REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE AT THE PRESENTATION OF THE 2009 CORK PERSON OF THE YEAR AWARDS
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE AT THE PRESENTATION OF THE 2009 CORK PERSON OF THE YEAR AWARDS SHERATON FOTA HOTEL
Is breá liom bheith anseo i bhúr measc ag an ócaid specialta seo, agus ba mhaith liom mo bhúiochas a chur in iúl dibh as an chuireadh agus as fáilte fíorchaoin. It’s always good to be back in Cork and I’d like to thank Manus O’Callaghan for his kind invitation to join you here this afternoon. When I was here last month, it was to view the dreadful damage caused by the flooding and already I have seen the difference that a few short weeks have made to the massive clean-up and recovery operation. If there were awards for the responses to the flooding, I don’t think there would be a function room large enough to hold all the neighbours, friends, relatives, business people, farmers, community leaders, voluntary workers, council staff and emergency services who would surely earn medals for their tireless work, remarkable generosity and wonderful civic spirit! I’d like to ask the Lord Mayor of Cork City, Dara Murphy and the Mayor of Cork County, Derry Canty to reiterate my thanks and encouragement to all those involved.
I’m told that when the Cork Person of the Year awards scheme was established in 1992, the
intention was to offset the challenge of those recessionary years by promoting good news
stories. It is sad that we again find ourselves in times of economic difficulty almost twenty
years later, but isn’t it great to see that, through good times and bad, Cork has always had so
many inspirational and positive individuals and groups as cause for celebration and gratitude?
2009 was far from an easy year for the city; I’ve already spoken of the crisis that was the unprecedented flooding and the economic challenge facing the country. Some of the nominees we are celebrating today have displayed the kind of innovation and originality that will help Ireland find its way out of the economic crisis – I’m thinking here of the original thinking of our two EU Young Scientists of the Year, or the work of West Cork Tourism
Co-op in reinstating a ferry link to Swansea to boost the local tourism industry.
The year was not only about economics and floods however! As ever, Cork athletes displayed their remarkable sporting prowess. The Special Olympics movement continued to train remarkable athletes in Cork. On the rugby pitch, Cork players made a huge contribution in Ireland’s historic Grand Slam under the coaching of another Cork man. Cork’s arts and cultural scene was as vibrant as ever, as demonstrated by some of the musicians, poets and writers that we are celebrating here today. And the wonderful spirit of community and generosity that is characteristic of Cork was demonstrated by many of today’s nominees, who engaged in fundraising drives for local and international charities, who have accumulated years of voluntary service to sports clubs or who have been leaders in the areas of disabilities.
The diversity of talents and gifts demonstrated by this year’s group of nominees contributes
hugely to the richness and dynamism of Cork life. They form part of a network that binds
our communities together; they reach out to others as role models, leaders and inspirations.
They are proud of their home county and they are happy to share their time and talent with others in order to make this an even better place to live. They don’t act in hope of recognition or reward. Today is our chance to say “thank you”.
I congratulate everyone who worked so hard to make this occasion such a success – the organisers, the sponsors, judges, supporters and of course the nominees themselves.
The judges have no easy task in selecting a winner from this pool of people who are demonstrably already winners.
My congratulations to you all, may you enjoy these celebrations and I send my best wishes to Cork and all its people for 2010. Go raibh míle maith agaibh.