06.01.2025
North Strand Parishioner Among 2025 Nollaig na mBan Award Winners
Congratulations to Jean Denner of the Parish of Drumcondra, North Strand and St Barnabas in Dublin who is one of the local women being honoured today as part of the Nollaig na mBan Festival, organised by the North East Inner City initiative.
The festival celebrates inspirational North Inner City women on January 6th with music, arts, exhibition, dancing and more.
Jean is among 10 ‘mnasome’ women being honoured at the 2025 event. She is being recognised for her various voluntary roles within the parish of Drumcondra, North Strand and St Barnabas for almost 50 years including church warden, parish treasurer, branch leader and treasurer of Mothers’ Union branch. She has also had multiple roles in St Columba’s National School. Jean is a keen crafting, knitting, cross stitch, sewing and baking enthusiast. Jean uses her skills to raise money for the parish and fundraises for the people of Gaza. Jean has been married to Mervyn for over 50 years and enjoys spending time with their nine grandchildren.
Jean joins fellow local women in being recognised for their contributions. Eibhlín Harrington is the Project Leader at SWAN Youth Service, a community–led youth service focused on 10–24 year olds in St Agatha’s Hall, North Wall and North Strand areas. Maeve Foreman has lived in the North Strand since 1986 and is one of the founding members of the multi award–winning Mud Island Community Garden. Kathleen Walker, who sadly passed away three years ago, always went out of her way to help people in the local community of Ballybough. Anne Gannon recently retired as Librarian in Charleville Mall Library, North Strand. Róisín Lonergan is the founder of the Five Lamps Arts Festival which is now in its 18th year and is a teacher in Marino College of Further Education.
Anna Quigley has been involved in community activism in the North Inner City since the 1980s and during that time says she has had the privilege of being part of amazing projects set up by inspirational leaders from the local community that respond to key issues that impact on our community life. Kirsty Fitzsimons has spent her working life in the music business and started a radio show on Anna Livia Radio, now Dublin City FM, when she found a place to call home on the North Strand in 1995. Aideen Leonard has always been a believer in community volunteering and is convinced of its benefits both on a personal level and in its power to transform communities. Kellie Harrington is a double Olympic gold medallist as an amateur boxer, winning at Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024, making her the first Irish boxer to win consecutive Olympic gold medals.
Full information, including details of Nollaig na mBan events today can be found on their website here: https://nollaignamban.ie/