Family Carers Ireland is urging the people of Clare to make their voices heard by nominating a local family carer for the 2026 Lidl Family Carer of the Year Awards.
Nominations will close on Friday, 9 October, and this is the final chance to ensure that the care being provided every day in homes and communities across the county is recognised on a national stage.
There are an estimated 15,736 family carers in Clare, 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.
By nominating a family carer in Clare, you can recognise their love, sacrifice and the difference they make every single day, ensuring they know they are valued and not alone. 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 across Ireland surveyed, 75% have never received respite, 71% find it difficult to make ends meet, and almost half (48%) experience severe loneliness.
Maeve McCleane, Chief People Officer at Lidl Ireland and Northern Ireland, said: “Family carers are part of every community Lidl serves, including here in Clare. 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 a family carer in Clare 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, 9 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, 26 November 2026.