Inspirational Winners Once More At This Year’s People of The Year Awards

There were enormous celebrations at this year’s People of The Year Awards as Rory O’Neill (Panti Bis) and Garda whistleblowers John Wilson and Maurice McCabe were among those honoured at the ceremony. Rory accepted his award from Stephen Fry who said he “would have sum over the Irish Sea” in order to present the award. Rory received the award for his courage and defiance in fighting for freedom of expression and breaking down barriers to equality. He has triggered national and international public debate on the notion of tolerance and equality for all members of society. “This award is not about me,” Rory said on the night. “It’s about the movement gaining ground in the country, I just happen to shine attention on it. I’m not really that special.” Meanwhile, John Wilson and Maurice McCabe were awarded the honour for their bravery in speaking out to ensure that the law was upheld and that the public receive the police service that it requires. On collecting his award John Wilson stated, “It’s still a great country, but gardaí are public servants, and some of them forget that.” Another award winner on the night Louise O’Keeffe stated that her award was for everyone who had suffered in the same was that she did. Louise had fought for many years to get the State to accept responsibility for abuse she had suffered in a school in Cork. Elsewhere the Society of St Vincent de Paul won the Community Group of the Year Award while 17-year-old Owen Condon won the Everyday Hero Award in association with the Nicky Byrne Show on RTE 2FM for his role in helping to save a man who was suffering from a heart attack. A second winner of a Young Person of the Year Award was 20-year-old Shane Kennedy who has dedicated himself to the care of his baby brother Cian who was born with a very serious and rare condition Cri du Chat and partial Down Syndrome. Mary and Tony Heffernan also received an award for their selfless dedication to helping the families of sick children and their work since they established the Saoirse Foundation in 2010. The foundation operates the BUMBLEance project. Tomi Reichental, holocaust survivor, was the winner of the International Person of the Year Award in the 40^th year of the prestigious ceremony. The awards were presented by Gráínne Seoige in the Citywest Hotel in Dublin.