Bernadette McElhinney wins Martin Kenny Volunteer of the Year award

A Donegal woman, Bernadette McElhinney of Síoraí Clothing in Carndonagh, has been named the Martin Kenny Volunteer of the Year at the Charity Retail Ireland Impact Awards.

McElhinney, a retired primary school principal who has lived locally for more than five decades, secured the award ahead of two other shortlisted nominees. She has volunteered with the shop since it opened in 2016 and is praised for her commitment, generosity and dedication over the past ten years.

Through her role, McElhinney draws on her educational background to train and mentor other volunteers, helping them develop practical retail skills and confidence. She also supports the organisation’s WorkAbility programme, assisting people with disabilities to gain workplace experience, and helps a Community Employment participant from Ukraine improve her English.

Fluent in Irish, McElhinney provides Irish‑language translations for Spraoi agus Spórt, the charity that benefits from the shop’s income. The funds raised by Síoraí Clothing are reinvested into Spraoi agus Spórt’s services, including childcare, disability and inclusion programmes, family support, youth activities and education across Inishowen.

Charity Retail Ireland’s annual Impact Report noted that its 407 member shops generated €73 million in income in 2025, diverting 21 000 tonnes of waste and preventing over 106 000 tonnes of carbon emissions.

Source: Donegal Daily. Photo: Julia M Cameron / Pexels.