EirGrid Community Heroes National GAA Volunteer Competition

EirGrid, the operator and developer of Ireland’s electricity grid, and official Timing Partner of the GAA and Camogie Championships, has launched its GAA Community Heroes Campaign for 2026.  

Now in its second year, the campaign recognises the role GAA volunteers play in enriching and sustaining communities around the country through a nationwide competition.  It also reflects EirGrid’s broader commitment and emphasis on engaging with local communities.  

As the operator of Ireland’s electricity grid, EirGrid is working to ensure a safe, secure, and reliable energy supply, while leading the transition to a cleaner, greener future.  

As well as celebrating an overall national winner, this year’s campaign has been widened to recognise more inspirational volunteers from around the country. A preliminary round will see four provincial winners and four honourable mentions selected. 

The provincial winners’ designated clubs will each receive €5,000, while there will be awards of €1,500 to the clubs of the honourable mentions. An overall national winner will be selected from the provincial winners, and their club will receive an additional €5,000, for a total award of €10,000. 

EirGrid is now calling on GAA supporters to nominate a volunteer for 2026 who goes above and beyond in the time and dedication that they give to their local club and community.  

Community Heroes 2026 is being supported by former Cork hurler Diarmuid O’Sullivan, former Kilkenny Camogie player Anne Dalton, and Eamon McGee, former Donegal footballer.  

Speaking about the GAA Community Heroes Campaign, EirGrid’s Chief Executive Cathal Marley said:  "Following on from the success of EirGrid’s GAA Community Heroes Campaign in 2025, I am delighted that we are running the campaign again this year to recognise the important work done by volunteers in supporting and sustaining local clubs around the country.  

"These ideas of community and volunteerism are ones that we share at EirGrid. We are committed to engaging with local communities and recognise the important role that they play in supporting our work in developing the electricity grid to ensure a more reliable and secure supply of electricity for everyone."

Commenting on the launch of the competition, Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael Jarlath Burns said:  “It is fantastic to see the launch again this year of EirGrid’s GAA Community Heroes Campaign.  

"As we all know, volunteers are the backbone not just of our local clubs, but also of local communities across Ireland.  

"For more than 140 years the GAA has been built on the volunteerism that sees ordinary men and women inspired to give an extraordinary commitment to serve something bigger than themselves and to ensure that the GAA is the incredible success story that it is. 

"The Community Heroes Campaign is a great way in which we can recognise the vital role and fantastic work of volunteers in sustaining their clubs and communities."

To enter simply tell us the story of your local GAA Club Volunteer (the ‘Volunteer’) and why they are a hero within your club community. 

Provide some details of what makes the Volunteer special to the club and makes them stand out as an inspirational ‘community hero’. You may wish to include: length of time given to the club(s); number of positions / roles held by this Volunteer; a relevant story or anecdote that may be unique to this Volunteer, or a specific detail that highlights their importance to the club. 

Entries can be submitted: 

Via Instagram. A reel (stories and posts will not be accepted) must be shared via a club Instagram account to enable verification of the entry. EirGrid’s official Instagram account (@EirGrid_) must be tagged. Reels should be no longer than two minutes. The nominated volunteer must have consented to their inclusion in the content and for the competition. The club Instagram account will be the initial method of contact, but EirGrid may seek email correspondence from the club to authenticate the entry. 

Or 

Entries can also be submitted via email to communications@eirgrid.com and must include the volunteer’s name, GAA club and their story.  The nominated volunteer must have consented to their inclusion in the competition. Email entries must be no longer than 500 words. The person submitting the entry must include a valid email address and mobile phone number to be contacted.  

Entries will be accepted in English and / or Irish

Entries will be accepted until 23:59 on Sunday 17 May 2026.

In the inaugural competition, we invited GAA supporters across Ireland to nominate their Community Hero -  someone who gives their time, heart, and energy so others can shine.

These heroes energise the GAA and their communities – just as EirGrid powers Ireland’s energy transition.

Lots of worthy names were put forward – but one exceptional volunteer was chosen to win a pair of All-Ireland final tickets, and a €5,000 donation for her club’s development.

Mary Cooke of Naomh Bríd GAA, Laghey, Co Donegal, embodies the spirit of community and volunteerism that the EirGrid Community Hero award seeks to recognise. 

Despite being a non-native of the parish and having no previous involvement in the GAA, Mary immersed herself wholeheartedly in the life of the club through her young children. 

Over the past decade, she has served as treasurer of Bord na nÓg, founded a Mothers and Others team, and led major initiatives, including the club’s largest fundraiser, which raised over €100,000. 

She also launched a club shop and played a central role in opening the floodlit walking track. Her dedication, innovation, and ability to unite others have left a lasting legacy in the club and wider community.

To recognise her outstanding contributions, EirGrid awarded Naomh Bríd GAA a €5,000 donation, and Mary was also presented with two tickets to the All-Ireland Football Final in July.