Several charities across Dublin have shared in 15 grants totalling €1m.

They were part of Google's Impact Challenge fund - which saw five grants of €100,000 and 10 grants of €50,000 given to community initiatives.

Last month, 15 organisations were selected to receive €50,000 funding for their programmes.

While a panel of judges was then tasked with choosing four to have their funding doubled to €100,000 - with a fifth selected by an online public vote.

The five winners were announced at an event in Google on Thursday night.

The four organisations chosen by the panel were:

• A Lust for Life, a new, innovative platform to share creative mental health content
• Citywise Education, which provides educational support to young people in underserved communities
• Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, which removes barriers to accessing support for those who have experienced sexual violence
• SeniorLine, a peer-to-peer IT education and drop-in facility for older people

Down Syndrome Ireland, which helps adults with Down Syndrome to secure meaningful paid employment, won the 'People's Choice Award' in a close-run online poll - which saw a total of over 38,000 votes cast.

Pictured are winners of the 'People's Choice Award' Sile Maguire, Mark O'Doherty both from Down Syndrome Ireland, with Stuart McLaughlin, Google.org Senior Regional Manager, EMEA | Image: Shane O'Neill/SON Photographic

Fionnuala Meehan, head of Google Ireland, said: "We received over 150 entries from all corners of the county and from every imaginable community initiative, and it was really heartening to see so much energy and enthusiasm being invested into local and grassroots projects.

"Dublin has been very good to us in the last 15 years, so we have been very mindful of supporting local projects as much as possible, and the Google.org Impact Challenge Dublin is the latest in a long line of these endeavours.

"We're now looking forward to working with all of the winners and helping them use their funds in the best possible way to realise their goals."

Dublin's Lord Mayor Nial Ring, who was one of the judging panel, added: "It has been wonderful to be part of the judging panel and to have the opportunity to recognise just some of the voluntary organisations and social enterprises who are contributing to our city.

"We had a tough time selecting the groups to receive double the funding, but the five charities named today - including one chosen by the general public - represent some of the most pressing issues and underserved communities in Ireland".

Main image: Winners of the 'People's Choice Award' Sile Maguire, Mark O'Doherty both from Down Syndrome Ireland with Fionnuala Meehan, Head of Google Ireland | Image: Shane O'Neill/SON Photographic