HONOURED Orlaith and Ciarán Staunton have been announced as recipients of the Presidential Distinguished Service Award for the Irish Abroad.
Edwin McGreal
Louisburgh native Ciarán Staunton, and his wife Orlaith, have been announced as recipients of the Presidential Distinguished Service Award for the Irish Abroad.
The awards will be presented by President Michael D Higgins at a ceremony at Áras an Uachtaráin later this year.
Ciarán and Orlaith Staunton have been recognised for their live-saving work on creating greater awareness of the dangers of sepsis. Orlaith is a native of Drogheda.
They are co-founders of US based END SEPSIS, the Legacy of Rory Staunton, which was founded in 2013 as the Rory Staunton Foundation for Sepsis Prevention following the undiagnosed, untreated, and preventable death of their 12-year-old son Rory Staunton from sepsis in New York.
“We are deeply honoured to accept this Presidential Award in memory of our son Rory and in recognition of our family’s lifesaving work to end sepsis.
“END SEPSIS, the Legacy of Rory Staunton is the leading sepsis advocacy organisation in the United States, and this recognition of our international work means a great deal to our family,” they said.
The Stauntons were informed of their honour in a letter from Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney.
“I am honoured on behalf of the President of Ireland, Michael D Higgins, to inform you that you have been chosen by the Government of Ireland to receive a Presidential Distinguished Service Award for the Irish Abroad.
“The Award, which was established in 2012 and is awarded annually, recognises the distinguished and sustained contribution to Ireland, Irish communities abroad, and Ireland’s international reputation by people resident abroad.
“I am especially pleased that you have been selected to receive the Award under the category of Charitable Works. The central and significant role played by you in setting up the Rory Staunton Foundation in the wake of the tragic death of your young son, Rory, and the resultant laws which have been passed, has had a far-reaching impact. Your work has undoubtedly saved thousands of lives and will continue to impact on future generations. The award is well deserved and I am delighted to see your efforts recognised in this very special way at a national level,” Minister Coveney wrote.
The presentation of the awards by the President of Ireland will take place at Áras an Uachtaráin in Dublin; the date is yet to be confirmed.
The Stauntons, who are based in New York, are one of ten recipients of the 2022 Presidential Distinguished Service Awards, all based overseas.
Colm Brophy, TD, Minister of State for Overseas Development Aid and Diaspora, said he is ‘delighted’ that ‘the work and achievements of members of Ireland’s diaspora’ are honoured.
“We are very proud of the impact our global family continues to have all over the world and the recipients of this Award demonstrate between them the remarkable diversity and richness of Ireland’s diaspora.
“The President’s Awards highlight and celebrate in a very special way the achievements and the diversity of the global Irish family and I very much look forward to meeting this year’s recipients when they travel to Ireland for the awards ceremony hosted by President Higgins later this year,” said Minister Brophy.