2021 Presidential Distinguished Service Awards (PDSA)

Presidential Distinguished Service Awards 2021 – Now open for nominations

The nomination process for the 2021 Presidential Distinguished Service Award for the Irish Abroad (PDSA) is currently open and will close on Friday, 6 August 2021.

This Award was established by the Government in 2012, to provide a system of State recognition for those living abroad.  There are six categories under which individuals can be nominated:

• Irish Community Support
• Arts, Culture and Sport
• Charitable Works
• Business and Education
• Peace, Reconciliation and Development
• Science, Technology and Innovation (additional category introduced in 2016)

In order to be eligible for consideration, nominees must be habitually resident outside the island of Ireland and able to satisfy the following additional requirements:

(i)    have rendered distinguished service to the nation and/or its reputation abroad;

(ii)   have actively and demonstrably contributed to Ireland and/or its international reputation and/or Irish communities abroad in at least one of the categories listed above;

(iii)  have a track record of sustained support and engagement with Ireland and/or its international reputation and/or Irish communities abroad over a period of not less than 5 year or have made a sustained and distinguished service on a global or international issue of importance.  

Nominations can be made by any member of the public, but are submitted through the Embassy of Ireland in the country of residence of the nominee. If you know someone who meets the criteria above, please complete the 2021 Nomination Form and forward it to the relevant Embassy for the country the nominee is resident in before Friday, 6 August 2021.   

Further details on eligibility and the nomination process are available here, together with details of previous recipients of this Award.  

Over the last 9 years, 97 remarkable recipients have received the Award.  We want to ensure that the Award continues to attract worthy nominees and would therefore appreciate your assistance in publicising this Award through your networks and social media channels, and would encourage you to consider nominating eligible candidates.