Good Relations Awards

Since 2006, the Community Relations Council’s Good Relations Awards has highlighted exceptional achievement in promoting good community relations, intercultural work and peacebuilding in Northern Ireland.

This year two local women, Hazel McGuigan and Mary Lafferty, nominated by members of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council’s Community Services team, were runners-up in two award categories.

Hazel Mc Guigan was runner-up in the Good Relations Volunteer of the Year award while Mary Lafferty was runner-up in the Good Relations Community Champion Award. The women were presented with their awards at an event, hosted by Jo Scott from the BBC, in Belfast Harbour Commissioners Office on Tuesday 7 March 2023.

Hazel Mc Guigan, Chairperson of Campsie Hub, has dedicated her life to helping others, promoting understanding and breaking down barriers in her local community. Hazel is an outstanding leader who represents the community sector on several regional groups, fearlessly lobbying for the betterment of the general Omagh area. She works closely with a wide number of community and statutory organisations and makes a very positive contribution to building positive relations across all sections of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council.

Mary Lafferty, based in Omagh, has made an outstanding contribution to building good relations in the Fermanagh and Omagh District Council area. She is an exemplary good relations community champion who leads by example. She has been to the forefront of cultural diversity work primarily with the Syrian community, and now with the Ukrainian refugees. She has knowledge, compassion and empathy for each person she meets, going above and beyond to make life better for all.

The Awards have showcased the crucial work that is having a real impact in our society, improving people’s lives and their outlook for the future, while also strengthening the community spirit in the places and spaces where we live, work, and play. It is a wonderful achievement for both Mary and Hazel to have been runners-up in these highly prestigious awards.