Johnny and Corrina McAleese honoured for turning heartbreak into hope through Noah’s Story
Emmerdale stars, Lisa Riley (left) and Dominic Brunt (right) present Johnny and Corrina McAleese, Founders of Noah’s Story, with their Overcoming Adversity Award. Also pictured is Duvessa Cochrane (right) from category sponsor, A Aesthetics.
Wednesday 23 September 2026
Johnny and Corrina McAleese, the north Antrim couple who turned the devastating loss of their young son into a mission to help other bereaved families, have been honoured at the Spirit of Northern Ireland Awards.
The founders of Noah’s Story received the Overcoming Adversity Award in recognition of their fundraising and work to improve support for families experiencing the loss of a loved one.
Their charity was established following the death of their son Noah after a farm accident in 2022, with the couple subsequently dedicating themselves to creating a lasting legacy in his name.
A lasting legacy for Noah
Their efforts led to the opening of a specialist bereavement suite at Causeway Hospital in Coleraine in 2025, providing a dedicated space for families at one of the most difficult moments of their lives.
Named in Noah’s honour, the facility was described as the first of its kind, and Johnny and Corrina now hope their work can help bring similar dedicated bereavement facilities to hospitals across Northern Ireland.
The couple’s achievements were recognised on Friday, 18 September, when they received the Overcoming Adversity Award at the Spirit of Northern Ireland Awards, held in partnership with Ulster Bank at the Culloden Hotel.
Community spirit recognised
Terry Robb, Head of Branch and Local Banking at Ulster Bank, congratulated Johnny and Corrina and the other recipients recognised on the night.
“This year’s Spirit of Northern Ireland awards in partnership with Ulster Bank, have been another wonderful celebration of the people and organisations who make our communities extraordinary.
“Congratulations to all of this year’s winners, including Johnny and Corrina for their Overcoming Adversity award. Your achievements and sense of community spirit are truly remarkable, and we have all come away from this event feeling inspired.
“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 across Northern Ireland succeed, and the Spirit of Northern Ireland Awards continue to play a key role in this effort.”
Inspirational people celebrated
The awards recognise people from across Northern Ireland whose courage, community contribution and dedication have made a difference to others.
Other recipients this year included a mental health campaigner from Belfast, an RNLI volunteer from Bangor and a retired GP who provided palliative care services in south Down.
Famous faces from sport, television, film and music also attended, including stars of BBC drama Blue Lights, Bob Geldof and B*Witched, with the Irish pop group performing at the event.
For Johnny and Corrina, the award marks another milestone in a journey that began in unimaginable circumstances but has grown into practical support for other families. Their ambition now extends beyond Causeway Hospital, with the couple hoping Noah’s legacy can ultimately help improve bereavement care in hospitals throughout Northern Ireland.
