Sporting stars and broadcasting legends have appeared alongside inspirational members of our local community in the New Year Honours List for 2025.
BBC Radio Ulster broadcaster Hugo Duncan, Olympic hero Hannah Scott, and former international football captain Marissa Callaghan are among those from Northern Ireland recognised in the list, with all three being made MBEs.
There are also honours for jazz musician Linley Hamilton and Co Fermanagh victims’ advocate Eric Brown, both of whom also become Members of the Order of the British Empire.
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Charity fundraiser Ivan Black, who has raised more than £700,000 for cancer groups, has also been made an MBE, as has two-time Paralympian in the sport of boccia, Claire Taggart.
Michael Bloomfield, the chief executive of the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service, has been made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).
Full list of those from Northern Ireland named in the 2025 New Year Honours list:
Belfast
Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE):
Professor Hugh Henry Patterson. Professor Emeritus of Politics, Ulster University. For services to Education and to Peacebuilding in Northern Ireland. (Belfast)
Deirdre Anne Webb. Lately Assistant Director of Nursing for Healthcare. For services to Women, Children and Families in Northern Ireland. (Belfast)
Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE):
Katherine Beggs. Northern Ireland Director, National Lottery Community Fund. For services to Public and Community Services in Northern Ireland. (Belfast)
Niall McKenna. Chef and Owner, James St and Waterman House. For services to Hospitality and to Tourism, and to Local Food and Drink Producers in Northern Ireland. (Belfast)
Anthony John Adam McNally. Detective Chief Superintendent, Police Service of Northern Ireland. For Public Service. (Belfast)
Medallists of the Order of the British Empire (BEM):
Kathy Loughridge. Fundraiser, Marie Curie. For services to Marie Curie in Northern Ireland. (Belfast)
Siobhan Marie McElnea. Probation Officer and Victim Liaison Officer, Probation Board for Northern Ireland. For services to Victims of Crime and to the Criminal Justice System. (Belfast)
Lesley Caron Rutherford. Nurse Consultant, Marie Curie, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust and Queen’s University Belfast. For services to Palliative Care Patients. (Belfast)
Co Antrim
Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE):
Professor Diana Sharman Mary Fitzsimons. For services to Housing, to a Shared Future and to Sustainable Communities in Northern Ireland. (Newtownabbey, County Antrim)
Julian John Halligan. Senior Scientific Officer, Forensic Science Northern Ireland. For services to Justice and to Forensic Science. (Ballyclare, County Antrim)
Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE):
Former Northern Ireland captain Marissa Callaghan
(Image: PA Archive/PA Images)
Marissa James Callaghan. Footballer. For services to Association Football and to the community in Northern Ireland. (Belfast, County Antrim)
Dr Gary Craig. Inspector, Police Service for Northern Ireland. For Public and Charitable Service. (Belfast, County Antrim)
Fiona Mary Patricia Kane. Director, Vice-Chancellor’s Office, Ulster University. For Public Service in Northern Ireland. (Larne, County Antrim)
Professor Francis Paul Keenan. Professor, School of Mathematics and Physics, Queen’s University Belfast. For services to Higher Education. (Carrickfergus, County Antrim)
Patrick McLaughlin. Coxswain, Red Bay Lifeboat Station and Trustee, Royal National Lifeboat Institution. For voluntary services to Maritime Safety. (Ballymena, County Antrim)
Kerrie Jean Sweeney. Chief Executive, Maritime Belfast Trust. For services to Maritime Heritage and to Tourism in Northern Ireland. (Antrim, County Antrim)
Claire Taggart. For services to Boccia. (Larne, County Antrim)
Medallists of the Order of the British Empire (BEM):
Arthur Alexander Stewart Barbour. Volunteer Fundraiser, Cancer Focus NI. For Charitable Services. (Lisburn, County Antrim)
David John Brew. For services to Older People and to Disabled People in Northern Ireland. (Lisburn, County Antrim)
Robert James Elliott. Lately School Crossing Patrol, Education Authority for Northern Ireland. For services to Education and to the community in County Antrim. (Antrim, County Antrim)
Samuel David Ferguson. President, Chair of the Board, Abbey Credit Union. For services to the community of Newtownabbey, County Antrim. (Carrickfergus, County Antrim)
Eileen Lorraine Gibson. Nurse, Social Worker and Area Manager, Northern Health and Social Care Trust. For services to Older People with Dementia and Adults with Learning Disabilities in County Antrim. (Carrickfergus, County Antrim)
Alexander Gordon Lindsay. For services to Education in Lisburn, County Antrim. (Lisburn, County Antrim)
Sandra McConnell. For services to Mental Health and to Young People with Learning Disabilities. (Lisburn, County Antrim)
Mary Catherine McCoy. Clinical Services Manager, Emergency Medicine Antrim Area Hospital Northern Health and Social Services Trust. For voluntary services to Tackling Homelessness in Belfast. (Newtownabbey, County Antrim)
Doreen Edna Mary Courtney Pitts. For services to the Girls Brigade and to the community in County Antrim. (Ballyclare, County Antrim)
Co Fermanagh
Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE):
Janice Louise Allen. Principal, Fivemiletown College. For services to Education in Northern Ireland. (Enniskillen, County Fermanagh)
Eric James Alexander Brown. Chair, South East Fermanagh Foundation (SEFF). For services to the community in County Fermanagh. (Enniskillen, County Fermanagh)
Winston Glass. Principal, Enniskillen Model Primary School. For services to Education in Northern Ireland. (Enniskillen, County Fermanagh)
Eric Brown has been made MBE n the New Year Honours list for services to the community in Co Fermanagh
(Image: Eric Brown/PA Wire)
Medallists of the Order of the British Empire (BEM):
Nathan William Chambers. Emergency Response Volunteer, Enniskillen, British Red Cross. For voluntary service to the Red Cross. (Enniskillen, County Fermanagh)
Co Armagh
Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE):
Gerard Gribbon. For services to the community in Armagh. (Armagh, County Armagh)
David Martin. Chair of Friends of Brownlow House. For voluntary services to the community in Lurgan, Northern Ireland. (Craigavon, County Armagh)
Arthur Hugh Anthony O’Hagan. For services to the community in Armagh. (Armagh, County Armagh)
Dr Stephen Eric Reaney. General Practitioner. For voluntary service to the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service. (Armagh, County Armagh)
Medallists of the Order of the British Empire (BEM):
Sarah Kelly. Unit Catering Supervisor, Education Authority Northern Ireland. For services to Education Catering in the Primary School Sector in Northern Ireland. (Craigavon, County Armagh)
Martin Carter McCullough. For services to Junior and Para Archery in Northern Ireland. (Newry, County Armagh)
Co Down
Commanders of the Order of the British Empire (CBE):
Sharon Philomena Smyth. Chief Executive, Construction Procurement Delivery, Northern Ireland Civil Service. For services to Procurement. (Newtownards, County Down)
Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE):
Michael Bloomfield. Chief Executive, Northern Ireland Ambulance Service. For services to Health and Social Care. (Bangor, County Down)
Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE):
Lorraine Finlay. Principal Officer, Head, Area Planning, Department of Education, Northern Ireland Civil Service. For services to Education. (Bangor, County Down)
Joanne Marie Fitzpatrick. Core Programming and Curriculum Specialist, PeacePlayers. For services to Peace, Reconciliation and Sport in the community in Northern Ireland. (Castlewellan, County Down)
Dr Linley Patrick Hamilton. For services to the Music Industry in Northern Ireland. (Dromore, County Down)
Charles Han. Lately International Liaison Manager, Home Office. For services to Border Security. (Downpatrick, County Down)
Ashley Irwin Hayes. Prison Governor, Hydebank Wood Secure College and Women’s Prison, Northern Ireland Prison Service. For Public Service. (Belfast, County Down)
George John Lucas. For services to Tennis and to Sports Management and Administration in Northern Ireland. (Hillsborough, County Down)
Thomas Seamus McCabe. For voluntary service to the community in Newry, Mourne and Down, Northern Ireland. (Newry, County Down)
Jonathan William McDowell. Founder, Indie Fude. For services to the Food and Drink Industry in Northern Ireland. (Belfast, County Down)
Medallists of the Order of the British Empire (BEM):
Kathy Maureen Finlay. Staff Officer, Claims Manager, Roads Claims Unit, Department for Infrastructure, Northern Ireland Civil Service. For Public Service. (Newtownards, County Down)
Sarah Elizabeth Johnston (Sally Johnston). Lately Principal’s Personal Assistant, Banbridge Academy. For services to Education and to the community in County Down. (Newry, County Down)
Paula Klein. For services to Young People in Classical Music in Northern Ireland. (Bangor, County Down)
Roberta Ruth Quinn. Catering Manager, Youth Justice Agency. For services to the Youth Justice System. (Newtownards, County Down)
Sarah-Louise Taggart. Scout Leader. For services to Scouting and to the community in Downpatrick. (Downpatrick, County Down)
Co Derry
Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE):
Deirdra Gabrielle Conaghan. For services to Theatre and to Education for Adults with Learning Disabilities. (Londonderry, County Londonderry)
Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE):
Margaret Elizabeth Deirdre Amor. For services to the community in Northern Ireland. (Londonderry, County Londonderry)
Catherine Mary Clifford. Director, Rural Community Network. For services to Rural Communities and to Peace Building in Northern Ireland. (Maghera, County Londonderry)
Neil Doherty. For services to the community in County Londonderry. (Londonderry, County Londonderry)
Roisin Bernadette Flynn. For services to People affected by Dementia in the Western Health and Social Care Trust Area. (Londonderry, County Londonderry)
Hannah Elizabeth Scott. For services to Rowing. (Coleraine, County Londonderry)
Medallists of the Order of the British Empire (BEM):
Rachel Ann Forbes. For services to NHS Primary Care in Northern Ireland. (Londonderry, County Londonderry)
Right Reverend Monsignor Bryan McCanny. Parish Priest. For services to the community in Limavady, County Londonderry. (Limavady, County Londonderry)
Roberta Violet Phillips. Chair, Maghera Cancer Research Committee. For Charitable Services. (Maghera, County Londonderry)
William John Norman Somerville. For services to the community of Limavady, County Londonderry. (Limavady, County Londonderry)
Mervyn Thompson. Director, Parkrun Portrush. For services to the community in Portrush, County Antrim. (Coleraine, County Londonderry)
Co Tyrone
Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE):
Roger Ian Wilson. Chief Executive, Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council. For Public Service in Northern Ireland. (Cookstown, County Tyrone)
Ivan Black, who has been made been made an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in the New Year Honours list for services to Charitable Fundraising in Northern Ireland, pictured at his home outside Strabane.
(Image: Liam McBurney/PA)
Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE):
William Ivan Black. For services to Charitable Fundraising in Northern Ireland. (Strabane, County Tyrone)
George Alan Craig Bradshaw. For services to Education in Northern Ireland. (Omagh , County Tyrone)
Henry Gabriel Dolan. For services to the Economy and to the community in Strabane, County Tyrone. (Strabane, County Tyrone)
Hugh Anthony Duncan. For services to Entertainment and to the community in Northern Ireland. (Strabane, County Tyrone)
Susan Helen Gibson. Vice-Principal, Omagh High School. For services to Education in Northern Ireland. (Omagh, County Tyrone)
Robert James McKelvey. For services to Castlederg Credit Union and to the community in County Tyrone. (Castlederg, County Tyrone)
William James Primrose. For services to Small Businesses in Northern Ireland. (Fivemiletown, County Tyrone)
Gareth Sayers. For services to Business and to the Economy in County Tyrone. (Castlederg, County Tyrone)
David Lorimer Thompson. For services to Education and to the community in County Tyrone. (Dungannon, County Tyrone)
Medallists of the Order of the British Empire (BEM):
Annie Dolores Elizabeth Crowe. Founder and Manager, First Steps Children Centre, Castlederg. For services to Childcare in County Tyrone. (Castlederg, County Tyrone)
Robert David Kirkland. For services to the Music Industry in Northern Ireland. (Dungannon, County Tyrone)
Thomas William Neill. For services to Local Rugby in Northern Ireland. (Omagh, County Tyrone)
Colin Andrew Small. For services to the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award in County Tyrone. (Omagh, County Tyrone)
Carol Ann Sproule. For services to Nursing and to the community in County Tyrone. (Castlederg, County Tyrone)
King’s Police Medal (KPM)
Temporary Assistant Chief Constable Melanie Jones pictured at PSNI Headquarters in August 2024
(Image: PressEye)
Samuel Donaldson. Chief Superintendent, Police Service of Northern Ireland.
Melanie Jones. Temporary Assistant Chief Constable, Police Service of Northern Ireland.
Jeremy Lindsay. Chief Superintendent, Police Service of Northern Ireland.
Further NI mentions
Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE):
James Douglas Garrett. Lately Chair, Northern Ireland Policing Board. For Public Service. (Halifax, West Yorkshire)
Keith Surtees. Senior Investigating Officer, Operation Kenova, Police Service for Northern Ireland. For Public Service. (London, Greater London)
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