31 December 2015
By Bryan T. Smyth
bryan@TheCork.ie
On January 15 2016, at a Gala Awards Lunch at the Rochestown Park Hotel, the Cork Person or Persons of the Year will be announced.
The winner will be chosen from the Cork Persons of the Month selected over 2015. Some 250 guests will attend the awards lunch, representing all sectors of Cork society and once again, the award judges will be Tim Lucey, Chief Executive of Cork County and Ann Doherty, Chief Executive of Cork City. RTE’s Miriam O’Callaghan will be Master of Ceremonies at the event and other personalities attending the event will be announced shortly.
The Nominees for Cork Person of the Year are:
- January Angela Marshall, good neighbour who saved two of her neighbours lives.
- February John Looney, founder of Cork City Hospitals Children’s Club holidays.
- March Michael Lenihan, historian and archivist promoting Cork history and heritage.
- April Marty Morrissey, contribution to GAA sport and communities over the years.
- May Billa O’Connell & David McInerney, stars of golden age of Cork theatre over 60 years.
- June Veronica Stuart, promoting and continuing the craft of Irish traditional lace making.
- July Pat McMahon, established free children’s hospital and malnutrition centre in India.
- August Arthur Leahy & Kieran Rose, leadership role in Same Sex Marriage Equality Referendum.
- September Cillian O’Leary & Liam O’Leary, Father’s Over 60’s Talent win and Son’s Cork City Marathon win.
- October Moyra Woodworth, service for Autism and the Cork Assoc., for Autism over many years.
- November Peter O’Mahony, glittering rugby career with Munster & Ireland.
- December Mary White, promoting Cork Ladies Football Team’s record achievements.
”This is the 23rd year of these awards and as the nominees are so diverse and from different sectors, this is the only such scheme in Ireland but it makes it very difficult for the award judges” said awards organiser Manus O’Callaghan.
This year, say the organisers, any of the nominees could be chosen as Cork Person of the Year, so it’s impossible to predict the winner.
”The history of these awards contains many inspiring stories of local heroes, ordinary people doing extraordinary things for the benefit of their communities, their neighbourhoods and their society as a whole” said President Michael D. Higgins recently.
