Athlone woman, Maeve Kelly, a former resident of Knockcroghery, Co Roscommon, was chosen from hundreds of people across Ireland and the UK.
According to organisers, the Outstanding Achievement Awards were established to recognise the tremendous efforts and excellence demonstrated by people in business and everyday life.
“In particular, those who have shown dedication, perseverance, resilience, commitment, and determination to serve and grow through difficult times,” a spokesperson for the awards added.
Maeve and her teenage daughter survived a road traffic collision on the Athlone Road just outside Roscommon which took the life of one other person in 2016, and since then has gone on to serve her community through her work with Athlone Access Awareness.
She has also campaigned for stricter measures around the issuance of driving licences to those with a history of serious mental illness. Maeve has even taken her fight to Europe, addressing a European Commission workshop on drivers’ licences.
Commenting on her nomination, Maeve Kelly said: “I am delighted to be nominated for this award. I have very fond memories of living in Roscommon and I want to thank Garda Stephen McDonagh from the Roads Policing Unit in Roscommon for helping both herself and the ambulance service in putting together a road safety commercial as part of a recent campaign”.
