Write a comment
A Rostrevor GP has been honoured at the 2026 Spirit of Northern Ireland Awards, picking up the Spirit of Health category for his work with a charity providing end of life care in the south Down area. Dr Henry McLaughlin was recognised for founding Life and Time, which now supports patients through a team of more than 70 nurses and 15 doctors.
Dr McLaughlin has worked as a GP in the Rostrevor and Warrenpoint areas for over 25 years, and it was during that time that he set up Life and Time, going on to serve as the charity's Medical Officer. Under his stewardship, the organisation has grown to provide palliative care to patients in their own homes across the south Down region.
Accepting his award, Dr McLaughlin was keen to stress that the success of Life and Time has been down to the commitment of all its volunteers, not just him, and to the support the work has received from the local community.
The awards, held in partnership with Ulster Bank, took place on Friday night, 18 September, at the Culloden Hotel, recognising some of Northern Ireland's most inspirational, unsung heroes. Along with Dr Henry, other winners on the night included a road safety campaigner from Derry, an RNLI volunteer from Bangor and a Belfast man who ran seven marathons in seven days to raise money for a mental health charity.
The event was attended by well known faces from the worlds of sport, television, film and music, some of whom helped present the awards. Guests included stars of the BBC drama Blue Lights, Bob Geldof and B*Witched, who also performed on the night.
Terry Robb, Head of Branch and Local Banking at title sponsor Ulster Bank, said the Spirit of Northern Ireland Awards had once again been a celebration of the people and organisations that make communities extraordinary. "Congratulations to all of this year's winners, including Dr McLaughlin and the Life & Time team. Your achievements and sense of community spirit are truly remarkable, and we have all come away from this event feeling inspired."
He added that it was a privilege to be part of the event each year. "It is a huge privilege to be part of such an uplifting event year on year and one we certainly don't take for granted. Events like the Spirit Awards are a great reminder of why connection and community matter so much and we want to take some of that same spirit on display at the awards into other areas of our working lives.
"Ultimately our goal is to help communities and businesses succeed, and the Spirit of Northern Ireland Awards continue to play a key role in this effort."
More information about the Life and Time charity is available at www.lifeandtimecare.org.
