Airport staff raise a record €54,000 for charity partners

Ireland West Airport staff were delighted this week to present a cheque for a record €54,000 to the airport’s six staff-nominated charities for 2025. These charities are Connacht SBHI Branch (Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus), Dillon Quirke Foundation, Mayo Roscommon Hospice, Order of Malta (Knock Branch), The National Breast Cancer Research Institute, and Western Alzheimers. Each charity received a cheque worth €9,000. Airport employees selected them as part of the company’s Charities of the Year programme for 2025.

Over the course of the year, several events took place with Ireland West Airport employees getting involved to support the six charities. The most successful fundraiser in 2025 was the annual Portwest 5km Runway Run. It saw over 1,300 people take to the airport’s runway in September.

The other major fundraiser in November was an Online Bingo Night, which was a huge success. There was also a bumper online charity draw held in August. There was a strong public response. The three fundraisers, combined, raised almost €40,000 for the six charities.

For the first time in 2025, all funds raised from the recycling of plastic bottles deposited by customers and staff at the airport under the Re-turn scheme exceeded €5,000. This went towards the overall amount raised for the charities. Furthermore, all donations left in the charity boxes at various airport locations by passengers and customers throughout the year contributed. These donations helped reach a record amount raised for the six charities in 2025.

Speaking at the cheque presentation, Joe Gilmore, Managing Director, Ireland West Airport, said, “Our annual charity programme is a cornerstone initiative for the airport, and we’re proud to support it each year. I’m pleased to share that 2025 has been our strongest fundraising year yet. We were thrilled to present a cheque for €54,000 in support of the vital work these charities deliver—our highest total since launching the initiative eight years ago. This achievement reflects the ongoing dedication of our staff, who consistently go above and beyond to raise meaningful funds. We’re equally grateful to the many passengers who have contributed so generously while travelling through the airport. We’re confident these donations will have a real impact. They will provide valuable support for the incredible work these organisations carry out in the communities they serve.”

Every year, Ireland West Airport employees vote for their charities as part of the Charities of the Year Programme. The Charities of the year for 2026 will be announced early next year