Toy Show’s Adam King and businessman Aubrey McCarthy win humanitarians of the year at Irish Red Cross awards

Mr McCarthy won Humanitarian of the Year award for his tireless work in feeding and housing the homeless.

The Tiglin charity founder was also bestowed with the accolade for his work in providing accommodation for those that need help in overcoming addiction and other life controlling issues.

Mr McCarthy has also been prominent in assisting asylum seekers in Dublin city centre for which he has received threats both to himself and to the Tiglin premises at the Light House on Pearse St which provides meals and shelter to Irish homeless people as well as refugees.

He was awarded at the Irish Red Cross Humanitarian Awards on Tuesday evening, which have been running since 2018 to celebrate those in communities who are “dedicated to helping people in need.”

Deirdre Garvey Secretary General for the Irish Red Cross said: “The aim of the Irish Red Cross Awards is to highlight the incredible and selfless efforts of people throughout Ireland who have gone out of their way to help those in urgent need.”

RTÉ Toy Show’s hero Adam King was awarded Young Humanitarian of the Year for his many charity initiatives involving his ‘Virtual Hug’ .

To expand his charitable fundraising, Adam’s Virtual Hug has been turned into a postage stamp, greeting cards and postcards.

Adam, from Cork, who stole the nation’s heart after appearing on the Late Late Toy Show in 2020, suffers from Osteogenesis imperfecta, which is a rare, lifelong genetic condition of bone and connective tissue. As part of his charitable work, he has raised over €300,000.

Funding raised has gone to Cork University Hospital (CUH) Charity and Children’s Health Foundation Ireland at Temple St.

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Adam has also supported charities and campaigns close to his heart such as Ronald McDonald House, Rare Diseases Ireland, Clean Coasts, Darkness Into Light and the Irish Wheelchair Association.

The Lifetime Achievement Award went to Tony Geoghegan who is one of Ireland’s leading advocates for the homeless and those suffering from drug addiction.

The Irish Red Cross described this award as “timely” as the organisation has been calling for more compassion and a kinder society, especially for those who have fallen on hard times.

Mr Geoghegan was chosen for his foresight in co-founding Merchants Quay Ireland back in 1989 and his subsequent years dedicated to working with the homeless and people who had serious issues with drug use.

“He has constantly highlighted the growing issues of drug use, the lack of addiction centres and treatments as well as homelessness in Ireland,” they said.

He joins Tuam Mother and Baby Homes scandal exposer and campaigner Catherine Corless, John Lonergan and the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Mike Ryan in the list of previous winners.

Other winners on the night were Samaritans Ireland for the Humanitarian Organisation of the Year whose 1500 volunteers ensure some 400,000 calls for help are answered each year.

Electric Aid (ESB) claimed a Corporate Impact Award for their funding of over 2,500 charitable projects worth more than €25m in over 130 countries.

The Humanitarian Journalism Excellence Award went to Hannah McCarthy for her work in covering humanitarian issues in the Middle East, Ukraine and Central Asia for over three years.

She reported from Lebanon after the Beirut port explosion, Afghanistan after the return of the Taliban and from Ukraine during the Russian invasion, as well as from Israel/Palestine during the war on Gaza.

Ms Garvey, speaking on the night, added that the awards remind us all of the crucial role of community and love for one another.

“That is what these Awards are here to do, to remind us all of our best selves, the best of Ireland.”