Paul O’Connell is the 2009 Limerick Person of the Year Posted on January 21st, 2010
Limerick legend, Munster Rugby captain and Irish Grand Slam winner Paul O’Connell has been announced as the 2009 Limerick Person of the Year.
The announcement was made today, Thursday, January 21st, at a special awards lunch in the Clarion Hotel, Limerick.
The 30 year old former British and Irish Lions captain beat off stiff competition from other nominees which included activist Steve Collins, champion jockey Brian O’Connell, fundraiser Julie-Anne Dineen and Third World photographer Liam Burke.
Paul’s proud father, Mick O’Connell accepted the award from guest of honour President of Ireland, Mary McAleese as Paul was unable to attend the ceremony because of Munster training in Cork ahead of the Munster v Northampton Saints match tomorrow night in Thomond Park Stadium.
One of the best second rows in the world, Paul O’Connell is one of the first names on an Ireland teamsheet such is the quality he possesses, both in a playing and leadership sense. During his career to date he has helped Ireland win three Triple Crowns and capture the 2009 Grand Slam. He was the first Limerick captain of a Lions touring squad and has won the Heineken Cup twice with Munster.
“It’s a very great honour to accept this on behalf of Paul,” said Mick O’Connell. “Paul is always very honoured to represent Limerick whether it’s Munster, Ireland or the Lions, he loves the city. He’s extremely sorry he can’t be here today” Mr O’Connell added.
Speaking at the awards, President McAleese said this afternoon’s celebration is about highlighting the very best of Limerick and the very best of Limerick is, of course, its people.
President McAleese added: “They are each a source of pride, inspiration and confidence to their local communities and they make an immense contribution to the civic spirit of Limerick city and county. They are people who tackle challenges head-on, people who are leaders, who inspire others and who make Limerick a better place to work or study or live. Their lives create the warp and weft of community, making it strong, resilient ambitious and achieving. They make us proud and it is right that we should tell them, as we do today through these awards”.
A special Judges Award was presented to Steve Collins, father of murder victim, Roy Collins by Mayor of Limerick, Cllr Kevin Kiely.
Steve Collins organised a protest march in the city last May not alone in memory of Roy, but in memory of all victims of gang-related violence. More than 5,000 Limerick people wore red as a symbol of their solidarity with the Collins family that day.
Now in its 12th year, the Limerick Person of the Year Awards were set up to honour the achievements and success of local people.
A dozen high achievers in sport, business, music and voluntary work were in line for the prestigious 2009 award.
The awards are sponsored by the Limerick Leader, Southern Advertising and the Clarion Hotel.
The nominees for the Limerick Person of the Year Award 2009 are the 12 winners of the Limerick Person of the Month awards featured in the Limerick Leader newspaper. They were:
- Brother Mark Patrick Hederman, Glenstal Abbey
- Julie-Anne Dineen, Breast Cancer Survivor and Fundraiser
- Brian O’Connell, Champion Jockey
- Paul O’Connell, Lions, Ireland and Munster rugby star
- Steve Collins, Father of murder victim and Activist
- Tom Wall, Abuse Survivor and campaigner
- Nastasia Vashko, Young Theatre Star
- Brian O’Shea, Charity cycling enthusiast
- Kathleen Turner, Irish Chamber Orchestra regeneration project
- Liam Burke, Concern Photographer
- Tommy Dillon, Founder Southill Powerlifting Club
- Amy Downes, Brave and Couragous 11 year old
Limerick Leader Editor and judge Alan English said the 144 nominees for the Limerick Person of the Year Award over the last 12 years have inspired so many others to follow their example.
“These Awards are about recognising their remarkable achievements and celebrating their success,” he said. “Once again this year, they are all a credit to our city and county and I’m particularly proud of what Paul O’Connell has achieved.This year, there was a compelling case for a Special Judges Award and I’m sure that the people of Limerick will agree wholeheartedly that Steve Collins is an absolutely deserving and fitting winner.”
Southern Advertising Director, Kay McGuinness, added: ”Now, more than ever in these difficult times, we need to take time out to honour these accomplishments. We’re often so busy talking about what’s wrong, it’s important to recognise the good work that is being carried out by so many wonderful people in Limerick and Paul and Steve are both worthy winners here today.”
Previous winners of the prestigious Limerick Person of the Year award include Professor Paul Finucane from the University of Limerick Graduate Medical School, Munster and Ireland rugby player Anthony Foley, transatlantic rower Paul Gleeson and Thomond Park Stadium developer Pat Whelan.
The Awards were judged by Alan English, Limerick Leader editor;Tom Mackey, Limerick City Manager and Ned Gleeson, Limerick County Manager
A short biography of each of the 12 finalists is below.
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For further information, please contact:
Laura Ryan
Communications Executive
Limerick Co-Ordination Office
50 O’Connell Street
Limerick
t: 00353 (0)61 400010
f: 00353 (0)61 400355
m: 00353 (0)86 6042544
e: lauraryan@limerickoffice.ie
w: www.limerickcoordination.ie
THE 12 NOMINEES FOR LIMERICK PERSON OF THE YEAR 2009
JANUARY: BR MARK PATRICK HEDERMAN
Br Mark Patrick Hederman, became the fifth Abbot of Glenstal following an abbatial blessing in the abbey church on New Year’s Day. His appointment made him the oldest abbot to ever be elected to Glenstal Abbey, or, as he puts it himself he was “in extra time” and had “been around the block a few times”.
Br Hederman says his new post is not about having plans for the abbey but about coordinating the huge number of talented people who are already there.
Br Hederman holds the distinction of being both a former pupil and headmaster of the school.
He is also a prolific writer, having published eight books in the last few years.
While the Person of the Month award was presented to Br Hederman in recognition of his work at Glenstal Abbey, he was keen to point out that the successes of the college stems from the wider community.
FEBRUARY: JULIE-ANNE DINEEN
Julie-Anne became the Person of the Month in February for her fundraising efforts in aid of people affected by breast cancer.
Both herself and her husband Dave have held a wide variety of events in the Limerick area all in aid of the symptomatic breast cancer care unit in the Mid-West Regional Hospital. The couple have been blown away by the support for the various fundraising efforts which to date has raised at least €70,000.
Julie-Anne, a mother of two boys - Sean and Matthew - went on to record the charity single, Do You Believe which defied expectation and soared to the top of the charts, a day after her second course of chemotherapy for breast cancer. Her aim was to show other women there is life after the disease.
Julie-Anne was admirably unwilling to accept the award personally, instead accepting it on behalf of David, all of those who supported the fundraising efforts, but particularly all of those people who have been touched by cancer.
MARCH: BRIAN O’CONNELL
BOHER native Brian O’Connell was named the Limerick Person of the Month in March after romping to victory in two Champion Bumpers during the Cheltenham and Punchestown racing festivals.
The Cheltenham win was extra special for the young jockey as not alone was it his first time racing in Cheltenham - it was his first time ever at the festival.
Known in racing circles at BT O’Connell, Brian grew up steeped in horsing tradition. With his father Val being a well-known former jockey and now a Turf Club racing official, forging a career in the horse industry was a natural choice for Brian. From a very young age he hunted with the renowned Scarteen Foxhounds, riding and winning numerous hunter trails throughout the country.
Like fellow jockey Andrew McNamara, he is a former student of Crescent College in Limerick. He lists jockeys Richard Dunwoody, Tony McCoy and Ruby Walsh as the standard bearers.
APRIL: PAUL O’CONNELL
LIMERICK legend, Munster captain, and Irish Grand Slam winner, Paul O’Connell was named the Limerick Person of the Month in April in recognition of being the first Limerick captain of a Lions touring squad.
During his career to date Paul has helped Ireland to three Triple Crowns, occasionally stepping in as skipper. He was the bedrock of the team that this year won their first Grand Slam since 1948, and he has won the Heineken Cup twice with Munster, captaining them to their 2008 success.
Paul said that captaining the Lions squad in South Africa was not only an honour for him but for his club Young Munster and Munster too. One of the best second rows in the world, Paul O’Connell is one of the first names on an Ireland teamsheet such is quality he possesses, both in a playing and leadership sense.
MAY: STEVE COLLINS
STEVE Collins, whose son Roy was shot dead in the city in April, was named the Limerick Person of the Month in May in recognition of the bravery he has shown in standing up to gangland violence.
In May, more than 5,000 people wore red as a symbol of their solidarity with the Collins family, who lost their beloved Roy on Holy Thursday when he was gunned down in what is believed to be a revenge attack against his family.
Taking place a mere four weeks after Roy’s death, the organisation of the rally meant that the family’s own grieving process was put on hold for a time. It’s only now, according to Steve, that the magnitude of Roy’s loss is hitting home.
Steve has been a leading figure behind the new laws targetted at gangland crime in Limerick and across the country.
JUNE: TOM WALL
TOM Wall, a survivor of horrific abuse at the hands of the Christian Brothers for 13 years at Glin Industrial School, was named the Limerick Person of the Month in June for his courage in speaking out against the conspiracy of secrecy that shrouded the west Limerick institution for so long.
Mr Wall was sent to Glin as a three-year-old and kept there until he was 16. During that time, he, along with hundreds more young boys, endured abuse, physical and sexual, at the hands of men entrusted with their care.
For Tom, the award is not about him, it is about all those other boys who have struggled to find a voice to speak openly of their experiences.
In June, Tom was one of approximately 200 other survivors of child abuse who were invited to Aras an Uachtarain as a guest of President Mary McAleese.
For Tom, and for the other survivors, the President’s initiative was a further public recognition of the horror they endured while in institutional care.
JULY: NASTASIA VASHKO
ANNACOTTY schoolgirl Nastasia Vashko, who took audiences in Dublin and Cork by storm in her acclaimed role as child orphan Annie, was the Limerick Person of the Month recipient for July.
The 11-year-old was chosen from 1,500 children across the country who auditioned for the role as part of a nationwide search to find the perfect Annie.
A sixth class pupil at St Philomena’s Preparatory School on South Circular Road, Nastasia starred in 25 shows at the Olympia Theatre in Dublin and Cork Opera House to wide acclaim.
Nastasia puts her success down to the training she has received at the Expressive Arts school, which is based at Villiers School under the guidance of May O’Halloran and Pearl Kiely.
AUGUST: BRIAN O’SHEA
LIMERICK man Brian O’Shea who cycled across Africa - from Ethiopia in the north to Johannesburg in South Africa - in aid of charity was awarded the Limerick Leader Person of the Month award for August.
Brian who is from Monaleen, accepted the award on behalf of a group of friends who undertook the marathon challenge with him.
The 8,000 kilometre cycle, over four and a half months, concluded in Cape Town in October.
The group had been planning the courageous trip for up to four months prior to departure, after learning of other cycling trips from Alaska to South America.
To date, around €30,000 has been raised for charities in Limerick and Africa.
SEPTEMBER: KATHLEEN TURNER
IN recognition of her work with children in the heart of Limerick’s designated regeneration areas, Kathleen Turner, education officer with the Irish Chamber Orchestra, was named the Limerick Person of the Month in September.
Thanks to Kathleen’s initiative, children who would not otherwise have been granted the opportunity, have written their own songs, learned to play a new instrument and performed with a professional orchestra.
Exploring concepts such as innovation, creativity and inspiration, hundreds of children are building their confidence, self-esteem and communication skills.
For this adopted Limerick woman, music is not just about hitting the right note or getting a standing ovation for a fine performance. It’s about developing a child’s self-esteem, their personal confidence and their ability to communicate.
OCTOBER: LIAM BURKE
PHOTOGRAPHER Liam Burke, who has travelled abroad with the Third World relief agency, Concern, on up to 40 occasions and whose images have tugged at the heart strings of millions of people around the world received the Limerick Person of the Month award for October.
Over his various trips abroad, Liam has sent home images of hunger, poverty and hard times.
An image of his, taken in 1989 was used by Concern to raise awareness of Ethiopian famine and helped raise over £1m. In November, his work with Concern saw him recognised in the prestigious Ireland Involved Awards at the Royal Hospital in Kilmainham.
He won the international development category. Over a 20-year duration, Liam has completed between 35 and 40 trips, mostly to Africa, Asia and Haiti.
Liam founded the photographic agency Press 22 in 1984.
In recent months, Liam has experienced his own hard times. In March he was diagnosed with a tumour on his brain and was given seven months to live. He finished his chemotherapy on September 4. As he says himself, he is thankful to be “above ground”. Liam’s life motto comes from the one person who guided him through his Concern experience over the last 20 years, the late Fr Aengus Finucane.
“Do as much as you can, for as many as you can, for as long as you can.”
NOVEMBER : TOMMY DILLON
THE founder of Southill Powerlifting Club who has inspired hundreds of young men in his local area to channel their energies into the sport, Tommy Dillon was named Limerick Person of the Month for November.
Since the club was founded in Tommy Dillon’s garage in 1985, its members have been responsible for breaking world records in at least one weight or age division on an almost annual basis.
Mr Dillon spent his early years in Weston, but moved to Southill 40 years ago when the estate was built. To date the club has secured countless medals, trophies and accolades for its efforts. Members have won world championships, European championships and Munster and Irish championships. The club has 40 members. The number could reach 60 in peak season. Members range from 16 and upwards.
On a personal level Tommy won the Mr Ireland title in 1975 and 1976. He has nine World Championships in powerlifting and bench pressing to his name. He has broken 40 world records.
While his day job consisted of working in Todds as a Waterford Glass packer for about 25 years before moving on to work in the hotel business, powerlifting and weight training has always been Tommy’s passion.
DECEMBER : AMY DOWNES
The recipient for December is Amy Downes from Dromcollogher, an 11-year-old who was involved in a horrific road accident which claimed the life of her dad last year.
On the day of the accident even though she had her own injuries to contend with, Amy’s only concern was the welfare of her brother and sister. As her brother had medical complications prior to the accident Amy insisted on informing the Emergency Services of his condition despite the hysteria that surrounded her at the time. Robert does not have a spleen and his heart is on the opposite side.
The information that Amy imparted that day saved a lot of confusion for medical staff and meant that young Robert was able to get medical attention quicker. She was constantly reassuring both her sister Ellie and brother Robert.
The maturity she showed was far beyond her 11 years. Limerick City Fire Service along with the Chief Michael Ryan are fully supportive of this nomination. They are considering presenting Amy with their own award.
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