National Lottery reveals 147 County Finalists for Good Causes Awards 2024!

• The 147 County Winners will now compete for a place in the National Finals judging phase next month, after which the National Finalists will be announced. 
• Awards aim to celebrate the inspiring work being carried out nationwide by thousands of projects, clubs and individuals who have received support from National Lottery Good Causes funding. 
• Nearly 30 cents of every euro spent on National Lottery games goes back to Good Causes all over the country. In total, more than €6 billion has been raised for Good Causes since the National Lottery was established 36 years ago. 

An emergency accommodation group providing support to homeless people in the midlands, a rugby club that caters for individuals with a disability and an Irish language communication system that gives voice to those without speech are amongst 147 groups, sports clubs, community projects and organisations from all over Ireland announced today as County Finalists in the National Lottery Good Causes Awards 2024.  

The awards aim to honour, showcase and celebrate the inspiring work being carried out nationwide by thousands of projects, clubs and individuals who have received support from Good Causes funding. Nearly 30 cents of every euro spent on National Lottery games goes back to Good Causes all over the country. 

Announcing the County Finalists today, National Lottery CEO Designate, Cian Murphy, said: 

"Today, on behalf of the National Lottery, I extend our heartfelt congratulations to the 147 remarkable Good Cause beneficiaries named as County Finalists in the 2024 Good Causes Awards. The awards program gives recognition and vital visibility to each County winner, and we are so proud to be able to shine a light on the tremendous work being done behind-the-scenes daily across the country. In 2022, on average €4.9 million per week was raised by National Lottery players to support on average 4,500 community groups and voluntary groups around Ireland. As stewards of the state’s National Lottery, we are so proud of our role in supporting Irish communities, whether it be in the distribution of the grants, advocating for the charity and voluntary sector or being on the ground delivering the vital services.” 

TV & Radio Presenter, Designer and Businessman, Brendan Courtney, who is Chair of this year’s judging panel said: 

"This is my first year as part of the Good Causes Awards journey and I've been blown away by the incredible work happening in communities nationwide. It's been eye-opening to see the passion and dedication of groups, charities, and individuals making a real difference. We received a record number of applications to the Good Causes Awards this year, so narrowing down to the 147 county winners was incredibly tough; a testament to the outstanding quality of projects and initiatives we received.  A massive congratulations to those who’ve made it through to the next phase – you're one step closer to the National Finals!”  

Local or national, large or small, the awards will recognise initiatives across a broad list of categories: Sport, Health & Wellbeing, Arts & Culture, Heritage, Community, Youth, and Irish Language. This year’s event will take place on Saturday, 12th October 2024 in Killashee House Hotel, Naas, Co. Kildare. 

Just some of the 147 County Winners of the National Lottery Good Causes Awards 2024 are: 

• Sport: Reach Ability, Special Olympics Ireland, Charlestown Sarsfields GAA, Tralee Rugby Football Club and Irish Girl Guides 
• Health & Wellbeing: Hand in Hand, Arthritis Ireland, The Anne Sullivan Foundation, Clare Haven Services and Cork LGBT+ Pride. 
• Heritage: The Liberties Weavers, Cavan and Leitrim Railway Museum, Athenry Arts & Heritage Centre, BirdWatch Ireland and Maharees Conservation Association CLG 
• Arts & Culture: Boyle Arts Festival, Listowel Writers' Week, Realta, Tramp Press and Complex Productions. 
• Community: St. John's Caring Centre, Glen of Imaal Irish Red Cross Mountain Rescue, Castleblayney Trust for Homeless, Needy & Unemployed and Enhance. 
•  Youth: The Sexual Health Centre, Bray Travellers Community Development Group, Temporary Emergency Accommodation Midlands (T.E.A.M) and Belong To - LGBTQ+ Youth Ireland and Blue Box Creative Learning Centre 
• Irish Language: Forbairt Chonamara Láir Teo, ABAIR, Cill Dara le Gaeilge and Ionad Cultúrtha an Dr. Ó Loinsigh 

The full list of County Winners can be found at www.lottery.ie/good-causes-awards/county-winners 

The 147 County Winners will now compete for a place in the National Finals judging phase next month, after which the National Finalists will be announced. 

The total prize fund available on the night of the Good Causes Awards ceremony is €100,000, whereby each of the seven category winners will receive €10,000 and the overall Good Cause of the Year will take home an additional €25,000. A special category, ‘Hero of the Year’, will be announced on the awards night in recognition of outstanding work, where the recipient will receive a prize of €5,000.  In addition, each of the National Finalists announced in June will receive a cheque for €1,000. 

Nearly 30 cent in every €1 spent on all National Lottery games goes back to Good Causes in the areas of sport, youth, health, welfare, education, arts, heritage, and the Irish Language. In total more than €6 Billion has been raised for Good Causes since the National Lottery was established 36 years ago. In 2022 alone, €259.5 million was raised for local Good Causes in communities across Ireland.   

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