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Gcn Publisher Wins Major Irish Award
Ailbhe Smyth, Chair of the National Lesbian and Gay Federation, who publish Gay Community News (GCN) has won an Ireland Involved Award for her voluntary contributions to Ireland's gay community.
Ailbhe was presented with the Award at a ceremony in Dublin's Shellbourne hotel last night, November 26, that honoured volunteers in all sectors across the Ireland. Her award was given under the heading of Campaigning and Awareness Raising. Ailbhe has a strong and well-documented dedication to civil rights in Ireland. Her close involvement in the National Lesbian and Gay Federation is only one part of the enormous amount of voluntary work she does to this end.
"I'm thrilled and proud," said Ailbhe, on receipt of the Award. "It's wonderful to get an award for campaigning for lesbian, gay, bi and trans issues. Who would have thought it, 30 years ago? I certainly didn't. I'm very proud of the NLGF and GCN and delighted for all my friends and colleagues too."
The Ireland Involved Awards were organised by Volunteering Ireland and are the first of their kind in Ireland.
""This win is not only for Ailbhe, but for all the people who volunteer in the LGBT community," said Brian Finnegan, Editor of GCN. "It sends out a signal to those people who give of their time to good causes, without asking for pay in return, that they are valued and valuable."
Liz Powell, the ex-Musical Director of Ireland's LGBT choir, Gloria, was also honoured under the Campaigning and Awareness Raising banner for her services to Mental Health Ireland. She also currently volunteers as Musical Director of Diva Voce, the women's choir, who will be singing Christmas carols at City Hall on Sunday, December 21 at 4pm.
Congratulations from all at GCN.ie, Ailbhe!
