Press release
Minister Coveney announces 2022 Presidential Distinguished Service Award recipients
From Department of Foreign Affairs
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Foreign Affairs
Published on
Last updated on
The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence, Simon Coveney, today announced the recipients of the Presidential Distinguished Service Award for the Irish Abroad for 2022.
The Presidential Distinguished Service Award was established by the government following the 2011 Global Irish Economic Forum as a means to recognise the contribution of members of the Irish diaspora and was first awarded in 2012.
Announcing the recipients of the award, the Minister said:
"I am delighted to have the opportunity once again to formally recognise the achievements of high-achieving members of our diaspora and their contribution to Ireland and to Irish communities abroad. Their service and commitment is a shining example to us all and I am delighted that they have been selected to be honoured by President Michael D. Higgins in such a fitting manner.
"This is the eleventh year of these distinguished and much-cherished awards and it is an opportunity each year to acknowledge those who have, through their work, helped in different ways to burnish Ireland’s reputation across the globe.
"I want to congratulate them all and look forward to meeting them when they come to Ireland to be presented with their awards by the President."
Colm Brophy, Minister of State for Overseas Development Aid and Diaspora, added:
"As Minister of State for the Diaspora, I am delighted that each year we recognise, through the Presidential Distinguished Service Awards, the work and achievements of members of Ireland’s diaspora.
"We are very proud of the impact our global family continues to have all over the world and the recipients of this Award demonstrate between them the remarkable diversity and richness of Ireland’s diaspora.
"The President’s Awards highlight and celebrate in a very special way the achievements and the diversity of the global Irish family and I very much look forward to meeting this year’s recipients when they travel to Ireland for the awards ceremony hosted by President Higgins later this year."
| 2022 PDSA recipients | Category | Location |
| Morgan Bullock | Arts, Culture and Sport | US |
| Katie-George Dunlevy | Arts, Culture and Sport | Britain |
| Joseph M. Hassett | Arts, Culture and Sport | US |
| Fergus Linehan | Arts, Culture and Sport | Britain |
| Prof. Wang Zhanpeng & Prof. Chen Li | Business and Education | China |
| Ciarán Staunton & Orlaith Staunton | Charitable Works | US |
| Josephine O’Driscoll | Irish Community Support | Britain |
| Mary Ellen McGroarty | Peace, Reconciliation & Development | Afghanistan |
| Fr. Richard (Dick) O’Riordan | Peace, Reconciliation & Development | South Africa |
| Teresa Lambe | Science, Technology & Innovation | Britain |
The Awards will be presented by President Michael D. Higgins at a ceremony in Áras an Uachtaráin.
The Presidential Distinguished Service Award for the Irish Abroad is neither an honours system nor does it confer any legal entitlements upon the recipients.
In order to be eligible for consideration, nominees must be habitually resident outside the island of Ireland and are required to satisfy the following additional requirements:
The scheme is managed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and a High Level Panel was established to make recommendations to Government. This Panel includes: Mr Joe Hackett, Secretary General of the Department of Foreign Affairs (Chair); Mr John Callinan, Secretary General of the Department of the Taoiseach; Ms Orla O’Hanrahan, Secretary General to the President; and four representatives from the non-government sector - Ms Claire Power, Ms Catríona Crowe, Mr Kingsley Aikins and Ms Samantha Barry.
Nominations were made by Irish communities abroad through Ireland’s network of Diplomatic Missions.