'Truly honoured': Offaly man receives prestigious IACP Carl Berkeley Memorial Award
Tullamore's Séamus Sheedy was honoured with the award for outstanding contributions to the counselling and psychotherapy profession
The Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy has honoured Tullamore’s Séamus Sheedy, with the 2026 Carl Berkeley Memorial Award in recognition of his lifelong and transformative contributions to the organisation and the wider field of therapy in Ireland.
Séamus received the accolade at the annual awards ceremony which was held at the IACP’s 11th Annual Conference on April 18 at the Johnstown Estate, Co Meath.
The national prestigious Carl Berkeley Memorial Award recognises an accredited member of the IACP who has made exceptional contributions to the development of the counselling and psychotherapy profession by creating or influencing projects or development work at the local and/or national level.
A highly respected and influential ambassador for the IACP at regional, national, and international levels, Séamus Sheedy chaired the IACP Board of Directors from 2022 to 2024 and he also served as Cathaoirleach from 2012 to 2014.
Séamus also served as President of the European Association of Counselling. He is currently an Associate Lecturer in Addiction studies and Counselling at Athlone Institute of Technology.
Commenting after receiving the award, Séamus said: "I am truly honoured and humbled to accept this award on behalf of all IACP members who have generously given their time over the years, and with whom I have had the privilege of working in many different roles. I sincerely thank the Midlands Regional Committee for nominating me.
He continued: "The first word that comes to mind is ‘unbelievable’ - that I would receive the Carl Berkeley Memorial Award, having been involved in organising it on more than ten occasions. I feel elated, ecstatic, overjoyed, thrilled, and truly honoured.”
Séamus credited many extraordinary individuals throughout his journey who encouraged him including Carl Berkeley, his lecturer at Trinity College in 1999, who inspired him by saying, “You can make it happen” when Séamus questioned the lack of training opportunities outside Dublin.
Pictured (L-R): IACP CEO Lisa Molloy, award recipient Séamus Sheedy and IACP Cathaoirleach Jade Lawless
IACP Chief Executive Officer Lisa Molloy paid tribute to the work Séamus has done within the profession. "It has been a great privilege to work alongside Séamus for many years during his service as Cathaoirleach and on the Board of Directors. His positivity and generous spirit of volunteerism has left an impressive and impactful imprint across our organisation.
She added: "Séamus has been a highly active IACP member during his 26 years of membership. All who meet him are struck by his personable nature and warmth.
The IACP CEO concluded: "He has collaborated with many other professional bodies and agencies to further the standards of the profession and was part of establishing a Research Committee in IACP during 2012. As a member of the Board of Directors of IACP in 2009 Mr. Sheedy was involved in their first Strategic Plan. He has forged strong links internationally having represented IACP at every level in his role as Chairperson”.