(June 25th 2026) Tallaght University Hospital (TUH) announced its Staff Hero Award Winners for 2026 at a ceremony this afternoon in the Hospital. The annual awards celebrate staff who go above and beyond in their jobs to ensure patients receive exceptional care. The winners were joined by colleagues and family members at a special presentation ceremony.
Director HR, Sharon Larkin, said, “All of those nominated today have shown incredible dedication and commitment to our patients and the Hospital. It is very heartening to discover more about the exceptional people I work with and how committed they are to our patients and one another.”
Presenting the awards to the winners, the TUH CEO Barbara Keogh Dunne said, “I want to congratulate all of our award winners today. Looking through all of the nominations was deeply gratifying. It is important to call out greatness, and all of those being recognised are a powerful example of what it means to go that extra mile for the patient, the community we serve and their colleagues. I am proud and privileged to work alongside them.”
The award winners for 2026 are as follows:
Mr Dara Kavanagh, Consultant Surgeon - Hospital Patient Experience Award
The Patient Experience Award asks patients and their families to nominate a person whose care has delivered an exceptional patient experience. In proposing that Dara should win the category, one of his patients said, “Mr Kavanagh is the kindest man; nothing is ever a problem. I’ve had a good few surgeries since 2017, and Mr Kavanagh has always gone above and beyond for me. His bedside manner is amazing, and this goes a long way when you’re feeling very low and sick.”
The Gynaecology Team - Team of the Year Award
This Award is for a new or established team that demonstrates excellence in teamwork. One submission from a patient reflected: “Their unwavering commitment to excellence and exceptional service was evident at every stage of my care. As a team, they worked seamlessly together and remained reassuring, gentle and deeply compassionate throughout with dedication and professionalism.”
Sinead Cleary, Advanced Nurse Practitioner, Colposcopy - Professor Sean Tierney Mentoring Award
This Award is for a staff member who demonstrated outstanding teaching skills and served as a role model and mentor to staff. In nominating Sinead, her colleagues commented: “Sinead not only sees the patients, but has also trained multiple NCHDs and Nurses in Colposcopy who now continue this work all around the country. Obtaining BSCCP accreditation is challenging and without a good trainer, near impossible. She has taken the women’s health service to a new level, and without Sinead, our team wouldn’t be where we are today.”
Maeve Millar, Administrator - Neurophysiology Department - People Caring for People Award
This Award is for staff members who exemplify the Hospital’s core values: patient care, respect, innovation, collaboration, and accountability. Recommending Maeve for this special recognition, a co-worker said, “From the moment a patient enters our department, Maeve does everything she can to make them feel comfortable and cared for. Every single day, she lifts the spirits of the department with a smile, a joke, or a kind word.”
Dr Aoife Doolan, Consultant Anaesthesiologist, ICU - Service Excellence Award
This award is for a staff member who provides outstanding service to patients or staff. As a deserving candidate for this award, Aoife’s colleagues said, “Dr Doolan has set up the peri-operative ECHO service, which allows rapid screening for patients scheduled for elective surgery. She has spearheaded the level 2 ECHO service in the critical care units, which allows high-quality analysis of the sickest patients in the Hospital, with strong links forged with the Cardiology team to support this service.”
Ricky McKenna, Deputy Chief Information Officer - Unsung Hero Award
This award is for a staff member who demonstrates exceptional service to the organisation. Submissions were made by a number of Ricky’s colleagues who commented: “Ricky has consistently demonstrated humility and professionalism in all of his work and achievements. Alongside this, he has played a key role in driving the ICT strategy, development, and overall progress—helping to transform the service to the high standard we benefit from today.”
Marie Lynskey, Infection Prevention & Control Coordinator -Teamwork Award
This award is for someone who is a valued ‘team’ player. Recommending Marie for this recognition, her colleagues said: “Marie is the backbone of our team. She is deeply committed to ensuring that TUH continues to provide high-quality care. At the centre of all she does, she constantly considers how to make TUH a better place for all of the patients attending here. She is a wonderful, supportive colleague both professionally and personally.”
Special - CEO Awards
Technical Services Department; this vital department has received this award in recognition of its commitment and dedication to the Hospital and its work behind the scenes to guarantee a safe environment for both patients and staff.
Patient Advice & Liaison Department; the PAL’s Team are receiving this award to reflect the important service they provide to our patients. It also recognises their exceptional commitment and dedication to the Hospital.
