FOUR Irish Red Cross volunteers from West Cork have been nominated for the organisation’s Volunteer of the Year Awards 2025.

Bonnie Hayes (14) has been shortlisted for Young Volunteer of the Year for her work with the Clonakilty branch.

Bonnie has been a youth member of Ireland’s humanitarian organisation since 2018 when she joined at just seven years of age.

In 2022, Bonnie was one of the Irish Red Cross Youth members who volunteered at the centre in Clonakilty where 76 Ukrainian refugees were accommodated.

Every day after school Bonnie would visit the centre with her mum and play with the young children, even donating some of her own toys.

Bonnie also helped distribute hygiene packs to refugees staying in Rosscarbery and, according to fellow volunteers, shows great compassion to those from war torn countries and vulnerable people in the community.

She is organising a coffee morning to fundraise for the Irish Red Cross Gaza Appeal on Sunday November 23rd in Clonakilty – yet another example of her caring nature and compassion for others.

Martina Lyme, a volunteer with the Dunmanway/Inchigeela branch, has been nominated for Volunteer of the Year.

Martina has been a member of the Irish Red Cross since 1987, dedicating an incredible 38 years of service to the community.

She has held the roles of unit officer and assistant area director of units. As unit officer, she organises crews for duties, manages purchasing of stock for the ambulance, orders emergency medications, and liaises with the West Cork training officer to ensure unit members maintain their certifications.

Martina qualified as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) in 2011 and for the past 14 years has supported newly trained EMTs whilst out on duty, training them on duty protocol.

Her dedication has been particularly evident over the past year, during which she organised crews for 41 duties and crewed the ambulance for 25 duties in 2025.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Martina transported patients to chemotherapy appointments—providing not just transport, but a lifeline.

She also devoted countless hours volunteering at vaccination centres, helping protect the community during one of the most challenging periods in recent history.

Clonakilty volunteer Tim Kelleher has also been nominated for Volunteer of the Year for his 17 years of dedicated service and for going above and beyond to support his community during the pandemic.

During lockdown he conducted weekly welfare checks on over 30 elderly residents in his area who were unable to leave their homes to do shopping or socialise with others.

Tim would always call or find time to ring the residents, even if only just for a chat. As one grateful recipient said: ‘He was the pillar that held us all up during the pandemic.’

In 2022 when 76 Ukrainian refugees arrived in Clonakilty, Tim worked around the clock, day and night, to ensure that the needs of these displaced people were met.

He engaged with all 76 refugees, taking them to local shops and medical appointments, and simply sitting down for a cup of tea to listen to their stories.

As Branch Youth Officer, Tim was awarded Leader of the Day at the National Youth Camp in 2024 and has been awarded Leader of the Camp multiple times at the Clonakilty Branch annual group camp.

Also based in Clonakilty, Pascal Walsh has been nominated for a Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his 50 years of selfless service.

Pascal has been described by long-time colleagues as the most reliable and committed member they have ever known, whose immense contribution is measured not only in decades but in the countless hours dedicated to training, service and leadership.

Pascal’s impact is felt across the unit and beyond, defined by his hands-on approach and commitment to mentoring.

He has taught hundreds of volunteers across the country and is described as a gentleman with a word for everyone.

Despite his massive endeavours and over five decades of active service, Pascal has consistently served without seeking recognition.

His colleagues believe it is time to reward his lifelong and continued contribution to the Irish Red Cross.

The winners will be announced at a Red Cross event in Dublin at the end of the month.