Laois woman receives posthumous award from President of Ireland
A Laois born woman who helped support hundreds of older Irish emigrants in London in her lifetime, has been given an award posthumously by the President of Ireland, Michael D Higgins.
Alice Kennedy (née Culleton) came from Clonaslee in Laois.
She died aged 83 with Covid-19 in March 2020.
The President of Ireland hosted the Distinguished Service Awards for the Irish Abroad ceremony 2021/2020 on December 2.
Ms Kennedy was one of many people awarded on the special evening.
"We, all of us Irish can be very proud of those members of our Diaspora who have made such a special contribution to society and our world, particularly those who have located their lives among the global poor, the disadvantaged, the oppressed, exemplifying as they do the best of Irishness in numerous ways.
He listed different areas that the awardees chose to support, including "empowering the elderly members of our wider Irish community in the United Kingdom".
The award was accepted on her behalf by her brothers Seamus Culleton who lives in Kilcormac, Offaly and Michael from Shracullen, Clonaslee.
Seamus said it was a great honour to receive the award on behalf of the Culleton and Kennedy family.
"It was a great occasion in the Áras. We are all very proud of the work she did with the Irish Elders in the Irish centre in Camden Town where she was chairperson. She was also actively involved in the London Irish Elders choir which performed all over the UK," he said.