Podcast with Catherine Horan from Cath & Co with Sinéad Kirwan, Carlow Volunteer Centre

Carlow Nominee for Volunteer Ireland Awards 2018


Carlow Volunteer Centre were delighted to have a chat with Kim Mackenzie- Doyle today about her volunteer work with “Mind over Matter” a mental health awareness program, and “Why design” which focuses on gender balance in the workplace. Kim shows great passion to these causes when she talks about how she has nurtured these ideas and has made them a huge success.

Born in Scotland and living in Carlow for most of her life she now works full time at Vox gig, a Waterford based design company. She is part of the Institute of Designers Ireland which is a voluntary organisation. She studied Industrial design at IT Carlow for 4 years and secured employment in Design Partners as a design consultant.

Many of us saw the huge lights display on the Braun building in October, well this was one of the awareness initiates of “Mind over matter”. This was a brilliant idea where she brought hundreds of top creative designers together on a voluntary basis. This group of designers worked for many businesses on the design of their product, website, brand and the proceeds of their work went to AWARE. The project raised over 26,000 for AWARE in October.

Kim is truly a remarkable lady who is full of ideas on how to help our community and is definitely an inspiration to us all.

Carlow Volunteer Centre Congratulates Mary Bolger


Mary Bolger Volunteer with Barnardos Shop in Carlow receiving her Award from Carlow Volunteer Centre at the Paddy Looney Memorial Volunteer Awards Night on March 7th and Mary was also named as Volunteer of the Year at the recent Irish Charity Shop for her dedication for over ten years.

See our Facebook Page today for article on Mary Bolger

Mary has been volunteering with Barnardos since 2003, two days every week. Mary is described by fellow colleagues and Brid, Manager od Barnardos Shop Carlow as  “  a compasionate person who is very involved in her community and is one of those totally caring people…..Mary is selfless, honest, reliable and great fun- the perfect ingredients for the best volunteer. We would not be here without her. She mixes well with all the other volunteers and we have a diverse team. She is great at helping everyone and training them. She is also fantastic out in the shop with customers”

Well Done Mary- a shining example of the spirit and ethos of volunteering.

Carlow Volunteer Centre