Children's Club founder is Cork Person of the Year

A MAN who has enhanced the lives of ill children over the past 23 years, has been named the Cork Person of the Year.

John Looney from Togher in Cork City, founded and runs the Cork City Hospital Children’s Club, which organises trips for sick children, giving them lifelong happy memories.  

With the help of his wife Carol and many volunteers, John organises local trips around Cork, as well as European holidays to the likes of Disneyland in Paris.  

Sick children and deserving children go on these trips from such organisations as Cork Deaf Community, Edel House Residential Centre and others, as well as Cork University Hospital and Mercy University Hospital.

John, who works on a voluntary basis, was inspired to start the organisation when one of his own children was very ill many years ago, and at that time, there was only a Dublin group that organised such trips.

He received his Person of the Year trophy, before an invited audience of 250 people, representing all sectors of Cork society.  

He received a standing ovation at the Gala Awards Lunch at the Rochestown Park Hotel.  

Other nominees for this year’s award, were the Cork Persons of the Month chosen over the past year.  They were Angela Marshall, good neighbour who saved two of her neighbours lives; Michael Lenihan, historian and archivist who promotes Cork history and heritage; Marty Morrissey, born in Mallow, for his contribution to the GAA;  Billa O’Connell and David McInerney, stars of the golden age of Cork theatre; Veronica Stuart, continuing the craft of traditional lace making;  Pat McMahon, establishing children’s hospital and malnutrition treatment centre in India;  Arthur Leahy and Kieran Rose, leadership role in Same Sex Marriage Equality Referendum; Cillian O’Leary and Liam O’Leary, family wins in City Marathon and Over 60’s Talent Show;  Moyra  Woodworth, service for the Cork Assoc., of Autism;  Peter O’Mahony, glittering rugby career with Munster and Ireland;  Mary White, promoting Cork Ladies Football team’s record achievements.