The All Ireland Inspirational Life Award will:

• Highlight the campaign against ageism.
• Promote the rights of older people.
• Encourage the development of an all Ireland positive ageing and anti-ageism campaign and help strengthen links between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

The All Ireland Inspirational Life Award is sponsored by BT, The Irish Times, Vodafone and Tyrone Crystal.

Senator Mary White has been at the forefront of this all Ireland initiative in collaboration with Dame Joan Harbison, Older People's Advocate, Northern Ireland. Both Senator White and Dame Harbison are leaders in the campaign against ageism on the island of Ireland.

How will the Award work?

Awards will be presented in February, May and August 2010 followed by an Annual Event to recognise the achievements of all Award winners. The closing dates for nominations are 8th January, 30th April and 31st August 2010.

Award Categories

Awards will be presented in the following 3 categories:

• Category 1 A man or woman, aged 55 and over, who is an outstanding role model of an active and inspirational life in later years.
• Category 2 A man or woman who has provided inspirational leadership in engaging older people in leading active and fulfilling lives.
• Category 3An organisation in the private, community or public sector which has shown leadership to end discrimination on age grounds or taken initiatives to engage older people in leading active and fulfilling lives.

The Judging Panel

• Nickey Brennan, former President of the GAA
• Anne O'Reilly, Chief Executive Age Concern Help the Aged NI
• Catherine Rose, Chief Executive, Age & Opportunity
• Martin Donnellan, former Garda Assistant Commissioner
• Sir George Quigley, Chairman of Bombardier Aerospace
• Inez McCormack, Participation and the Practice of Rights in Northern Ireland
• Mary Nally, Chief Executive, Third Age Foundation
• Padraic White, Entrepreneur and former Managing Director of IDA Ireland
  

How to apply or nominate:

Nominations should be submitted by posting the application form or via www.irishtimes.com. Nominations should be accompanied by a summary of 500 words or less detailing the nominee's achievements, current activities and reasons why the individual or organisation deserves the recognition of The Inspirational Life Awards.

In Category 1, nominations are welcome for people, aged 55 or over at the date of nomination, who make an active and significant contribution to society, or to a particular cause or organisation with whom they are associated.
In Category 2 nominations are welcome for a person of any age who has supported and engaged with older people in an imaginative way.
A person may not nominate themselves, for either of these categories.
In Category 3 organisations in the public, private or community sectors, that have taken measures to address ageism may be nominated. An organization may self-nominate, but testimonials will be required from third parties.

Terms and Conditions

The All Ireland Inspirational Life Award in association with BT, The Irish Times, Vodafone and Tyrone Crystal. Closing dates for nominations are 8th January, 30th April and 31st August 2010.

1. Nominations can be made via the website www.irishtimes.com/events /inspirational or by using this application form.
2. To be eligible to nominate an individual or an organisation you must be a resident of the Island of Ireland and aged 18 or over.
3. Each individual can make one nomination.
4. Nominations for Category 1 must be for an individual who is aged 55 or over at the date of nomination. The individual should be someone whom you believe currently makes an active and significant contribution to society or to a cause or organisation with whom he/she is associated.
5. Nominations should be accompanied by 500 words or less detailing the nominee's achievements, current activities and reasons why the individual deserves the recognition of The Inspirational Life Awards.
6. An individual may not nominate him/herself.
7. An organisation may self-nominate but testimonials will be required from third parties.
8. Winners will be chosen by a judging panel and the decision of the panel will be final. No correspondence will be entered into. Nominees may be required to submit further details of their achievements (including references) as part of the judges' consideration of their nomination. This may include a site visit.
9. One prize will be awarded in each category. There is no runner up prize.
10. There is no alternative to the prize stated and the prize is not transferable.
11. Winners' names may be published on www.irishtimes.com and other media.
12. The Irish Times reserves the right to all publish nominations (including parts of entries) and publication does not necessarily mean the nominated person has won an award.
13. Nominators will retain copyright in their submitted entries. However, by entering, all nominators licence The Irish Times to edit, publish and use each entry in any and all media (including print and online) for publicity
14. and news purposes.
15. Prior to submitting details of an nominee, the consent of the nominee must be obtained for disclosure of name, location and contact details (including telephone number) to The Irish Times. The nominee should be advised of the purpose of the submission and that his/her name, location and details of their nomination may be published in The Irish Times or on irishtimes.com.
16. Employees of The Irish Times and their associated, affiliated or subsidiary companies, and their families, agents, or anyone connected with this competition, including the third party promotional partners, are automatically excluded.
17. Any breach of these rules by a nominator will void the nomination. Misrepresentative or fraudulent nominations will invalidate that nomination.
18. The Irish Times reserves the right at any time to cancel, modify or supersede the competition (including altering prizes) if, in their sole discretion, a competition is not capable for being conducted as specified.

• Criteria for judging entries:
• The judging panel will be looking for evidence of:
  • How nominees have lead by example.
  • How nominees have mobilised public opinion towards justice and rights for older people.
  • How nominees have countered ageism and age discrimination in the workplace or in the community.