Contenders for ‘Cork Person of the Year'

HOPES are high in West Cork that the ‘Cork Person of the Year 2016’ title will be heading west when the winner is announced on January 20th next.

With Olympic silver medal winners, Gary and Paul O’Donovan of Aughadown, and Noreen Murphy the founder of Lisheens House, a suicide prevention service, in the running there is one part of West Cork that is particularly well represented. Also nominated is Bandon’s Conor Hourihane, who created history for himself and his club, Barnsley, in English professional soccer when he captained the side to their very first League Cup victory and promotion to the Championship.

The other nominees for ‘Cork Person of the Year 2016’ are Liam Hallihan of ‘Martin’s Life’ fame; Eoghan Ryan and Alasdair Fitzpatrick for their art project Reimagine Cork; Daire Hickey, Web Summit founder; Jennifer Dowler of ‘Dogs for the Disabled’; Christina Chalmers, who established the ‘Please Join Me In Helping Cork’s Homeless’ initiative; Pat Kiernan, founder of Corcadorca Theatre; musicians Tomás and Terry McCarthy; Dr Seamus O’Mahony for his book, ‘The Way We Die Now,’ and Karen O’Mahony, who founded the Rainbow Club.

An estimated 250 guests will attend the Gala Awards Lunch at the Rochestown Park Hotel on Friday, January 20th, when RTÉ broadcaster Sean O’Rourke will make the official announcement. This year’s guest speakers will feature Drimoleague native Dee Forbes, who is the Director-General of RTÉ, and Tom Crosbie of the Irish Examiner and Landmark Media.