Nominations Now Open for 2026 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.

Public urged to recognise family carers and young carers in their communities

Tuesday, 1st September 2026: Nominations are now open for the Lidl Family Carer of the Year Awards 2026, which shine a light on the extraordinary contribution of family carers across Ireland.

More than 624,000 people in Ireland care for a family member or friend, yet many do not think of themselves as family carers. They see themselves as simply a husband caring for his wife, a daughter supporting her mother, a parent looking after a child, or a young person helping to care for someone at home. As a result, the enormous contribution they make - and the challenges they face - can often go unseen.

Now in its 19th year, the awards offer families, friends and communities an opportunity to recognise this contribution while highlighting the urgent need for better support and services for those who go above and beyond every day for their loved ones. The call for nominations comes as Family Carers Ireland’s State of Caring 2026 report lays bare the pressures many family carers experience. Of the 2,930 family carers surveyed, 75% have never received respite, 71% find it difficult to make ends meet, and almost half (48%) experience severe loneliness.

Angie Keating, Lidl Family Carer of the Year 2025, who cares for her twin sons, Hassan and Hussein, who were born conjoined, said: “Receiving this award was incredibly moving because it recognised not only my own journey, but the reality of family carers everywhere. A nomination may seem like a small gesture, but it can mean more than you realise. It tells someone that their strength, sacrifice and love have not gone unnoticed.”

Broadcaster, Family Carers Ireland ambassador and awards host Miriam O’Callaghan, said: “Behind every nomination is a personal story of love, courage and commitment. Family carers are there through the long nights, difficult days and ordinary moments in between. These awards are a chance to say thank you, and I would encourage everyone to think of someone in their family or community whose care makes an immeasurable difference and ensure their story is heard.”

Maeve McCleane, Chief People Officer at Lidl Ireland and Northern Ireland, said: “Family carers are part of every community Lidl serves. They are our customers, our colleagues and the people closest to them, which is why our partnership with Family Carers Ireland means so much to our team.

“Through that partnership, we are working towards raising more than €2 million to support family carers across Ireland. Being part of the awards is an important part of our commitment, giving us the chance to recognise carers locally in our stores and celebrate their contribution nationally. We encourage everyone to get involved and nominate that friend, family, neighbour or the silent hero in their community whose care and dedication deserve to be recognised.”

Sharon Foley, Chief Executive Officer of Family Carers Ireland, said: “Most family carers would never put themselves forward for an award. Many do not even use the word ‘carer’ to describe what they do because, to them, they are simply supporting someone they love.

“These awards are an important opportunity to recognise family carers, but recognition must also be matched by meaningful support. With three in four carers telling us they have never had any respite, a similar number struggling financially and almost half experiencing severe loneliness, too many are left to manage without the help they need. A nomination cannot provide that support, but it can tell someone that their care is seen, understood and valued. That can mean an enormous amount.”

Members of the public can nominate a family carer or young carer until 5pm on Friday, 9th October 2026 at www.familycarers.ie.

County recipients will be recognised locally, with the overall Lidl Family Carer of the Year and Lidl Young Carers of the Year announced at the national awards ceremony at the College Green Hotel, Dublin, on Thursday, 26th November 2026.