'We are all inter-connected in this world'
Westmeath Independent Community & Sports Awards in association with Westmeath County Council
Unsung Hero finalist: Maria Flanagan
Her commitment to helping newcomers establish community connections in Moate and beyond has led to Tubber native Maria Flanagan's award nomination in the Unsung Hero category.
After working in community education in Dublin - a role which included supporting access to education for people in direct provision - she moved home to Moate during the Covid pandemic and became an active volunteer with the New Horizon Refugee and Asylum Seeker Support group.
At Dun na Sí Amenity and Heritage Park she helped set up an ongoing weekly 'walk and talk' gathering for international protection applicants and Ukrainian refugees. Maria then saw that some recent arrivals to the country were struggling with English and established a 'Failte Isteach' group which meets for conversational English sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays in Moate Library.
In 2023, she also helped set up an inter-cultural and inter-generational choir, the Ubuntu Voices choir. Maria said the meaning of the choir's name, "I am because we are" highlights how "we are all inter-connected in this world".
She has also been involved in setting up a gardening club at the Temple Accommodation Centre in Horseleap and establishing links with the Sanctuary Runners initiative. Maria's volunteering helped lead to a part-time job working as an integration support worker with New Horizon in Westmeath, and she also devotes much of her time to caring for her Mum. Reacting to her award nomination, she said: "I'm honestly so humbled and honoured.
"For me, this work has always been about people - about ensuring everyone feels safe and valued, that their voices are heard, that we show compassion and an understanding of their difficult journeys and that they feel a sense of belonging in our community.
"In Ireland, we are very privileged, and with that privilege comes a shared responsibility, a duty, to stand with and support those who come here seeking sanctuary and protection.
"The real heroes, in my eyes, are our friends who show such incredible resilience and courage every single day as they strive to rebuild better lives for themselves and their families. They inspire me every day. They are the reason I do what I do.
"So, while I'm deeply grateful for this recognition, I accept it on their behalf - this nomination is for them," said Maria.
The Unsung Hero award finalists are Maria Flanagan, Daniel Berry, and Deirdre Collins
The Unsung Hero award is sponsored by West-Midlands Credit Union