Mountcharles to the fore at Presidential Distinguished Service Awards for the Irish Abroad 2022

Two women with strong Mountcharles connections were honoured for their work at the 2022 Presidential Distinguished Service Award for the Irish Abroad from President Michael D. Higgins at a special ceremony in Áras an Uachtaráin.

The distinguished 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. It was first awarded a decade ago.

Mary Ellen McGroarty is a native of Mountcharles while a second local recipient with a Donegal connection was multiple para athlete cycle champion Katie-George Dunlevy whose Dad John also comes from Mountcharles. 

Mary Ellen’s citation read:

“Mary Ellen McGroarty is the country Director of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in Afghanistan. She leads 600 WFP staff, who have fed more than 18 million people since the Taliban took over, saving countless lives, and bringing hope to destitute families that feel abandoned by the outside world.

Pic shows President Michael D Higgins meeting Mary Ellen McGroarty , 2022 recipient of the Peace, Reconciliation & Development Award at Áras an Uachtaráin. Pic: Maxwells

“She has been instrumental in supporting Ireland on the UN Security Council and has ensured that the devastating humanitarian collapse in Afghanistan remained front and centre of the Security Council’s response to the Taliban’s takeover.

“When other UN staff relocated in the first uncertain days and weeks of the Taliban takeover, Mary Ellen stayed and delivered. She ably led her World Food Programme team to deliver in the most difficult of circumstances.

“Mary Ellen provided invaluable leadership to humanitarians across Afghanistan, whose livelihoods and ability to carry out their lifesaving work was threatened by the Taliban’s decrees against women’s employment and freedom of movement.

“Over a year on, Mary Ellen has been a constant and consistent champion for those threatened by hunger and malnutrition in Afghanistan. A frequent and powerful voice in the international media, Mary Ellen has called to the world's attention the plight of an abandoned nation and a population on the brink.

“In addition to her work with the WFP, and notwithstanding the many other demands on her time, Mary Ellen assisted with the evacuation from Afghanistan of Irish citizens, their families and Afghan nationals with Irish Refugee Protection Programme status.

“Before her appointment to Afghanistan, Mary Ellen served as WFP’s Deputy Country Director in South Sudan, where she steered WFP’s emergency and resilience operations and contributed to designing programmes linking peace and food security. Previously, she served as WFP’s Representative and Country Director in Chad, overseeing emergency and resilience programmes in response to multi-crises, including in Lake Chad and the Sahel.

Katie-George Dunlevy’s citation read:

“One of the most successful para-athletes to represent Ireland, Katie-George Dunlevy was born in London to Irish parents, Katie-George has medalled consistently in elite sport since 2014. She is a triple Paralympic cycling gold medallist and five times World Para-cycling Champion for Ireland.

Katie-George Dunlevy with her Presidential award 

“While a frequent visitor to Ireland, Katie-George lives in Crawley, UK. She was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) at the age of 11 and registered blind. Making the most of her 10% vision, Katie-George took to sport excelling at swimming, rowing, and athletics and has achieved inspiring World Champion and Paralympic success.

“Katie-George has competed at 3 Paralympic Games (London 2012, Rio 2016, and Tokyo 2020). To date she has collected three golds and two silvers. In addition, she has won five gold medals at the World Para-Cycling Championships as well as six silvers and one bronze in countries worldwide including Portugal, Canada, Netherlands, Italy, Brazil, and South Africa.

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“In December 2021, with her tandem cycling partner Eve McCrystal, Katie-George won the 2021 RTÉ Sport Team of the Year.

“Katie-George has been advocating on behalf of young blind/vision impaired and disabled people for two decades. She is also an active promoter of diversity and women in sport.”