South East Radio / Talbot Hotel "Person of the Month Awards"
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The overall winner of the Person of the Month Awards for 2008/09 was Kay Quinn who was presented with her trophy and holiday at our Gala Awards Night at Wexford's Talbot Hotel on 9th April.
OVERALL WINNER 2008/09 - Kay Quinn Kay Quinn and her family suffered deep personal tragedy in recent years when she lost 2 sons to suicide within a 2-year period. Kay was determined that the devastation felt by her family should not be experienced by any other family and so set up ‘Touched by Suicide’.
Kay runs this organization almost single-handedly and is available to answer phonecalls 24 hours a day. Kay offers support and comfort to people who feel that there is no hope and feel that they can’t turn to anybody else. Unfortunately, there are many people who feel this way as Kay receives many calls, particularly at weekends and usually in the middle of the night. She receives no funding for this cause. Kay also runs a charity shop in Enniscorthy.
Kay’s determination to help others, her ability to do something positive after facing huge adversity and untiring dedication make her a shining example to all around her and an inspiration to others.
South East Radio / Talbot Hotel Person of the Month Awards March 2008 – February 2009 Monthly Winner Profiles
March 08 – Conor O’Dwyer
As a jockey, Conor O’Dwyer came up through the ranks in a career that began over two decades ago.
At Cheltenham in March 2008, he bowed out at the very top of his profession after finishing down the field in the World Hurdle with Hardy Eustace. This was to be the veteran pairs last outing together but the memory of their great wins together will last forever in the minds of the Irish racing public and include the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham 2004, the Champion Hurdle at Punchestown 2004, and the Red Mills Trial Hurdle in the same year, the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham 2005 and the Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown in 2007.
Other winning partnerships with Conor include: Imperial Call - 1996 Gold Cup at Leopardstown, 1996 Cheltenham Gold Cup Native Upmanship – 12 wins from 1999 – 2005, most notably the 2003 Melling Chase Aintree Grand National. Keepatem – 2004 Paddy Power Handicap Chase at Leopardstown
Unquestionably, pride of place has to go to War of Attrition with many successes for the pair over the years, most famously the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March 2006 and later that same month, the Gold Cup at Punchestown.
Since his retirement, Conor has embarked on a new training career and with a number of high profile owners already represented in the yard and looks to have a bright career ahead of him in the training ranks. Regardless, no one will ever be able to take away from him his substantial achievements in the saddle.
April 08 – Countess Ann Griffin-Bernstorff The Ros Tapestry Project is a massive community initiative in progress in New Ross. Conceived in 1998 and being developed by over a hundred dedicated volunteers. Fifteen striking embroidered panels - 6 x 4 foot each- when completed in 2010 will be displayed in New Ross as a cultural and historical accolade to its' creators. The Ros Tapestries depict events around the Anglo-Norman arrival to the South East of Ireland, specifically the founding of the town of New Ross, Co. Wexford by William Marshall and Isabel de Clare. The content for these tapestry panels was exhaustively researched and designed by Ann Griffin-Bernstorff. She tirelessly designed the 15 paintings which formed the basis of the this project and she accepted her award on behalf of the 100 embroiderers who skillfully stitch the tapestries at venues associated with the historical content of that panel. After ten years in the making, this permanent exhibition of the acclaimed embroidered Ros Tapestries has recently been unveiled in New Ross and promises to be a great tourist attraction in the area.
May 08 – Mary Connolly Mary Connolly is the group leader of the New Ross Chernobyl Children’s Project. Under the charity’s Long-Term Care Programme, children in need of rest, recuperation and medical checkups are hosted by Irish Families. Mary has been involved in the charity for the last 13 years and has held the position of group leader of the New Ross branch for the past 5 years. Every year, she heads up fundraising initiatives for the New Ross project which helps to bring a group of children from one particular region in Chernobyl to Ireland for one month. She is also involved in co-ordinating the host families and the programme of activities during the children’s visit. All work for anyone involved in the project is totally voluntary. She visited Chernobyl in 2005 to experience first-hand the fallout from the explosion and hoped to return with 3 others from the New Ross project this year. This year, Mary has been co-ordinating the visit of 19 children and 2 translators. The project aims to restore hope to the people of the Chernobyl and Mary’s contribution certainly plays some part in achieving that goal.
June 08 – Jason Ryan Jason Ryan was appointed Wexford’s football manager in November 2007. He made a big impression in 2007 when he trained Clongeen to win a first ever Wexford SFC title and at 31, his appointment has seen him become the youngest inter-county manager in the country. Eight months on in his job, and Jason led Wexford to win their first Leinster Senior Football final in 52 years. Unfortunately, the team bowed out to Tyrone in the All-Ireland Semi-Final.
Ryan has been a member of the Waterford senior football squad for several seasons.
July 08 – Billy Walsh Billy Walsh has been a great ambassador for his town and county for many years now, a fact that was never more evident than at last year’s Olympics. The proud Wexford man, as Head Coach, led the Irish boxing team to a hugely successful tournament, with Kenny Egan and Paddy Barnes taking home one silver and two bronze medals from Beijing. Billy has been excelling at sports since he was very young and now fully endorses and continues to promote all forms of sport as a healthy and disciplined activity for young people. He won his first national boxing title aged just 14 and after continuing to rack up the national titles through the years, he later decided to focus completely on boxing with the aim of making the Irish Olympics team. He fulfilled that goal in 1988 at Seoul, where he was captain of the Irish boxing team. Billy is now in his sixth year as Head Coach of Irish boxing’s High Performance Unit, where he is responsible for training the best amateur boxers in the country at the national stadium including world champion, Katie Taylor.
August 08 – Darragh McDonald Young Gorey resident Darragh McDonald (14) exceeded all expectations and won a silver medal in the 400m freestyle event at the 2008 Paralympics in Beijing. Despite not expecting to qualify for the Paralympic Squad until the 2012 games, Darragh was delighted to gain a place this year and overwhelmed by taking home silver. He also achieved a new personal best and broke the current Irish record. With true determination and ambition to achieve the best possible result, double amputee Darragh has never let his disability hold him back and gave 100 per cent throughout. Those who nominated Darragh, saluted his sporting succes and his ability to inspire other young people to perservere against all the odds.
September 08 – Wexford Opera House In an unusual deviation from the title ‘Person of the Month’, Wexford Opera House was chosen as the September winner. Many people involved with the Opera House were nominated for Person of the Month during the year. The late Jerome Hynes, who was appointed Managing Director in 1988 and later, Chief Executive, dedicated 17 years to Wexford Festival Opera. Without his vision to develop a new home for Wexford Festival Opera on the site of the old Theatre Royal, Wexford Opera House may not be in existence today. The volounteers who tirelessly ensure the smooth running of the Operas each year were also mentioned on nomination forms. Also mentioned were the current management team for their part in launching the new iconic Opera House. And so it was decided that the building itself should be awarded this accolade. David McLoughlin, CEO, accepted the award on behalf of all the above parties. Wexford Opera house is unique, in that it is a state-of-the-art auditorium with a seating capacity of 850 but yet acts like a ‘secret gem’ tucked away behind a reinstated streetfront. The operational flexibility given by the orchestra pit lifts, and the stage and backstage facilities, together with the horsehoe-shaped balconies, arguably qualify Wexford Opera House as Ireland’s first fully-specified purpose-built opera house and no doubt will continue to attract many visitors to Wexford from around the world for many years to come.
October 08 – Dillon The total value of drugs seized at Rosslare Port last year was just over €19 million. These seizures were aided in no small part by top sniffer dog, Dillon. Dillon is a specially-trained sniffer dog and has proven to be invaluable to the Irish authorities in recent years. In 2008, Dillon helped to halt 30 shipments of illegal drugs, worth €19,025,451. He has also been sent to many Irish prisons to lead a Government drive against drugs in the Irish prison system. For these reasons and many more, Dillon was honoured with the ‘Person’ of the Month award for October. This is the first time that an animal was presented with the award but such was the feeling amongst the general public that Dillon was a deserving winner that he could not be ignored. Dillon was presented with a Newbridge silver collar, accepted on his behalf by dog handler Denis Lawlor and Customs Officer Ian Harpur. Dillon lives in Rosslare with his owner and trainer, Denis Lawlor, whose care and attention for Dillon has to be acknowledged and has played no small part in developing the skills for which Dillon is reknowned.
November 08 – John Carroll Windmill Therapeutic Centre is located in Wexford Town and its goal is to prepare adults with learning and behavioural difficulties to take on board challenges of the modern world. It promotes confidence and awareness to focus on the whole person, to maximise full potential and to promote personal and practical skills. John Carroll is Head of the Unit and dedicates his days to the 35 trainees from Wexford and surrounding areas who attend the unit every day. John believes that it’s important to focus on areas like literacy, communications, relationships, project work, current affairs, crafts, drama, swimming and physical education. However, he also links these activities with resources in the wider community, realizing that it is an essential part of human growth and development for trainees to be put in touch with their wider environment. John has been described as the backbone of the centre and is renowned for his gentle, caring and sensitive attitude.
December 08 – Mary Maguire Mary was a founding member of the “Meals on Wheels” service in Wexford town which began in 1971. She is the only founding members still involved since its formation 38 years ago. It all began when the St. John Of God Sisters who were celebrating their centenary year, provided a barna building beside the Wexford Garda Station in Barrack Street, encouraging local business people to get together to equip a kitchen, in order to bring meals to people who needed them. The “Meals on Wheels” programme has developed since then and is a service that delivers meals to individuals in their own home. They are delivered hot and ready to eat for the excellent price of 3euro – you can choose a starter, main course and dessert and the meals are delivered by a team of volunteers. The service transports meals in Wexford town 4 days of the week, and also provides meals to St. Bridget’s Day Care Centre for 5 days of the week and to the Alzheimer’s Society on Saturdays. Mary has been recognised for her continuing involvement and dedicated work to this much needed service.
January 09 – Kay Quinn Kay Quinn and her family suffered deep personal tragedy in recent years when she lost 2 sons to suicide within a 2-year period. Kay was determined that the devastation felt by her family should not be experienced by any other family and so set up ‘Touched by Suicide’. Kay runs this organization almost single-handedly and is available to answer phonecalls 24 hours a day. Kay offers support and comfort to people who feel that there is no hope and feel that they can’t turn to anybody else. Unfortunately, there are many people who feel this way as Kay receives many calls, particularly at weekends and usually in the middle of the night. She receives no funding for this cause. Kay also runs a charity shop in Enniscorthy. Kay’s determination to help others, her ability to do something positive after facing huge adversity and untiring dedication make her a shining example to all around her and an inspiration to others.
February 09 – Wexford RNLI Wexford RNLI is responsible for search and rescue in Wexford Harbour and along the river Slaney.
In January 2008, the crew moved into newly built Wexford RNLI Lifeboat Station, adjacent to Wexford Bridge. The new station cost 850,000 and houses a crew training room, changing and personal protective equipment room, boat storage area and a souvenir shop.
A number of fundraising activities raised over 100,000 towards construction of the Lifeboat Station
Its crew of 2 women and 10 men are on 24-hour call, and maintain a very fast response time. Over recent months, the crew have had to be very active and the public have nominated many individuals from the crew for the Person of the Month Award. It was decided to present the award to all at the RNLI who are all true heroes within our community.
The Person of the Month Overall Winner for the year 2007/08 was Joseph Lawlor.
Joseph Lawlor
Joseph and his family suffered a deep personal tragedy in November last year with the death of his beloved sister Tracie and the age of 24.
Tracie suffered from cystic fibrosis.
Every since her death Joseph has campaigned for a special, dedicated unit to be established for cystic fibrosis patients nationally. Joseph has spoken movingly about the conditions Tracie endured during her many hospital stays including the lack of privacy and danger of cross contamination from other patients - something which can pose a real danger to CF patients whose health is already compromised.
While Tracie was well known and loved as an out-going vivacious young woman, Joseph, who also has cystic fibrosis, is shyer and not one to seek attention. All the more remarkable then that this 20-year-old has found the courage to speak out in the national media, giving interviews on radio, television and in national newspapers about the campaign. And the lobbying by Joseph and other cystic fibrosis patients and supporters is bearing fruit - the Department of Health has promised to provide a special isolation unit. Joseph and his colleagues vow to continue their campaign to have a specially dedicated CF unit as part of this new facility.
Joseph was also recently involved in a fundraiser for the Wexford Branch of Cystic Fibrosis, along with other family members. The cabaret and dance in memory of his late sister Tracie raised over €11,000
How to submit a nomination for somebody to win a monthly award:
Official Entry Forms now available from shops and offices throughout the region, and from South East Radio and The Talbot Hotel in Wexford, or phone +53-9145200 (office hours).For a full list of places stocking submission forms click HERE
The South East Radio / Talbot Hotel "Person of the Month Awards" are designed to reward local people in the voluntary, charity, sporting and business sectors. The awards are presented in association with the Talbot Hotel
Each month nominations are invited from listeners via nomination forms available throughout the region. You can pick up a form from the Talbot Hotel in Wexford, South East Radio's offices in Wexford or various businesses. You can also fill in the details and e-mail your submission on-line via the form below.
Each month the "Person of the Month" is presented with a special trophy, a weekend break for 2 in an Irish Hotel and a €100 voucher for Wexford's Talbot Hotel. One lucky nominator each month will also be invited to a meal for two at the Talbot Hotel.
In April 2010 all winners of the "Person of the Month Award" will be invited to a spectacular black-tie ball at the Talbot Hotel. The event will announce an overall winner who will receive a continental holiday
For more details of how you can get involved, listen to South East Radio and don't miss "South East Radio's Morning Mix" (10-12 Mon - Fri) as the winners are announced each month.
Past Winners: For the year 2006/07 : Margaret McDermott
Margaret McDermott has won this year's overall winner's title in the "South East Radio / Talbot Hotel Person of the Month Awards for 2006/07". The announcement was made at the culmination of the Awards Ceremony which took place on Thursday Night at a black-tie Gala Ball at the Talbot Hotel in Wexford. Margaret received a Waterford Crystal trophy and a continental holiday for two.
Margaret McDermott's commitment to, and involvement in, Community Games in County Wexford spans well over three decades. Margaret was enthusiastic from the start about the games which operate an ethos of participation rather than winning and involve children and young people between the ages of six and 16.
A voluntary organisation operating through local communities, the games have over 500,000 participants and 20,000 volunteers. They operate at four levels, area, county, provincial and national. County Wexford has the third biggest involvement in Ireland.
All of that requires a huge amount of effort and organisation of course and Margaret is an example of the best kind of volunteer, giving freely of her time to the games at local, county and national level. She served as county chairperson for 16 years and is also in her 16th. year as general treasurer. As national treasurer she was responsible for the funding of 32 community games councils of Ireland. This involved negotiating with the Irish Sports Council of Ireland as well as negotiating sponsorship and insurance deals.
Her unflagging dedication and efforts over the years is truly remarkable especially as Margaret has, in recent times, battled with serious illness.
Margaret is still as enthusiastic about the games and their value in helping young children to grow and develop in a positive way today as when she started helping at local level all those years ago. Truly her contribution has been enormous, her involvement given selflessly throughout.
