UNICEF Ireland Ambassadors & High Profile Supporters
Ambassadors for Children
UNICEF Ireland Ambassadors and high profile supporters play an important role for UNICEF across the country and around the world. They stay informed about children's issues, visit UNICEF field projects and help fundraise for UNICEF. They have chosen to do what they can to save the lives of children in developing countries by making Irish people and people around the world aware of their plight.
Liam Neeson
Actor and Humanitarian Lia
m Neeson was appointed a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in March 2011, reflecting his long commitment to help save and improve the lives of children around the world affected by poverty, disease, abuse and neglect. Mr. Neeson becomes the first Irish person to be appointed to this international role with UNICEF and follows in the footsteps of other celebrated humanitarians and Goodwill Ambassadors Audrey Hepburn, Sir Roger Moore, his Mother-in-Law Vanessa Redgrave and more recently Lionel Messi and Orlando Bloom.
The Oscar-nominated actor – perhaps best known for his leading roles in Schindler’s List, Taken and the recently released Unknown – has since 1997 provided strong support to the international children’s organisation in part through his role as a National Ambassador for UNICEF in Ireland.
Donncha O'Callaghan
Munster and Irish rugby star Donncha O'Callaghan was appointed an Ambassador for UNICEF Ireland in August 2009. Donncha has made field visits to see UNICEF's work first hand in Zimbabwe, Haiti and in South Africa.
Donncha visited Zimbabwe in June 2011 to find out more about child and maternal health conditions and he visited Haiti in July 2010 to see for himself the impact of the January 2010 earthquake on the children living there.
In 2009, Donncha visited UNICEF programmes in Johannesburg, South Africa to learn more about the impact of HIV/AIDS on children and to highlight the plight of unaccompanied migrant children (mostly from Zimbabwe) who are then living in central Johannesburg.
Donncha is also closely involved in UNICEF Ireland's "Believe in Zero" campaign.
Dustin the Turkey
Dustin the Turkey has been supporting UNICEF Ireland since January 2009.
Always keen to 'lend a wing' to many of UNICEF Ireland's fundraisers - Dustin has supported several major fundraising events for UNICEF Ireland including the Harry Potter Screening, our Mother's Day Lunch and the IKEA Soft Toy Campaign.
Dustin made his first visit to South Africa to find out about the impact of HIV/AIDS on young children in November 2009.
Dustin is also involved in UNICEF's "Believe in Zero" Campaign.
Rory McIlroy
International golfing Star Rory McIlroy is UNICEF Ireland newest appointed Ambassador. "I’ve known about UNICEF for a long time – particularly through their partnership with FC Barcelona and the fact that Lionel Messi is an international Ambassador, so I'm thrilled to become an Ambassador” McIlroy said at the announcement of his appointment in March 2011.
Rory made his first UNICEF field visit in June 2011 to see for himself UNICEF's work for women and children living in Haiti following the January 2010 earthquake.
Cathy Kelly
Cathy was appointed a UNICEF Ireland Ambassador in 2005. That year, Cathy visited Mozambique to highlight the impact that HIV/AIDS was having on children in sub-Saharan Africa and helped launch UNICEF's Global Campaign "Unite for Children, Unite against AIDS" in Dublin.
In 2007, Cathy visited Rwanda to highlight UNICEF's "Schools for Africa" Campaign. In her last two novels, Cathy has also highlighted her work with UNICEF and encouraged her readers to get involved.
A passionate advocate for children, Cathy rarely misses an opportunity when speaking with the media to highlight UNICEF's work and is also currently involved in UNICEF Ireland's "Believe in zero" campaign.
Joe Canning and Dermot Earley
Joe Canning and Dermot Earley - two of Ireland’s leading Gaelic footballers and hurlers were appointed UNICEF Ireland Ambassadors in September 2010, Joe and Dermot were unveiled as UNICEF Ireland Ambassadors when the Gaelic Players Association formally announced UNICEF Ireland as one of their dedicated charity partners for 2010/2011.
The first campaign that Joe Canning and Dermot Earley have been working on is UNICEF Ireland’s “Euro for Zero” Campaign. Joe and Dermot hope to undertake a UNICEF field visit in 2011 to see for themselves UNICEF’s work for children.
Stephen Rea
Stephen Rea has been supporting UNICEF since 2003 and was appointed a UNICEF Ireland Ambassador in 2005. Stephen has visited Mozambique to highlight the impact that HIV/AIDS was having on children and helped launch UNICEF's Global Campaign "Unite for Children, Unite against AIDS" in Dublin. Stephen also was the very special Guest at the UNICEF Ireland Corporate Lunch in 2006 and is currently involved in UNICEF Ireland's "Believe in zero" campaign
Gabriel Byrne
Gabriel Byrne has been supporting UNICEF since 2004. He visited Dublin in March 2006 to be the very special guest at UNICEF Ireland's Mother's Day Lunch to raise funds for UNICEF safe motherhood programmes throughout the world. During the lunch, Gabriel spoke movingly about his time in Swaziland and the impact of HIV/AIDS on women and children living there. Gabriel has also been supporting UNICEF Ireland's "Believe in Zero" campaign and in October 2010, guest edited the Sunday Independent "Life" magazine on behalf of UNICEF to highlight UNICEF's "Euro for Zero" Campaign.
Pierce Brosnan
Pierce Brosnan has been supporting UNICEF since 2001. He is particularly committed to helping UNICEF Ireland highlight the plight of children affected by war. Irish DreamTime, the film Production Company that he co-owns donated the US$25,000 MovieGuide Award prize money to UNICEF Ireland to help the children of Iraq. In 2005, Pierce also recorded a special announcement to mark the launch of UNICEF's "Unite for Children. Unite against AIDS" Campaign with Liam Neeson as well as a special “Thank You” message to Irish donors who supported UNICEF's Emergency Appeal following the Asian Tsunami in 2005.