Catagóir: Oiliúint, Comhtháthú Oibre agus Foghlaim Fad Saoil
Buaiteoir Connections Arts Centre
Ainmní eile Generation Ireland
Ainmní eile Rise at the Cove
Catagóir: Miondíol, Fáilteachas, agus Seirbhísí Gairmiúla
Buaiteoir Duhallow Community Food Services
Ainmní eile The Bluestack Special Needs Foundation
Ainmní eile The Green Kitchen and Garden Shop (Faiche Bhaile Bhailcín)
Catagóir: Gnólacht Nuathionscanta
Buaiteoir AnamVR
Ainmní eile HUGS Community
Ainmní eile Beyond Surviving
Catagóir: Ceannaigh go Sóisialta
Buaiteoir Rise at the Cove
Ainmní eile LIFT Ireland Foundation
Ainmní eile Spraoi agus Spórt
Catagóir: Airgeadas Sóisialta – arna urrú go Sóisialta
Buaiteoir CareBright CLG
Ainmní eile EDI Centre Longford
Ainmní eile Rise at the Cove
Catagóir: Gradam Saoil (Aitheantas do Dhuine Amháin)
Buaiteoir: Senan Cooke