Lidl Family Carer of the Year Awards
Pictured from left to right are Caelan McVitty, 2025 Ulster Lidl Young Carer of the Year; Sharon Foley, CEO, Family Carers Ireland; Angie Keating, 2025 Lidl Family Carer of the Year; Miriam O'Callaghan; Awards Ambassador and broadcaster; and Maeve McCleane, Chief People Officer, Lidl Ireland and Northern Ireland.
What are the Lidl Family Carer of the Year Awards?
These awards honour Ireland’s hidden frontline, the extraordinary people who provide care at home, and we need your help to identify these remarkable family carers through nominations.
Throughout Ireland, family carers dedicate themselves to providing remarkable levels of care in the home to loved ones including relatives and family friends with additional needs. As more and more people find themselves in a caring role, it has never been more important to recognise family carers and the selfless work they do to support their loved ones. These awards shine a light on their stories and give them the recognition they truly deserve.
Who are family carers?
In Ireland, over 624,000 family carers provide unpaid care in the home for loved ones such as children or adults with additional needs, physical or intellectual disabilities, frail older people, those with palliative care needs or those living with chronic illnesses, mental health challenges or addiction. This can affect their health, wellbeing, education, work, and social life. Family carers save the state €20bn per annum and provide an astonishing 19 million hours of care each week. The awards are a way to thank carers, share their stories, and give them the recognition they deserve.
Who are young carers?
There are over 61,500 young carers between the ages of 10 and 17 providing regular care at home. Many do not realise they are carers, they see themselves simply as a son, daughter, brother, or sister helping their family. Young carers play a vital role in their households, and the awards help highlight their experiences and ensure their voices are heard.
Who can nominate someone for an award?
Anyone can submit a nomination.
Who can be nominated for an award?
Any family carer giving unpaid care to a loved one can be nominated. There are two categories of awards:
- Lidl Family Carer of the Year (18+ yrs)
- Lidl Young Carer of the Year (10-17 yrs)
How do I nominate someone?
The easiest way to nominate someone is online. Please complete your online nomination using the form below.
What if I can't complete my nomination online?
If you have technical difficulties or have limited access to IT, you are welcome to send your nomination by post. Please contact the Careline on 1800 240724 and we will post a nomination form to you. Please send your completed nomination forms to
Family Carer of the Year Nomination
c/o Family Carers Ireland,
Market Square,
Tullamore,
Co. Offaly,
R35 PW50
What is the deadline for nominations?
The deadline for all nominations is 5pm on Friday, 9th October 2026. Nominations received after this date will not be considered.
What happens when I have nominated someone?
All complete nominations received by the deadline will be judged for the following stage of the awards:
County Family Carers of the Year: One nomination per county will be chosen as the county Carer of the Year
Regional Family Carers of the Year: Three county finalists per region will be chosen to go forward for the Regional Family Carers of the Year Award from Ulster, Munster, Leinster and Connacht
National Family Carer of the Year: One regional finalist will be awarded Lidl National Family Carer of the Year
Regional Young Carers of the Year: Five young carers will be selected to receive regional Young Carer of the Year Awards (one each from Ulster, Munster, Leinster, Connacht, and Dublin)
All regional finalists will go forward to the national awards ceremony (which will be held in Dublin in November), with one being named the overall national Lidl Family Carer of the Year.
How are the nominations judged?
All nominations will be judged taking into consideration the story that you tell us about the person you are nominating. To help us understand the story of the person you are nominating, we look at:
- Level and complexity of care the person being nominated is providing
- The impact that caring has had on the person being nominated
- How the health and wellbeing of the person being nominated is affected
- The dedication, resilience and character of the person being nominated
- How this person’s caring role inspires others and deserves wider recognition
- Other exceptional circumstances.
Nomination Form
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