A group of brave, hard-working and caring local women of Inishowen received special recognition from their community this week.

On the eve of International Women’s Day, the Inishowen Development Partnership in collaboration with Women’s Collective Donegal, held an event to pay tribute to women, and recognising their accomplishments, while also raising awareness of the challenges women continue to face.

A warm atmosphere filled the room at the Ballyliffin Hotel as over 160 people gathered for the ‘Celebration of Women… Just like you’ event.

The thirteen women celebrated on the night were: Lena Porter, Geraldine Mullan, Avril McMonagle, Mary McKinney, Mary M Doherty, Mildred Gill, Eileen Doherty, Michaela McDaid, Roseena Doherty Toner, Liz Le Masurier, Christina Barr, Cathy Kelly and Patricia Doherty Tinney.

Award winners on the night back l-r Lena Porter, Geraldine Mullan, Avril McMonagle, Mary McKinney, Mary M Doherty, Mildred Gill, Eileen Doherty. Front l-r Michaela McDaid, Roseena Toner, Liz Le Masurier, Christina Barr and Cathy Kelly (missing from photo: Patricia Doherty Tinney)

The women were all nominated by the public for their individual accomplishments:

Avril Mc Monagle:

Shauna McClenaghan, CEO Inishowen Development Partnership and Danielle Bonner, Donegal Women’s Collective presenting Avril McMonagle with her award

As well as being a devoted mother, grandmother and daughter Avril McMonagle has become a successful business owner, all whilst navigating her own health journey. 

Avril’s commitment and passion for the early education sector has led her to develop a successful educational app for childcare providers: MOSAIC. She is committed to her work and life and always wants to do the best for her family, early years educators, children, and parents in the sector. 

Cathy Kelly: 

Shauna McClenaghan, CEO Inishowen Development Partnership and Danielle Bonner, Donegal Women’s Collective presenting Cathy Kelly with her award

Carndonagh Mum Cathy Kelly was hailed as an inspiration to all. Having lost her beloved partner in 2019 she has dedicated her life to caring for her four children. Two of Cathy’s children have additional needs and she is their full-time carer. Cathy’s time for herself is limited, and in her mother’s words she never complains. Her life is all about her children and doing her best for them.

Christina Barr: 

Shauna McClenaghan, CEO Inishowen Development Partnership and Danielle Bonner, Donegal Women’s Collective presenting Christina Barr with her award

Christina Barr is the administrator and support worker in Lifeline Inishowen. 

Christina goes above and beyond for everyone. In the words of her nominee, she is the kindest, most caring and empathetic person who is always willing to help anyone who needs it. 

She also, without hesitation, stepped in to look after the organisation, and revamped Lifeline’s Charity Shop through lockdown by starting a click-and-collect service. 

Eileen Doherty: 

Shauna McClenaghan, CEO Inishowen Development Partnership and Danielle Bonner, Donegal Women’s Collective presenting Eileen Doherty with her award

Proud Carn woman Eileen Doherty is many things. She is a partner, daughter and mother of two teenage girls. 

She is a full-time Lecturer, teaching digital transformation to third level masters’ students. She is a founding member of the Men’s Shed Carndonagh. 

She has been one of the most prominent campaigners over the last ten years for families whose homes are built with defective concrete blocks. 

Eileen was instrumental in developing the community response to the MICA crisis and was a key member of the MAG for many years. Laterally she has organised a major research conference with UU and ATU – The Science & Societal Impacts of Defective Concrete 

Eileen has used her intelligence, skills, and experience to make other people’s lives better. Her generosity, warmth and sheer hard work have made her a household name locally and nationally.

Geraldine Mullan: 

Shauna McClenaghan, CEO Inishowen Development Partnership and Danielle Bonner, Donegal Women’s Collective presenting Geraldine Mullan with her award

Since tragically losing her husband John and two children Tomás and Amelia on 20th August 2020, Geraldine Mullan has been sowing seeds of hope in her community. 

A specialist cancer nurse she is not only dedicated to her patients but to her friends and family. She has set up the Mullan Hope Centre in her beloved John’s garden centre in Moville to honour the memory of her loved ones and has helped to instil a sense of community in Moville. 

Despite facing the utmost adversity in her personal life, Geraldine has been a beacon of hope for everyone that encounters her through her work in the community, with Moville GAA and in the Mullan Hope Centre. 

In the words of her nominees, everything Geraldine does is to bring hope and to show that love conquers all.  “She is the kindest individual who never forgets a birthday or event and gives time to everyone who needs it.”

Lena Porter:

Shauna McClenaghan, CEO Inishowen Development Partnership and Danielle Bonner, Donegal Women’s Collective presenting Lena Porter with her award

Since moving to Inishowen more than a decade ago Lena has restored many paintings and statues in the chapel in Carndonagh as well as painting beautiful icons which hang in the Chapel. 

Lena has been a wonderful support to many Ukrainian women teaching English four nights a week in her local community. 

She is also an avid artist and teaches art to Ukrainian children of all ages with their mothers. 

Liz Le Masurier: 

Shauna McClenaghan, CEO Inishowen Development Partnership and Danielle Bonner, Donegal Women’s Collective presenting Liz Le Masurier with her award

Liz has been instrumental in setting up Buncrana Parkrun and she is tireless in her efforts to encourage as many people as possible to come along and take part. 

The only reward Liz needs is the joy on people’s faces when they complete that 5k. 

Liz’s positivity and encouragement sets the tone for all of the Parkrun team in Buncrana and she has inspired to get active no matter what ability. 

Through all the trials and tribulations that come with life, Liz still finds time to be there for her friends and family when we are in need. Liz is described as a beautiful soul, so full of love and care for others unconditionally. 

Mary M Doherty: 

Shauna McClenaghan, CEO Inishowen Development Partnership and Danielle Bonner, Donegal Women’s Collective presenting Mary M Doherty with her award

Mary M Doherty has been the Project Coordinator of Inishowen Lifeline over the last 12 months following her passion for helping people and studying a counselling degree which led her to work in the field of Domestic Violence. 

During her tenure, Mary M has secured funding to continue work with vulnerable clients. Further to this, Mary M provides support and through leadership and empowerment of volunteers facilitates support for the women of Inishowen. 

Mary M works with counsellors, provides outreach and advocacy and consistently strives for progressive change within the Domestic Violence space. Mary M carried out all her work with dedication, ability, empathy and compassion. 

Mary is doing all of this whilst being an incredible mum to 5 children, a great friend and a champion for all women.

Mary Mc Kinney:  

Shauna McClenaghan, CEO Inishowen Development Partnership and Danielle Bonner, Donegal Women’s Collective presenting Mary McKinney with her award

Mary McKinney was the driving force behind the setting up of the Moville and District Family Resource Centre in 2004 to provide support to families, children, young people, the elderly, local groups and individuals and to promote community development in the Moville and the East Inishowen area. 

Mary worked as the Co-ordinator of Moville FRC until her retirement in 2018.

Since then, Mary has continued to be actively involved in her community, volunteering and sits on a number of local committees and groups.

Mary over the years has given a lot to her local community, family and others and richly deserves to be recognised as an inspirational woman who has a long history of service and supporting her local community always with warmth and a smile for everyone.

Michaela Mc Daid: 

Shauna McClenaghan, CEO Inishowen Development Partnership and Danielle Bonner, Donegal Women’s Collective presenting Michaela McDaid with her award

Michaela Mc Daid has had a positive impact on countless local women through her ecotherapy courses and wild swimming groups. 

Michaela is a wonderful advocate for nature, and the power of friendship and community. 

Michaela’s warm, friendly demeanour coupled with her brave honesty and fresh look at facilitating has helped so many people through her work. 

She is genuinely caring and encouraging, she just exudes ‘positive vibes’ and the people of Inishowen are lucky to have her doing what she does best here.

Mildred Gill: 

Shauna McClenaghan, CEO Inishowen Development Partnership and Danielle Bonner, Donegal Women’s Collective presenting Mildred Gill with her award

Mildred was nominated by members of the Ukranian community who are forever grateful to the warm hand of support and friendship she has offered them since their arrival more than a year ago. 

Through teaching crafts, Mildred has helped embrace Inishowen’s new communities. Her support has become very important, and her encouraging words always help those who she encounters. She helps make them believe in themselves. 

In the words of her nominee, Mildred is a very good person with an open and loving heart!

Patricia Doherty Tinney:

Patricia has been a stalwart of the wider Buncrana community for many years. 

Whether it be her long-term involvement in the Spanish Students programme or teaching theatre to children with learning difficulties, Patricia has always been there to offer a helping hand and an encouraging smile. 

Patricia has been involved in many campaigns in Buncrana over the years and was even involved in opening a women’s shed in the town. 

Roseena Doherty Toner: 

Shauna McClenaghan, CEO Inishowen Development Partnership and Danielle Bonner, Donegal Women’s Collective presenting special guest Roseena Toner with her award

Roseena Doherty Toner received many nominations from the public for her award for sharing her incredible life journey and always advocating for change. 

First and foremost, Roseena is a mother to her five beautiful children. Prior to her own cancer diagnosis, Roseena has volunteered in the Foyle Hospice for many years and hosted a tea morning every year to raise funds to help cancer patients. 

She is an accomplished holistic therapist and has used her skill in the treatment of cancer patients.

During her challenging illness, Roseena remained hopeful and positive. She began to document her cancer journey on Instagram, to highlight all she had been through and all she had encountered.

She received the good news from her doctors that she is cancer free back in December but her selfless journey has not stopped there. She continues to put her energy into campaigning for better cancer care services closer to her home in Donegal. 

In the words of her family: If you look under BRAVE in the dictionary, I’m sure you’ll find her picture there.

The celebration event included entertainment from Singtonicity as well as live music with the whole event expertly MC’ed by the wonderful women’s advocate Diane Greer.

Garda Anna McGranaghan, Roseena Doherty Toner and Olha Antonovych from Ukraine spoke on a panel to share their stories from different walks of life.

The event tied in with the International Women’s Day 2023 theme of #embraceequity:  advocating and working for an inclusive society for all women, understanding that women will have different needs and diverse lived experiences.

See more photos from the night here, with thanks to the Inishowen Development Partnership:

Shauna McClenaghan, CEO Inishowen Development Partnership and Danielle Bonner, Donegal Women’s Collective presenting a special award to Aine McLaughlin, IDP

Sgt Charlene Anderson, Geraldine Mullan, Kathy Donaghy and Sally Goggin

Eimear Harkin, Ciara Gilmore, Cathy McLaughlin, Bronach Harkin, Teacher Roisin McGrory, Emma Gibbons and Aisling Doherty who provided the entertainment for the evening

Margaret Mullan and Jane Doherty

Danielle Bonner, Women’s Collective, Donegal and Aine McLaughlin IDP

Lorraine Greene, Aine Kelly, Carlene Lyttle and Avril McMonagle

Margaret Allison, Volunteer, Christina Barr (Administrator Lifeline Inishowen) Mairead Donnelly, Volunteer, Mary M Doherty, Project Co-Ordinator Lifeline Inishowen and Susan Farrell, volunteer

Tara McClean and Cathy Kelly

Garda Anna McGranaghan, Caroline Doherty, Tanya McDaid and Sgt Charlene Anderson

Caroline Cunningham, Jo-ann Doherty, Nina Quigley and Michaela McDaid

Shauna McClenaghan, Denise McCool and Helen Nolan

Trina Mhic Dhónaill and Laura Grant

Carlene Lyttle, Helen Deeny and Myra McAuliffe

Myra McAuliffe and Alina Edel

Beryl Doherty, Winnie Grant and Mary MGonagle

Diane Greer, Aine McLaughlin and Denise McCool

Shauna McClenaghan, Rachel Grant, Alina Edel and Katie Barr

Niamh Britton, Pauline O’Connor, Christine McGonagle and Katie Barr

Ann Owens enjoying the music!

Embrace Equity

Embrace Equity

Ann Owens, Maureen Doherty, Jackie Donaghy and Kath Doherty

An emotional Olha Antonorych telling her story about having to leave her homeland in Ukraine with her child, their dog and a few blankets

Guest presenter Diane Greer with Garda Anna McGranaghan, Roseena Toner and Olha Antonorych

Embrace Equity

Shauna McClenaghan, CEO Inishowen Development Partnership and Danielle Bonner, Donegal Women’s Collective presenting special guest Roseena Toner with her award