Self Help Africa’s Ronan Scully will receive the 6th Oireachtas Human Dignity Award at a ceremony in Leinster House tomorrow, Thursday.
The award is presented by the Oireachtas Human Dignity Group to a person or group whose commitment to the promotion of human dignity is exemplary.
Ronan Scully, who was previously named Galway Person of The Year and received the Galway Mayoral Award, is now being honoured for his many years of service to others, both as a volunteer and professionally.
Since 2010, Ronan has worked with Self Help Africa, and was a volunteer and employee with GOAL for 18 years.
He has raised millions of euro over the years for various charities committed to human development and famine relief in Africa and Asia.
Ronan, originally from Offaly, works regularly with projects in Ethiopia, Sierra Leone, Kenya, Uganda, Zambia, Malawi and India.
An Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl TD said that in honouring Ronan, they are honouring a great tradition of Irish people working to alleviate human suffering across the planet.
Independent senator Rónán Mullen, who proposed Mr Scully for the Award, described him as “a person of energy, enthusiasm, faith and hope, dedicated to improving people’s lives in the toughest parts of the world.”
“Ronan Scully is also known for his sporting and cultural contribution,” said Senator Mullen.
“He has been Offaly Sportsperson of the Year, was a leader on RTÉ’s Operation Transformation, has authored two books and writes a weekly column for three regional newspapers.
“In all he does, he motivates and helps others to improve their situation by pointing to what is important in life and helping them to reach for that, as he does himself. In that sense Ronan is a ‘renaissance man’.”
The award will be presented by the Ceann Comhairle at a ceremony in Leinster House to be attended by members of Ronan Scully’s family, representatives of Self Help Africa, TDs and senators.
Previous recipients of the Human Dignity Award were Sr Consilio Fitzgerald of Cuan Mhuire; Barney Curley, founder of Direct Aid For Africa; Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow, founder of Mary’s Meals; Gina Heraty of Our Little Brothers and Sisters Orphanage in Haiti, and Br Kevin Crowley of the Capuchin Day Centre.
