Emergency Charity CRITICALShortlisted for Three Ireland Blue Light Awards
Charity CRITICAL has been shortlisted in three categories at the inaugural Ireland Blue Light Awards 2026, including two Donegal-based volunteer doctors.
Emergency medical response charity CRITICAL has been shortlisted in three categories at the inaugural Ireland Blue Light Awards 2026, with two of its volunteer doctors also up for individual honours.
The Limerick-headquartered charity's mission is to save lives through its growing network of volunteer emergency medical responders. It has more than 300 responders active across Ireland who are alerted to life-threatening emergencies by the National Ambulance Service.
CRITICAL has been named a finalist in the Blue Light Voluntary Service of the Year category. Two of the charity's volunteers have also been shortlisted for individual awards: Dr Gerry Lane is a finalist in the Most Influential Blue Light Person of the Year category, and Dr Jack Collins has been shortlisted for Blue Light Unsung Hero.
Dr Lane is a retired Emergency Medicine Consultant with nearly 40 years of experience in emergency care. Dr Collins is a Consultant Anaesthesiologist. Both are based in Donegal and have emergency response vehicles fitted with specialist medical equipment provided by CRITICAL. They are alerted to the sickest and most seriously injured patients and have responded to more than 100 emergencies during the first six months of this year.
David Tighe, CEO of CRITICAL:
"We are honoured to be shortlisted in the inaugural Ireland Blue Light Awards. This is a tribute to all of our volunteers right across the country who give their time and expertise, helping people at some of the worst moments of their lives. Often they're leaving their homes in the middle of the night or after a long day at work to attend a life-threatening emergency in their local area. We are extremely proud of our volunteers and the impact they make in their communities every day. To be recognised in three categories, including individual nominations for Dr Gerry Lane and Dr Jack Collins is a testament to all of our volunteers' hard work and dedication."
The Ireland Blue Light Awards are open to members of An Garda Síochána, the National Ambulance Service, Fire Services, the Irish Coast Guard, RNLI, Mountain Rescue, the Defence Forces and other emergency response or frontline organisations, both voluntary and statutory. The awards honour excellence, innovation and service across a range of categories.
Winners will be revealed at a gala ceremony at the Clayton Hotel Burlington Road, Dublin, on Saturday 15 August 2026.
CRITICAL's volunteers include doctors and consultants equipped with emergency response vehicles and high-tech equipment, Community First Responder groups in Cork, Clare, Limerick, Tipperary, Dublin and Kilkenny, as well as off-duty paramedics and emergency medical technicians.
To learn more about CRITICAL's work, support its volunteer responders, or make a donation, visit criticalcharity.ie.
