Carlow Nationalist
Tuesday, 22 November 2011
Enthusiasm, hard work and determination … these are the qualities that the Carlow Person of the Year Award winners have in bucketfuls.
Mount Wolseley Hotel was abuzz with positivity as Carlow’s greats were celebrated last Friday night. There were ten category winners, with everyone from sportsmen to educators.
The Nationalist editor, Conal O’Boyle welcomed the “good news story” and commended all the category winners.
“The Nationalist is really proud to have been involved in these awards from the beginning. Every now and again we need a good news story and this is what tonight is all about,” he added.
Now in its 13th year, the awards continue to dazzle and this year’s MC Anne Doyle was particularly vibrant throughout the evening.
“Looking around tonight, you all look fetching in the candlelight – you’d never think there is a recession,” she joked as she kick-started proceedings.
The first accolade of the night, the education award, went to Rathvilly native Elaine Jones, who established a primary school in India in 2008. The Celtic Cross Free Primary School now educates a phenomenal 145 young children, all thanks to this fantastic young woman.
Elaine spoke at length about her mission to educate the children in Purkait Gheri, a west Bengal village, adding that vocational training had just begun in the school and she hopes to install a water purification system as well.
Second up to the podium, to accept the communications award, was former Nationalist Managing Director Tom Geoghegan.
Tom has turned the personal tragedy of losing his youngest son Barry in 2006 into a community wide life-saving initiative.
Barry passed away from sudden cardiac arrest and since its inception the Barry Geoghegan Trust has donated 30 defibrillators and trained 300 people across County Carlow.
“Tragedy can happen so fast. People don’t realise that 18 people a day die from cardiac arrest – and two people under the age of 35. Our family got together, got stuck in and decided to do something. If it saves on life, that’s really what we’re happy about,” added Tom.
The sports award was won by John Coughlan, a name synonymous with soccer in the county. Despite an extensive list of accolades and achievements, John was quick to pay tribute to the people who have helped him throughout the years.
“No matter what sport you play or position you hold, it’s down to the volunteers for their support. I would like to give this honour to all the people who have helped me along the way. Nothing can be achieved unless you have all these people,” he added.
The Poor Clare Sisters were honoured next for their contribution to the community. While the sisters couldn’t be there in person, they were certainly there in spirit and were ably represented by Fr. John Manley.
Fr. Manley thanked “all who have given this award to the Poor Clares”.
“They greatly appreciate this. They receive it with open arms and love; it comes as a big, big surprise to them,” he added.
Winner of the entertainment category Richie Kavanagh certainly provided plenty of entertainment on the night, remembering fondly when radio stations “couldn’t focal play” his smash hit Aon Focal Eile.
“One Saturday, I was in the bed and I could hear it all over the focal house, then Nancy comes down to the room, all excited – Jesus, I thought I was right! It was playing on the radio, she said, then Gerry (Ryan) started playing it,” reminisced Richie.
Local hairdresser Connie Byrne Hyland was awarded the top honour in the arts and culture category, thanks to her ongoing work with the Pure Thinking Community Group.
Over the past four years, Connie has established photo exhibitions, short films and the Wall R Us project.
“It just rollercoasted into something so positive and I’m really proud of that,” said Connie.
“If you’re doing something good, it always seems to work out,” she added.
You couldn’t count on two hands the number of local organisations that have been touched by the good work of the volunteering category winner, Paul Lyons.
Local sports clubs and schools have all greatly benefited from his enthusiasm and support but Paul was humble in the extreme when collecting his award.
“All volunteers will say you get more than you give and I definitely do,” he added, while accepting his stunning glass vase.
The town of Tullow were out in force to support their very own Mgr Brendan Byrne, who won the social leadership award.
Mgr Byrne, parish priest in the town for 22 years commended the volunteers and committees throughout the area who work tirelessly on behalf of the community.
Social inclusion category winner Mary Austin declared she was “very humbled” by her win.
“I feel very humbled because I’m not a native of Carlow. I’m a blow-in, and a blow-in from Britain at that, so I feel all the more honoured,” she admitted, before adding that the award was “a group award”.
The final award of the night, the Hall of Fame, went to Fintan Phelan for his outstanding continued contribution to St. Laurence O’Toole Athletics Club.
Fintan, who is heavily involved in every facet of the club and has been for the past 30 years, jokingly admitted that his grandchildren have dubbed the club his “second home”.