A 94-year-old nun has been presented with an Oireachtas Human Dignity Award for her lifelong charity work.
Sr Catherine Lillis spent decades working as a missionary in countries including Burma, now Myanmar, Hong Kong and Egypt.
Closer to home, Sr Catherine founded Tabor House addiction treatment centre in Navan, Co Meath.
She still works as a director of Tabor House and helps with counselling, where she can.
Receiving the award, Sr Catherine praised the lifelong support from the Columban Sisters, with whom she worked as a missionary in what was then known as Burma.
She later established a rehabilitation hospital in Egypt for soldiers paralysed in the conflict with Israel.
Presenting the award, Ceann Comhairle Seán O'Fearghaíl said that work could not be more important in light of the current conflict in Gaza.
Sr Catherine said her main hope now was to build a facility for women at Tabor House, saying they had the site, but needed to fundraise for the house.
She said "the women were desperately in need of help".
Sr Catherine said it would be a wonderful Christmas present to be able to raise the funds.
The Human Dignity Award was established in 2016, and previous recipients include Barney Curley, founder of Direct Aid for Africa and Gina Heraty who has done extensive work in Haiti.
