A PROLIFIC community activist and charity leader from Kinsale has been named joint Cork Persons of the Month for April.

Alice de la Cour, along with Lisa Murphy a dedicated volunteer at the Mayfield Community Development Project (CDP), were recognised for their shared commitment to social inclusion, community support, and their tireless efforts to uplift those in need across Cork city and county.

Alice de la Cour is a lifelong volunteer whose impact spans decades of service in Kinsale and beyond. A native of Youghal, a job working for her late sister Nora brought her to Kinsale where she now currently resides.

Alice was the first female president of the Kinsale & District Lions Club and has been a driving force behind numerous vital initiatives. Through her work with the Lions Club she was central in raising awareness of the availability of Cancer Connect, a free transport service for those with cancer, and generating 20 Cancer Connect drivers in the Kinsale area alone.

She was also responsible for sourcing over €500,000 worth of new clothing and footwear from a major retailer, which was then distributed to families, individuals, hospitals and organisations in need.

Alice’s compassion for sick children was instrumental in setting up a Christmas Toy Appeal in City Hospitals and for families in crisis during Covid. This event continues to this day through Kinsale & District Lions Club.

For 12 years, she worked with Cork City Hospitals Children’s Club to organise a Christmas ‘Winter Wonderland’ at Fota House for hundreds of sick children.

She has also worked with Kinsale Youth Support Services, a group which works very closely with local schools to provide low-cost mental health counselling for children in difficult situations; aided fundraising efforts for Bumbleance, an ambulance service specifically designed for the transportation of sick children; organised holidays in Kinsale for Chernobyl Children through the Bubblegum Club; and has set up book initiatives in hospitals and Edel House to ensure patients and residents can pick up a book to read and take home if desired.

Alice has also played a central role in promoting local heritage and cultural initiatives in Kinsale through her involvement with St Catherine’s Cultural Centre. As Director of Operations, she plays an integral role to ensure that this historic building continues to remain a vibrant hub for the local community.

Awards organiser Manus O’Callaghan commended the pair: ‘Both Lisa and Alice represent the very best of Cork’s community spirit. Alice’s decades of leadership in Kinsale and her vast contribution to children’s charities show a lifetime of selflessness. Together, they demonstrate how individuals can transform their local areas through compassion and action.’ Both names will now go forward for possible selection as Cork Persons of the Year at the Cork Person of the Year Annual Gala Awards Lunch in January 2027.