Manus O’Callaghan, Awards Organiser, Anne Brown, Lexus Cork, Deirdre Mortell, April Cork Person of the Month and Ann-Marie O’Sullivan, AM O’Sullivan PR at the award presentation. Photo: Tony O’Connell

Deirdre wins April award

It’s Deirdre Mortell who have been given the award for her contributions to social innovation and philanthropy in Ireland.

Deirdre is the CEO of Rethink Ireland, an organisation that provides cash grants and business support to the social innovations that are making a real difference across Ireland.

Through her work with Rethink Ireland, Deirdre has supported 25 Cork-based social innovations over the past six years such as the Rainbow Club in Mahon, the Cork Life Centre in Sunday’s Well and Sensational Kids in Clonakilty as well as SiSi in Schull.

In 2021 alone, Rethink Ireland supported seven awardees headquartered in Cork who employed 21 people, were supported by 75 volunteers and delivered services to 1,117 people.

Deirdre is a founding board member of Women for Election, a non-profit which inspires, equips and informs women to run for political office.

Prior to her current role, Deirdre co-founded and led the ONE Foundation as their CEO for ten years, leading the support of high potential non-profit organisations in Ireland and Vietnam to deliver their goals.

During this time, she was part of the launch teams for Jigsaw, now a nationwide youth mental health service, and Social Entrepreneurs Ireland.

Deirdre is CONNECT’s Social Entrepreneur in Residence and has worked in Ireland’s leading non-profit organisations, holding senior roles in fundraising & communications in Oxfam and Barnardos.

She has also co-written a book entitled, ‘Establishing a Venture Philanthropy Fund in Europe: A Practical Guide’.

Speaking about Deirdre’s honour, Awards organiser, Manus O’Callaghan, said: “I would recommend that people look at Rethink Ireland’s website to see the enormity of their work.

“Projects they have been involved in include Foodcloud, iScoil and Women’s Freedom From Fear Fund. They say the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, and Deirdre’s father Michael Mortell, past president of UCC, was a winner of the Cork Person of the Year award back in 1994,” he added.

Deirdre's name now goes forward for possible selection as Cork Person of the Year at the annual awards lunch on 21 January.