Ireland says ‘Thank You For Caring’ as National Carers Week 2026 begins
More than 150 events nationwide will celebrate Ireland’s 600,000+ family carers during National Carers Week 2026 (June 8–14).
Carers Week 2026 launches today with a simple but powerful message: ‘Thank you for caring’.
Events will take place nationwide and online throughout the week, providing opportunities for family carers to connect, access information and support, take time for themselves and be recognised for the vital role they play in communities across Ireland.
Anne Marie Gillooley of Care Alliance Ireland said: “This year’s theme, ‘Thank you for caring’, is about recognising the extraordinary contribution family carers make every day across Ireland.
“Family carers provide care, support, love and advocacy for the people closest to them, often over many years and sometimes over a lifetime. Carers Week is an opportunity for all of us to pause, reflect on that contribution and say thank you.”
Organisers are encouraging people to think beyond words and consider how they can show appreciation through meaningful actions.
“Showing appreciation isn’t just about saying thank you. It’s about walking the walk,” said Ms Gillooley.
“For family and friends, that means checking in, listening and offering practical help. For employers, it means creating workplaces where carers feel supported and understood. For government, it means recognising the enormous contribution family carers make and ensuring they have access to the supports and services they need.”
To mark the launch of Carers Week, a video has been produced featuring people from across Ireland saying ‘Thank you for caring’ in a range of languages and communication formats, including Irish, Lámh, Irish Sign Language and assistive communication technology.
The video includes contributions from people connected to the care and disability community, alongside a number of well-known faces, and features a special contribution from the Dublin Gospel Choir.
“The video reflects the diversity of Ireland’s caring community and the many different ways people communicate, connect and care,” said Ms Gillooley. “We are deeply grateful to everyone who contributed their time, talents and voices to help share this message of appreciation.”
Recognising that many carers cannot leave home because of their caring responsibilities, Carers Week will also feature online events, competitions and activities throughout the week on the National Carers Week Facebook page and Instagram account.
More than 500 Carers Week care packs will also be distributed to family carers across the country.
Carers Week 2026 will also highlight the growing number of employees balancing work and caring responsibilities. Approximately one in nine employees is currently a family carer, and that number is expected to increase in the years ahead.
“Supporting family carers isn’t simply the right thing to do – it also makes good business sense,” said Ms Gillooley.
“The question for employers isn’t whether they employ family carers, as they almost certainly do; the question is whether those carers feel supported.”
Carers Week organisers are encouraging everyone to take a moment this week to think about the family carers in their lives and consider how they can show appreciation through meaningful actions.
“Thank-you matters,” said Ms Gillooley. “But what matters even more is what happens after we say it.”