Carndonagh mother and daughter honoured at national awards event in Dublin

An Inishowen mother and daughter, who are champions of circular living, were individually honoured at the Circular.ie Full Circle Awards held in the Aviva Stadium, Dublin.

Helen Nolan, from Carndonagh, a co-founder and the CEO of Síoraí (Spraoi agus Spórt), was announced winner of the Best Community Campaign category, which shines a light on the best campaigns that circular economy community groups are running in Ireland.

Since co-founding Spraoi agus Spórt in 2010, Helen has transformed it into a multi-award-winning social enterprise, delivering over 30 inclusive programmes for children, families, and older adults in Carndonagh.

In 2023, she spearheaded Síoraí, a flagship circular economy hub that regenerates vacant spaces while promoting creative reuse and inclusive employment.

The judging panel paid tribute to Helen’s leadership for demonstrating that rural communities can drive Ireland’s circular transition, where sustainability and social impact are deeply interconnected.

Helen received a prize of €2,000, as well as the opportunity to receive dedicated, expert communications mentoring for their future circular initiatives.

Meanwhile, Helen’s daughter Aoibhín Nolan, (pictured above centre), founder of Shopping Spraoí, was a runner-up in the Circular Community Champion category.

Aoibhín (20) founded Shopping Spraoí, a youth-led sustainable fashion initiative. With funding from the Coca-Cola Thank You Fund, she organised large-scale swap events where over 1,000 pre-loved items found new homes, engaging 500-plus attendees and 30 young sellers. Her events make sustainability fun and stylish, earning national media coverage and creating a replicable blueprint for youth-led circular economy action.

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Aoibhín continues to mentor peers, expand collaborations, and prove that rural communities can be leaders in climate-conscious creativity.

Speaking about the Full Circle Awards, Minister of State at the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment with special responsibility for the Circular Economy, Alan Dillon TD said: “These awards highlight how people across Ireland are making a real difference in their community by embracing and promoting circular living in their daily lives. They also act as inspiration to others, creating momentum throughout the country.”