Awards will give local heroes day in the sun
COUNTY WEXFORD'S PEOPLE OF THE YEAR ARE REVEALED
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Wednesday February 17 2010
WEXFORD'S unsung heroes will have their day in the sun on March 5 when the 2010 Rehab People of the Year Awards are presented.
Sponsored by People Newspapers and Wexford County Council, the People of the Year Awards is the premiere event in County Wexford and honours the selfless heroes of our communities. MC on the night will be RTE's Ronan Collins, inset.
This year's seven individual awards will be presented in a variety of categories ranging from leadership to community service, while scouting hero Steve Martin will be added to the Hall of Fame for his life long contribution to the scouting movement.
This year's recipients were announced on Thursday by Rehab's Hugh Maddock, who said each winner were 'well deserving' because of the 'fantastic work' they have done, and continue to do in their communities.
Each recipient was nominated by a member of the public, who provided a citation detailing the trojan work each winner has done for their respective organisations. This year's winners are: Achievement Award (sponsored by Bank of Scotland (Irl) Limited: Brian McKenna, for his contribution both to the Friends and Parents of the Severely Intellectually Disabled and Curracloe Soccer Club.
Humanitarian Award (sponsored by Wexford Farmers Co-operative): Andy and Joan Cloke, for their work with orphanages in Belarus.
Voluntary Group Award (sponsored by Riverside Park Hotel): Coast to Coast Group, for their mammoth fundraising for Wexford Breast Cancer and Wexford Hospice. Community Service Award (sponsored by County Wexford Community Forum): Seamus O'Keeffe for his life long contribution to parish activities in Kilmore, including the Kilmore Parish Journal. Ars and Culture Award (sponsored by John A. Sinnott Solicitors): Camross Drama Group, for their unstinting committment to the local community through their annual productions
Business and Enterprise Award (sponsored by Rehab People of the Year committee): the JFK Trust for maximising the Kennedy connection for the betterment of New Ross Leadership Award (sponsored by Property Team M.A. O'Leary): the late Emer Lovett. The first award ever to be presented posthumously, this recognises Emer's contribution to Wexford and Wexford Chamber. Hall of Fame Award (sponsored by Wexford County Council): Steve Martin for his contribution to scouting in Wexford and beyond over seven decades.
Each of the awards will be presented at a glittering ceremony in the Riverside Park Hotel on March 5.
At this event the overall County Wexford Person of the Year will be chosen from the individual category winners.
Speaking at the launch of the awards on Thursday night, David Tucker, representing People Newspapers, congratulated the category winners.
'This is the premiere event in the county, and probably in the region, to recognise people in their own communities. We, as a paper, would like to feel we are in touch with the people in these communities, and are glad to be associated with these awards,' he said.
