Robert Ballagh among Lord Mayor’s Awards winners

Artist Robert Ballagh and the Dublin Fire Brigade are among the seven recipients of the Lord Mayor's Awards for 2016. Lord Mayor of Dublin Críona Ní Dhálaigh gave awards to Ballagh and six local and national organisations at a ceremony in the Mansion House last evening.

Since 1989, the annual ceremony has honoured individuals and groups who have made a special contribution to Dublin.

Ms Ní Dhálaigh chose Justice for the Forgotten, established in 1996 to campaign for truth and justice for the victims of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings of May 1974, and Justice for Magdalenes, a research organisation established to seek justice for, and represent the interests of, the women who were in the Magdalene laundries.

The Gay and Lesbian Equality Network (Glen) was chosen for the change it has helped to deliver as an advocacy group over 28 years.

The Ana Liffey Drug Project, which provides services to drug users and their families, and Na Gaeil Óga, a GAA club founded to provide opportunities for young Irish speakers to use the language in a sporting setting, also received awards.