People of the Year | 2012 People of the Year

2012 People of the Year

Union Hall Community Group of the Year

For the community spirit shown in times of tragedy and pain, Union Hall was awarded the Community Group of the Year Award.

Read Union 's Story

Looking at the still waters of Union Hall in the sheltered corner of Glandore harbour in west Cork, it is difficult to imagine the conditions that led to the sinking of the Tit Bonhomme on 15 January 2012, with the loss of five fishermen. But with tragedy comes hope, and as different communities mourned the loss of their loved ones, Union Hall brought everyone together in their days of need and showed true community spirit, providing unstinting physical and emotional support.

At 6am on 15 January 2012, the Marine Rescue Sub Centre in Valentia received a mayday call from the Tit Bonhomme, which was being forced on to the rocks on Adam’s Island in Glandore harbour. Conditions were treacherous, with severe force 6 and 7 southeasterly winds and high waves. The Shannon and Waterford coastguard helicopters and the Baltimore and Courtmacsherry lifeboats were also alerted to the situation. At 7.15am, as the village slept while the rain and wind howled outside, native priest Fr Pierce Cormac, on his way home from hospital duty, was crossing the bridge into Union Hall when he was alerted to the tragedy that was unfolding in Glandore Bay.

Fr Pierce broke the news to those who attended 10am Mass that morning. “It wasn’t only a Church concern, it was to affect the whole community. We had a very short Mass and prayed for the fishermen. There was some hope, as I knew that there was at least one survivor, Abdelbaky Mohamed, who had been rescued by the Waterford rescue helicopter and the local coastguard at eight am and taken to Cork University Hospital. I was asked by Bill Deasy, a local fisherman, to announce to the congregation that a base was being set up on the pier. Straight after Mass we went down to the pier and that is where we stayed for the next twenty-six days, either physically or just in our thoughts. You couldn’t leave it.”

With an extensive search already under way, the families of the fishermen gathered at the pier, even

though some family members had not yet received the news. As news filtered through, local people arrived to offer their support in any way they could. As the bad weather conditions continued to play havoc with rescue attempts, hope of finding the fishermen ebbed with each passing hour. Fr Pierce remembers, “The hardest hour was at three pm on that first Sunday as we knew there were only two hours of daylight left. In fact, three pm became the hour of the day for every one of those twenty-six days because it meant that another day of searching was almost over. The evenings fell in very quickly and the main focus became bringing all the searchers home safely. There were so many people there that we couldn’t have coped with another tragedy.”

As the days moved on, the community grew closer and supported one another through what would become four weeks of hope and desperation. According to Fr Pierce and Bill Deasy, “there was such a willingness, you never had to ask someone to do something, volunteers just came forward from all over the country.”

The pier became the focal point for the search and rescue efforts. A makeshift village sprung up on the pier, consisting of Portakabins for those coordinating the search, the Garda mobile response unit, the Red Cross, the Irish Coast Guard, a space for dignified identification of any bodies that were found and for meeting and supporting families, and the kitchen, which became known as “the hub”. When people came in, tired and cold, from hours at sea or on land, it was here they were met with hot food and drinks and a comforting ear, which helped to keep spirits up. Whether offering themselves as search and rescuers or providing food, drinks, equipment, vehicles, money for fuel, or even houses for people to stay in, the community of Union Hall found some way to give a

helping hand.

Garda Inspector Colin Collins led the team that coordinated the search and rescue operation, ‘I was

humbled by the whole experience. The support not only of the local community, but of the whole country was amazing. As the search stretched into days and weeks, more and more people came to help; farmers, self-employed, nurses coming off night-duty and teachers. One man offered the use of his aeroplane for the search, another man came from Sligo with his wake board which had a camera on it to search the water. A couple from Bandon cooked halal food specially for the Egyptian community. A local hotel sent a twenty gallon pot of Irish Stew. When hope was fading, the show of human kindness, generosity and support from all around the country and all walks of society, kept everyone going.’

The fishermen who lost their lives were skipper Michael Hayes, 53, and his crewmen, Kevin Kershaw,

21, Wael Mohamed, 35, Attaia Shaban, 26, and Saied Ali Eldin, 22. Fr Pierce and Bill Deasy said that “It did not matter that there were no local fishermen involved; all everyone thought about was that there were husbands, partners, brothers and sons out there in the harbour and they had to be brought back and given to their families. At the end of the 21st day of searching, as happened every day, those involved gathered together to pray and support each other. People were united in prayer even though they came from different religions and faiths – the mostly Muslim Egpytian community, the Church of Ireland community, the Catholic community and those of no religion came together to send their prayers and wishes out to sea. “At the funeral Mass of skipper Michael Hayes in Rinn, Co. Waterford, the Egyptian community were in the front seat because they wanted to be there, and likewise when Saied Ali Eldin, the last crewman, was found, the Union Hall people and Kathleen Hayes and her family went to Dublin to the mosque to be part of Saied's funeral service.”

With all the bodies recovered, the search was over and Union Hall no longer dominated the news headlines. Life in the coastal village slowly returned to normal, but the local community is determined that a positive effect can emerge from the tragedy. Plans are in progress for a local emergency response unit that would provide both emotional and medical support in times of need; and it is hoped that a safety device that would help to locate those missing in the water will become a reality in the near future and so prevent more heartbreak for fishing families around our coast.

To many, Union Hall is a story of tragedy, but for those present during the search operation, Union Hall represents the power of community support to help those most in need at their darkest hour.

Mark Pollock People of the Year Award Winner

For his strength and determination in overcoming significant physical adversity, his continued inspiration of others in sharing his story and in constantly pushing out new boundaries, in his personal life and as an explorer and adventure racer, Mark Pollock was awarded a People of the Year Award.

Read Mark's Story

Life has thrown many physical challenges at Mark Pollock, but that has never stopped him reaching his goals. Blindness and adventure racing do not often appear in the same sentence but for Mark Pollock, they represent the challenges in his life. For him, blindness is an obstacle to be overcome in the search for adventure, from the Gobi Desert to Mount Everest, to the South Pole. For Mark is an adventurer, who happens to be blind and paralysed.

Mark was born with weak retinas and at the age of five he lost the sight in one eye. Growing up in Co. Down, Mark played a lot of sport but avoided rough sports for fear of losing the sight in his other eye. At the age of 22 he was a confident student with the world at his feet; he was about to sit his final exams in Business and Economics at Trinity College Dublin, he was an international rower, captain of the university boat club and had lined up a top job with a London investment bank. However, the retina became detached in his other “good” eye and over the space of two weeks Mark lost his sight completely.

Mark returned home to live with his parents for six months. But he was determined that blindness would not stop him achieving his goals and so he became independent, with the aid of a cane and his guide dog, Larry. He moved back to Dublin where he got a job and completed a master’s degree, and where his love of sport was rekindled when he got back in a rowing boat. For Mark, it felt normal to compete.

Adventure racing became a huge part of Mark’s life and he took part in many extreme races, including the Gobi March (six marathons in seven days across the Gobi Desert), the Dead Sea Ultra (the world’s lowest marathon), the Everest Marathon (the world’s highest marathon), the Irish Sea Kayak Challenge from Ireland to Wales and the North Pole Marathon. He also won bronze and silver medals in rowing for Northern Ireland at the 2002 Commonwealth Games.

But all this was mere preparation for Mark’s biggest race. He decided to compete against the likes of Olympic medallist James Cracknell and his teammate Ben Fogle in the first race to the South Pole in a century, which commemorated Captain Scott’s doomed voyage of 1911. This involved trekking more than 1,000km, pulling a 90kg sled of provisions and living for 43 days in temperatures as low as -50°F. For Mark, on the tenth anniversary of losing his sight, it represented the ultimate physical and mental challenge.

Mark remembers it with pride: “The South Pole was the biggest event I did. It had the toughest

competitors, it was the longest, most extreme, and most expensive event so it had both business and athletic aspects to it.” The training involved long sessions of dragging tractor tyres along beaches, in the Phoenix Park and in the mountains. He also spent hundreds of hours in the gym and on skiing machines as well as undertaking survival training in Norway.

Mark’s blindness meant he had to approach his races differently from most of his competitors. “I had to rely on my teammate and training partner, Simon O’Donnell, a bit more than most. We also had to split the team jobs differently from the other competitors; for instance, I would go inside the tent while the other guys were putting it up and I’d get all the gear ready inside, the sleeping bags, mats and cookers.” This was crucial for the team’s success at the event, but was also essential for Mark’s entire experience of the race and to make sure he was competing on an equal footing with the others. “It was important for me to contribute as much as everyone else.” The isolation of the vast white landscape was a challenge for all the competitors. “Some people found it really difficult as we were unable to talk to each other in this flat white landscape without any visual stimulation for 12-16 hours a day, whereas I’ve been locked in my own head since 1998.” The expedition was successful, and Mark became the first blind man to race to the South Pole.

From such a high, fate dealt Mark a blow in July 2010. Having just completed his latest adventure, the Round Ireland Yacht Race, and becoming the first blind man to co-skipper a boat in the 870-mile, sixday, non-stop race, Mark was enjoying some time off at Henley Royal Regatta. He fell out of an upstairs window and landed unconscious, 25feet below. He broke his back and endured several months of surgery, infections and intensive rehabilitation. Mark has had to adjust to life using a wheelchair, and learning to negotiate life with his new mobility impairment. But, never one to accept meekly what is presented to him, he is now exploring the possibility of walking again using robotic legs with motorised hip and knee joints. He spends hours every day training in the gym with the help of his good friend Simon O’Donnell. He is determined to have a positive outlook on the future, “On the one hand I’m accepting I’m in the wheelchair and on the other hand I’m actively trying to find a way to get out of it.” Mark’s adventurous spirit has never wavered, and he now has plans in train to compete in a South Pole style race in Siberia next March.

Katie Taylor Sports Person of the Year

For her inspiring determination and hard work leading to outstanding sporting achievements and for being a proud ambassador for Ireland, Katie Taylor receives the Sportsperson of the Year Award.

Read Katie's Story

When Katie Taylor stepped into the ExCeL Arena, sound records were broken as the Irish fans cheered on their hero. But now silence descended, as Katie and her followers held their breath and waited, seemingly interminably, for the announcement. There was no sound, no movement. While Ireland came to a standstill, Katie’s fans all over the world counted down the tense seconds until the referee began, “And the winner, in the red corner ...” And in that moment, life changed for Katie, for the Irish people, and for sports fans everywhere.

One fateful night, when Katie Taylor was just 11 years old, her dad Peter was on babysitting duty. He was also due to train in the boxing club in Bray for the upcoming national championships. Peter, a keen boxer, was the 1986 Irish senior heavyweight champion. Katie’s athletics training was cancelled and with no one to look after his daughter, Peter brought her along to the club thinking she could do some skipping or other training.

Before he knew it, she was in the ring, sparring with the boys. His initial thought that it might be just a phase was quickly dispelled as the club became Katie’s second home. In her early teens Katie played numerous sports, excelling at many of them. After boxing, her second love was soccer, which gave her the opportunity to be part of a team sport and to play with other girls. Katie’s talents on the pitch were legendary and even when she missed games due to boxing commitments, her teammates welcomed her back with open arms – a testament to her ability and character. She represented Ireland over 40 times at soccer and hopes someday to return to her life on the pitch.

Katie Taylor was born to box. She has spoken of her great passion for the sport, “It was natural for me. I loved it from the start. I knew how to throw a punch before my father taught me how to. I knew I could do big things in the sport.” She spent her early teens training in the club in Bray. She sparred with the boys and they soon realised that Katie was going to be a star. Her first competitive fight, which came in 2001 when she was 15 years old, ended in a win against Alanna Murphy in the National Arena. That win was to be the first of many.

Over the course of the next 10 years Katie fought in 16 countries, winning 14 gold medals in international championships, including four consecutive world championships in her 60kg lightweight division. Her world championship win in China in May of this year confirmed her position as number one in the world and in the process guaranteed her a place at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Boxing can be a lonely sport with all flaws exposed in the ring. But Katie is never alone as she is surrounded by people she loves and trusts, and each plays a very important role in her life. Her father Peter is her coach, throwing every punch from the ringside. Her mother Brigid – one of the first judges in women’s boxing – is ever present behind the scenes and is a calming influence before each fight. But for Katie, it is God who guides her through life and decides her destiny. As a born-again Christian, Katie’s faith is a huge part of her life and she believes that whatever happens in the ring – win, lose or draw – it is God’s will. The Bible is Katie’s sports psychology.

For Katie, the dream was to box at the Olympic Games. Many doubted it would happen. Many didn’t want it to happen and didn’t support the idea of women in the ring. But they had never seen Katie fight. Katie and her father campaigned for the sport to be entered into the London 2012 Olympic Games. Their determination and promotion of the sport had a huge influence in the boxing world and Katie’s dream came within reach when, following an exhibition by Katie in front of members of the International Olympic Council (IOC), the council voted to include three divisions of women’s boxing in this year’s Olympic Games.

If the IOC needed any confirmation that they had made the right decision, it was provided by the deafening 113.7 decibels reached in the ExCeL Arena during Katie’s quarter-final against Great Britain’s Natasha Jonas. The crowd went wild when the 26-year-old from Bray entered the arena. Focus and determination were etched on her face. Katie was on a mission. In the ring, she gave a masterclass in boxing with her skill, speed, grace and technical precision. When her opponent later commented that she could have thrown the kitchen sink at her, everyone agreed and the world’s press stood up to take notice of the shy, quietly spoken girl Irish girl who had just brought women’s boxing to the world stage.

Katie had a convincing win (17–9) in her semi-final against Mavzuna Chorieva from Tajikistan. Now there was only one final step for Katie to take before making her dream come through. At 4.45pm on Thursday 9 August, Ireland ground to a halt. Offices shut and streets emptied as people gathered around TVs to see “our Katie” jab and punch her way to gold with a 10–8 victory over Russia's Sofya Ochigava. Only Irish voices could be heard in the ExCeL Arena as the country shouted and roared encouragement. As Katie was crowned Olympic champion, the tears of a nation flowed – tears of happiness and pride for the shy girl who was now champion of the world. Katie lifted gold and the hearts of a nation.

Marty Morrissey, RTÉ sports commentator, describes the effect Katie had at the Olympics: “Being in the ExCeL Arena for Katie’s fights was really special – not alone for what she did in the ring, but for the phenomenal effect she had on everyone. Every person I met was talking about Katie. When we as a country needed it most, Katie uplifted us. It’s amazing what a 26-year-old from Bray, County Wicklow can do. She captured the hearts of the nation and with her we took on the world – and we won! She is a wonderful athlete and a fantastic ambassador for our county. Men, women, and children – everyone loves Katie!”

Thousands travelled to her home town of Bray to welcome their hero home. Her determination and strength make her an inspiration not only for girls, but for men and for Irish sport. After realising her Olympic dream, Katie said, “This is what I have always dreamed of. This is better than all my wildest dreams – to be European and world champion and to be Olympic champion. I’ve trained so hard since I was 10 or 11. I wanted to shock the world and that’s exactly what I did.”

Joanne O'Riordan Young Person of the Year

For her determination in highlighting the challenges faced by people with disabilities in Ireland today, Joanne O’Riordan was awarded the Young Person of the Year Award.

Read Joanne's Story

“I do not look at the word ‘Impossible’ and see it as ‘Impossible’. I look at that word and my life and say ‘I’m Possible!’” Very few people would guess that these are the words of a 16-year-old, but then Joanne O’Riordan is no ordinary teenage girl. Joanne has the rare condition Total Amelia syndrome, which means that she was born without arms or legs. She is one of just seven people in the world with the condition. She also has scoliosis, or curvature of the spine. Joanne has never allowed her disability to get the better of her and it’s not her disability, but rather her tenacious and inspirational outlook on life, that makes her stand out from her peers.

Joanne’s parents were told nine weeks before her birth that she would be born with her condition. Joanne’s mother, Ann, admits, “It was extremely difficult to take in, just like any new mother who is told there is something wrong.” However, Joanne’s siblings, Denis, Danny, Stephen and Gillian, instantly fell in love with her. “Children don't see the things we do, they are so innocent, but they just loved her and played with her all the time.” Joanne credits her parents with helping her develop her independence by not treating her any differently from her siblings.

Joanne’s parents had the option of sending her to a school for children with disabilities, but they chose not to, and Joanne went to the local crèche before attending national school. From an early age Joanne has consistently overcome the difficulties she has faced. When she began school she learned to write by holding a pen between her shoulder and her chin or in her mouth. After developing scoliosis, she was unable to continue to write as she had, and now completes all her work on a computer.

Growing up in the O’Riordan household, Joanne wasn’t really treated any differently from her brothers and sisters. “My sisters and brothers used to pick me up and throw me, that’s how non-differently I was treated! I used to nag them all the time when they were playing computer games. They eventually gave me the remotes and told me to figure it out for myself. So I did! It was the same with the internet – lots of nagging led to me getting the regular keyboard and after that I was sorted!”

Joanne has a normal electric wheelchair with a tray at a height that allows her to reach things easily. Like all teenagers, she spends a lot of time on her mobile phone – the only difference is that she uses her “top lip, nose, chin, whatever is quickest!” to type. Technology allows Joanne to be a regular teenager: she spends hours on Facebook, and she also loves her PlayStation, Nintendo DS, laptop and iPad, which she uses with a stylus (plastic pen). For Joanne, technology is the limb she never had.

Joanne enjoys getting dressed up for nights on the town with her friends, and the girls often come over to do her make-up. Her favourite band is One Direction. She’s also a massive Cork GAA fan and goes to all the Millstreet club and Cork inter-county matches with her family and friends. Joanne would have liked to be able to play GAA, but her father, Joe, says, “It’s just as well that she couldn’t because she’d be a terror on the field!” Joanne says, “My mother encouraged me to do swimming instead and I loved that. I didn’t feel left out with friends then, ’cause when they said they were going to GAA training, I could go to the pool.”

Joanne is fiercely independent and her sheer determination has helped not only her, but also other people with disabilities. She doesn’t see herself as a campaigner, but if she thinks that something is wrong she looks for ways to change it. Joanne’s home town of Millstreet is now much more accessible for wheelchairs and buggies after Joanne asked Cork County Council to place special bollards on footpaths so that cars could not park on them. She has come to national attention with her stance on proposed cuts to disability payments, and she had a huge impact on the nation when she appeared on RTÉ One’s The Late Late Show.

In April Joanne was invited to New York to deliver the keynote address at the United Nations International Telecommunication Union’s conference, Girls in Technology. Joanne spoke to female world leaders in technology about the impact technology has had on her life. She described how “technology has opened up a world of possibilities, through which I have excelled in both my education and the social environment around me.” She challenged leading women in their field to think outside the box and to build her a robot. She said, “Call it crazy, call it insane, call it what you like – but the challenges I face every day get bigger and far greater to overcome. I know I can overcome these challenges, but I need your help. I can’t rely on my parents, my brothers, sister and others all my life. Can I? Certainly not, and I don’t want to!”

A number of people who attended the conference have taken up her challenge, with researchers in China and the USA working on creating technology that will enable her and others to carry out more tasks independently. Joanne received many letters, messages and tweets of support after the conference, but what did she think about the experience? “It’s a great thing for the CV! It was fun and not too serious so I wasn’t nervous at all. I had my sixteenth birthday in the Hard Rock Cafe there, which was cool – it was over the top and cheesy but I loved it and I’ll definitely go back with my friends when I’m older.”

Joanne has big plans for the future. She is making a documentary about her condition with her film-making brother Stephen, and has received support of €25,000 from Rehab towards the project. She also hopes to release a single, written specially for her by Grammy Award winner Julie Gold. But like every teenager, school beckons, and Joanne will sit her Leaving Certificate in 2014. After that she’d like to work in television, “presenting an entertainment show likeGraham Norton or The Sunday Game! Oh, and I want to meet President Obama!”

Gill Waters People of the Year Award

For her tireless innovation, drive and dynamism in pioneering the Shave or Dye campaign, which has raised millions of euro for the Irish Cancer Society and, in the process, created vital public dialogue around cancer and the people affected by it, Gill Waters was presented with a People of the Year Award.

Read Gill's Story

Every year in February, Irish people go hair crazy, shaving their heads or dyeing their hair in their thousands. Visitors from other countries must be confused by the wide variety of hair colours and wacky shaved heads that can be seen on the streets of every town and city in Ireland. But this is not a new fashion. It is an initiative to raise funds for the Irish Cancer Society and is the brainchild of Gill Waters.

In 2009, Gill, who works with radio station Today FM, decided that she wanted to do something to raise much-needed funds for cancer research and care. Ireland’s cancer rate is one of the highest in the world; one in three people will be diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime and it is estimated that by 2020, 40,000 new cases will be diagnosed. These stark figures mean that there is an ever-increasing demand for the direct patient care services provided by the Irish Cancer Society.

Like all great ideas, Gill’s was simple: to persuade people from all walks of life to change their physical appearance drastically, but temporarily, through “Shave or Dye”, and to seek sponsorship to do so, donating the funds raised to the Irish Cancer Society. From the outset, with the unstinting support of the presenters and staff of Today FM, the idea captured the imagination of the public, and Shave or Dye has been successful, way beyond all expectations. The ambitious target of raising €200,000 in the first year was blown asunder as the event went stellar, raising an enormous €800,000. This amount was exceeded in 2011, with €1.37 million raised, and has continued to rise in 2012, with €2.5 million raised so far this year, bringing the total to more than €4.6 million in three years. The support of the station is key to the success of the campaign. Presenters not only marked the event with some “hair-brained schemes”, they also used their radio shows to raise awareness of cancer, its effects on the lives of people living with the disease, and the impact it has on their families.

In Gill’s opinion, the success of Shave or Dye is down to how many people in Ireland have been affected by cancer. “It has touched so many people’s lives. Most people who got involved have been touched by cancer in some way or wanted to show solidarity and support to people that they know who are affected by cancer. It was this groundswell of support that has made Shave or Dye so successful. “To create awareness for the campaign, each year we try to break a world record – the first year we succeeded in shaving the greatest number of heads by one barber in one hour, in 2011 we smashed the world record by shaving 317 heads in one hour. This year we set the world record for most heads dyed in 24 hours. So many people come to these events and offer their heads for the cause, but many also do it for far more significant reasons.

“Many participate in Shave or Dye because they are going through a cancer journey themselves and are perhaps facing a course of chemotherapy. Rather than losing their hair to cancer, they want to be in control of their hair loss. Shave or Dye has made it more usual to see people walking down the street bald and has made it easier for people who have cancer to come to terms with hair loss.”

Gill is the heart of the fundraising initiative. It is her personal drive and ambition that has made the fundraiser such an enormous success. But Gill is reluctant to take the credit. “I’ve had a million other ideas before this one that never went anywhere! This idea worked because the people of Ireland embraced the concept and the cause in a fun way.”

The support of Today FM is key to the success of the campaign. Presenters not only marked the event with some “hair-brained schemes”, they also used their radio shows to raise awareness of cancer, its effects on the lives of people living with the disease, and the impact it has on their families. Gill believes that one of the most powerful impacts of Shave or Dye is the forum it creates for public dialogue around cancer, by providing the opportunity to share stories of struggle and survival live on air. “Amazing stories unfolded, from the desperately sad to incredibly brave and incredibly happy tales. Never before did we get such a feeling of community, passion and commitment from our listeners.”

In a more difficult economic environment, persuading people to donate and participate in fundraising can be challenging. The creation of such an important fundraising initiative from scratch in such a short space of time, and ensuring its ongoing success, has been an enormous achievement.

Dr Tony Scott People of the Year Award

For his immense contribution to the field of science in Ireland, through co-founding and being involved for over 49 years with the Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition, Dr Tony Scott received a People of the Year Award.

Read Dr Tony's Story

So much of our everyday life now depends on the workings of technology and scientific advances. Medicine, travel, work, our home environment and our leisure are all impacted on by enormous developments; the pace of change has increased rapidly and technology has revolutionised how we live. One event that has done more than any other over the last decade to incite interest, passion, awareness and a love of science and to bring it to life outside the classroom is the Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition, which is now approaching its 50th anniversary.

Every January, the Ballsbridge area of Dublin becomes a sea of bottle green, navy, grey and wine, as school uniform-clad young people from across Ireland, converge on the Royal Dublin Society’s exhibition halls to attend the Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition. Almost 40,000 students have taken part over nearly five decades. The competition is fierce, with students spending months studying their topic before coming to Dublin to explain their scientific research and findings. Every year, visitors to the exhibition comment on the range of subject matter, from the everyday to the erudite, from conkers to cryptography, Irish boglands to astrophysics. For the secondary students – from first year up to Leaving Certificate – who take part, it’s a highlight of their schooldays and an experience they will carry with them for years. It is an amazing introduction to the world of science and a stepping stone to careers in academia, science and technology, and innovation and entrepreneurship. Most of all, it’s fun!

In 1963, Tony Scott, together with the late Rev. Dr Tom Burke, had the idea of setting up a science

project competition for secondary school students, modelled on the concept of the US science fairs. At the first event, which was held in 1965 in the Mansion House, about 230 research projects exhibited. Today, the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition is the longest-running event of its kind in Ireland and Europe and the second longest-running worldwide. Every year, 80 experts drawn from academia and industry volunteer their time for free to judge the entries and give feedback to the students on their research. In January of this year, the 48th exhibition was held,

in which over 1,650 projects were entered by students from all over the island of Ireland. From these, 550 projects were selected to be exhibited in the RDS, which attracted more than 45,000 visitors, with coverage in national and local media. The event has been sponsored for the past 14 years by BT, and enjoys the backing of several of Ireland’s indigenous and multinational companies in the science and technology sectors, along with support from the government. All involved (industry leaders, former winners and academics) have cited the role of the exhibition in ensuring a steady stream of highcalibre science and technology graduates. The effect of this is to raise the standard and level of interest in science among students, so that they can bring a scientific perspective to compete at a global level for high-tech jobs in areas such as technology,

mathematics and engineering.

Over the years the competition has been instrumental in launching the careers of many of Ireland’s leading entrepreneurial and academic scientists. BT Young Scientist winners go on to compete in the EU Science Competition, and have achieved a first place on 13 occasions out of the 23 years they have entered. Category winners from the BT Young Scientist have also taken part in the International Science and Engineering Fair held in the United States, in which they have also recorded impressive results. A testament to its success, the model for the Young Scientist exhibition has been used to develop a similar event, part-funded by Irish Aid, which will take place in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania in October this year.

Tony Scott graduated from University College Dublin in 1961 with a first class honours BSc in experimental physics, and was awarded a postgraduate scholarship. He went on to complete a PhD, and became a lecturer in the Physics Department in UCD, where the work of his research group led to the development of the smoke alarm. In an early collaboration with industry, this went into commercial production, and to date over 80 million units have been sold. Tony was Dean of the Faculty of Science in UCD and later became UCD’s first Director of Public Affairs. He has received honorary doctorates from the Dublin Institute of Technology and the National University of Ireland, and an honorary fellowship from the Institute of Physics in London.

In all of these endeavours Tony has retained the confidence of his local community of scientists, through great personal modesty, sincerity, an enormous work ethic, a facility for finding solutions to problems and an ability to convince people to cooperate in the interests of young people. Dr Tony Scott’s passion for science is compelling to all those around him and his commitment to his role as a BT Young Scientist judge enables this enthusiasm to be passed on to a new generation every year. “I can think of very few who have had a bigger impact on the communication of science and on the youth of the nation than John Anthony Scott,” said Dick Ahlstrom, Science Editor of The Irish Times, at the recent occasion of Tony being awarded the UCD Ulysses medal.

Cork Penny Dinners People of the Year Award

For providing food and warmth to those in need in Cork over the last 100 years, Cork Penny Dinners was awarded a People of the Year Award.

Read Cork Penny's Story

Cork Penny Dinners, Cork’s oldest independent caring charity, has a very simple aim – to offer a nourishing midday meal to all those in need. Volunteers cook and serve over 850 meals per week to anyone who needs a hot meal. Cork Penny Dinners traces its origins to the soup kitchens run by the Society of Friends (Quakers) at the time of the Great Famine in the 1840s. The practice of paying one penny was established back then, when in return for your penny you were given a quart of soup and half a loaf of bread. The Adelaide Street soup kitchen was adjacent to a shipyard run by Ebenezer Pike, and the soup was cooked using steam piped from the shipyard. In the depression years of the 1930s, the Penny Dinners were all that came between many Corkonians and starvation.

To the outside world, Cork Penny Dinners is a modern-day soup kitchen. To those who walk through its doors every day for dinner, it is not just a place of nourishment; it is a safe and discreet sanctuary with staff which offers sincere help without judgement. Every person has a different story, but everyone is treated the same. Seven days a week, 365 days a year, six volunteers, one meat and two veg, over 100 dinners a day – just some of the figures that make up Cork Penny Dinners. People pay what they can afford, whether it’s one cent or €1. Cork Penny Dinners is a service, not a charity, and for many people, paying for the meals they receive means that they maintain dignity and pride.

In recent years, volunteers have seen the number of people turning up every day for food increase dramatically – people who a few years ago would never have thought they’d need its services find themselves walking through the doors – and the daily meals provided continue to save thousands of people from sickness and hunger. In 2011, 21,000 soups, hot dinners and desserts were served along with countless mugs of tea, bread and butter, and 13,000 sandwiches and pieces of fruit were distributed to take away as an evening meal.

Penny Dinners is run by a voluntary committee with volunteers coming in every day to cook and clean. The volunteers range in age from teenagers to retired people and they are from all walks of life. Those who come to eat often lend a helping hand too. There is no status and everyone works as a team. The service runs on a first-name basis only, so it doesn’t matter what religious, educational, financial or cultural background you have. What is important is the job that everyone is there to do.

Every day is the same at Penny Dinners. At 7am the meat is picked up from the butchers. The volunteers arrive at 8am and set about cooking the soup, dinner and dessert as well as making sandwiches. They work a day in advance, so vegetables and potatoes are peeled, washed and chopped for the next day. Everybody takes turns in different roles. Those who come to eat are asked to arrive between 11.30am and 12.30pm, but often they turn up cold and hungry at 10am and are welcomed in with tea and toast and somewhere warm and dry to sit. No one is left to go hungry.

Florence Harrison is PRO and a member of the committee that runs Cork Penny Dinners. She explains who uses the service: “People from all walks of life come here, but we have seen a massive increase in recent years due to the recession. We have some regulars and every week we have new faces. It can be a frightening step for people to come for the first time but everyone is treated with respect.”

While providing dinners is the main aim of Penny Dinners, they help people in any way they can: maybe teabags for the man who‘ll want a warm drink later; food that doesn’t need to be cooked for the woman whose electricity has been cut off and has children to feed; a duvet for the homeless man; a warm jacket for the woman with no heating – all provided in a warm and friendly atmosphere. All this is made possible by donations such as meat, potatoes, vegetables, fruit, dry foods, sanitary products, kitchen equipment and voluntary contributions.

Caitriona Twomey is volunteer co-ordinator with Cork Penny Dinners and volunteers her time seven days a week. “We simply could not do this without donations and fundraisers. From the shop that sends food every week, to the young man who comes by every week and gives €20, from the nine year old who had a cake sale to the large companies that send staff in to volunteer at weekends, we could not open the doors without their help. People often ask, ‘is it not depressing to be surrounded by sad stories every day?’, but we are lucky, because we get to see the generous human nature of people that often goes unnoticed. No one wants to see another person hungry and that’s why people help.

“We can see that we are making a huge difference to people. Knowing that a child isn’t going to bed hungry, that some mother isn’t going to be crying because she can’t feed her children, that a person doesn’t have hunger pains, that shows us that we are doing the right thing. It makes it right in my mind. We are lucky to have the opportunity to do this. My hope for the future is that we wouldn’t be needed, but if we are we know we’ll have the things to help us cope.”

Colm Murray People of the Year Award

For his courageous, inspiring and moving response to a devastating diagnosis of motor neurone disease and for his inspirational efforts in speaking out about the condition, the difficulties faced by those affected by it and the need for a cure, Colm Murray was awarded a People of the Year Award.

Read Colm 's Story

As the face and voice of Irish racing, Colm Murray took Irish audiences on a journey from Leopardstown to Aintree and Ballybrit to Cheltenham, bringing us through racing’s highs and lows and giving us the inside track. For over 20 years Colm Murray has brought us the stories from the world of racing, but in 2010 Colm himself became the story when he was diagnosed with motor neurone disease. Having come up against the biggest hurdle he had faced in life, Colm’s true characteristics shone through: he not only dusted himself off and got back in the saddle, but he also brought the nation on the journey with him, to inform, educate and to help those in a similar position.

Colm Murray was born in Moate, Co. Westmeath, the eldest and only boy of four children. After school, he went to University College Galway, where he completed a Bachelor of Arts in English, French and History. After qualifying as a secondary school teacher from Maynooth University, he spent six years teaching in Athlone, Tullamore and Ballymun. In 1978 he responded to a newspaper advertisement seeking a continuity announcer for state broadcaster RTÉ. His application was successful and he began his presenting career on RTÉ Radio’s Hospital Requests. After six years as a continuity announcer and radio presenter, Murray joined RTÉ News as a full-time newscaster. But sports journalism is where Colm’s heart lay and in 1989 he moved to the sports department as a reporter and presenter. He was the first sports broadcaster on the newly launched hour-long news bulletin, the Six One News.

Colm’s father introduced him to the world of racing. It is a love affair that has brought him years of happiness and he was a regular at race meetings both on and off duty. He loves horses and the industry that surrounds them – the early morning rideouts, the changing form, the trainers, the jockeys, the meetings and the tracks. His annual trips to the big race meetings have long been the highlight of his calendar and relationships built with people in the racing community were to prove inspirational in Colm’s time of need.

Colm had been feeling unwell for some time when in March 2010 – days after his 58th birthday – following a series of tests, he was diagnosed with motor neurone disease. As he struggled to come to terms with having an incurable, degenerative disease, his once positive outlook on life was tested, and family life for him, his wife Anne and daughters Kate and Patricia was turned upside down. In an interview with the RTÉ Guide in 2011 Colm described the emotional experience of his diagnosis. “Suddenly everything you've taken for granted is thrown out the window. Your work, your hobbies and your passions all become secondary to the questions you ask yourself about life such as: ‘what's it all about?’ and ‘how long have I got?’ You begin to take stock of your life. You think about the people you love, your children and your wife, and how they would manage without you. You think about God, about your beliefs and about who you really are. [Motor neurone disease] rocks you and forces you to confront yourself and be honest. The time for playacting is now over. This is reality.” This was a true test of Colm’s strength and once he accepted the deal he had been dealt, he began once again, to embrace life and all it had to offer. Two of his first loves, work and racing, offered him purpose, normality and hope.

He returned to work at RTÉ, often reading reports from behind a desk while sitting in his wheelchair. And the racing world welcomed back their friend with open arms. Having initially been embarrassed about his condition and the physical effects it had on his body, Colm decided he wasn’t going to be a victim; he was going to continue living and manage as best he could. And although he knew that his illness was incurable, he vowed to do something positive despite his personal struggle. He chose to speak out so that people could learn more about the disease.

Having been a regular in living rooms around the country through his television reports, in December 2010 Colm graced our screens with a new story to tell – his own story of living with motor neurone disease. His interview on The Late Late Show exemplified the broadcaster’s inspiring characteristics: his openness, honesty, determination and strength.

In a deeply moving documentary, MND – The Inside Track, broadcast on RTÉ in January of this year, Colm brought the nation on his journey of living with motor neurone disease. The programme showed how normal, everyday things such as fastening buttons were becoming increasingly difficult. As a broadcaster whose voice was instantly recognisable, Colm’s visits to the speech therapist to work on maintaining his vocal cords brought home to viewers the reality of the life he now lived.

Colm’s positive outlook made him determined to contribute to the search into finding a cure for the disease. He volunteered for the clinical trial of a new drug and took part in medical trials to help practitioners understand how the disease develops. His doctor, Professor Orla Hardiman of Trinity College Dublin and Beaumont Hospital, hailed him for his willingness “to be of service”. For Colm, it is his most “fervent wish that the coming years will see giant steps forward in the battle to find a cure. It gives me something to hope for. It's a faint glimmer of light at the end of a very dark tunnel.”

Garda Ciaran Jones People of the Year Award

For his enormous bravery, heroism and selflessness, Garda Ciarán Jones was posthumously awarded a People of the Year Award.

Read Garda Ciaran's Story

“Confident, cheerful, helpful”, “a young man who lived by the old values” and “a leading light in our community”. These are the words of Father McDermott, parish priest in Manor Kilbride, Co. Wicklow, describing Garda Ciarán Jones, who lost his life trying to save others in the floods of winter 2011. On the night of 24 October, 24-year-old Ciarán Jones, an off-duty garda from the small village of Manor Kilbride, was returning home to Athdown a few miles from the village with his sister’s boyfriend, Shane, after helping a neighbour put sandbags outside his house. The torrential rain had dramatically swollen the River Liffey, and the force of the river had flooded Ballysmuttan Bridge just off the Sally Gap Road. The two young men knew that any attempt to cross the bridge would be very dangerous for any motorist. With selfless dedication and with the safety of others at the forefront of their minds, they tried to alert a vehicle that they saw at the opposite side of the bridge to the hazards of the rising waters. Then tragedy struck when the intense force of the water engulfed Garda Jones. The power of the river was too strong and he was swept away.

Ciarán’s heroism and the outstanding civic dedication he showed while off duty touched the people of Ireland, and messages of condolence and statements of the highest praise came in from every level of Irish society. Family and friends spoke of his good-natured character, his dedication and the sense of duty that accompanied all Ciarán’s endeavours, whether helping a neighbour in need, playing sport, or in his career in the An Garda Síochana. The national media spoke of his bravery, selflessness and his dedicated service. Speaking in the Dáil, Minister for Justice Alan Shatter spoke of Ciarán’s heroism and dedication, noting that “his actions were in the finest traditions of An Garda Síochána”.

Following a rescue mission that involved the Glen of Imaal and Dublin Mountain Rescue team, the Defence Forces, An Garda Síochána, the Civil Defence, the Coast Guard, Blessington Rescue Boat, neighbours, family and friends, as well as members of the public, Ciarán’s body was recovered. The beloved son of John and Brenda Jones and the loving brother of Michelle and Alan was laid to rest following an emotional funeral mass at St Brigid's Church, Manor Kilbride. Ciarán’s devoted girlfriend, Clare Kennedy, gave a moving tribute to her childhood sweetheart before a packed congregation. Speaking of her love for Ciarán, she said, “Our hearts are broken but I have no doubt he will continue to protect us . . . he was the pride of Kilbride." Taoiseach Enda Kenny, Minister for Justice Alan Shatter, Commandant Michael Walsh (representing the President) and Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan, as well as many of the Force's top officials, were among the hundreds who attended the funeral Mass.

Ciarán was born on 3 November 1986 into the small rural village community of Manor Kilbride. As with so many young people in Wicklow, sport, and in particular GAA, featured prominently in his upbringing. He started playing Gaelic football the first chance he got and it became evident from the very beginning that he had real talent. With a keen boot for scoring points Ciarán quickly established himself as his team’s star full forward, and the number 14 quickly became Kilbride's local hero and one of the community's most cherished sons. He captained the side to the Junior ‘A’ County Final in 2007. Ciarán’s success at club level football was rewarded with a call up by Mick O'Dwyer to the Wicklow senior football panel, and here he realised his dream of donning his county colours. Ciarán was also a keen golfer and he played rugby with Clondalkin Rugby Club. Ciarán had a great personality and everyone in his local community knew and loved him. His talent on the football field was second only to his kind-hearted nature. He was the guy everyone wanted to be friends with. He liked helping other people, so it was no surprise that in 2007 Ciarán fulfilled another lifelong ambition when he joined the Garda Síochána. His passing out ceremony in Templemore Garda College in July 2009 was a very proud day for him and all the Jones family. As a fully fledged member of An Garda Síochána, Ciarán took his job seriously and naturally sought to protect and serve those around him.

Throughout his life Ciarán played a huge part in his local community. As a testament to him, earlier this year the bridge where he made the ultimate sacrifice was renamed the Ciarán Jones Bridge by Wicklow County Council. Speaking to the Jones family at the ceremony to mark the re-naming of the bridge, Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan said he felt a huge sense of pride, coupled with a continuing sense of loss and sadness: “I earnestly hope the memories of happy moments that you shared together will be of solace to you. I am proud to have had Ciarán as a member of An Garda Síochána. His heroism and dedication have been recognised widely, both at home and abroad.”

2012 Irish Paralympic Team People of the Year Award

For inspiring sporting achievements at the 2012 Paralympic Games, the Irish Paralympic Team was awarded a People of the Year Award.

Read 2012 Irish Paralympic Team's Story

At 9.47pm on August 29th 2012 when 39-year old Paralympic cyclist from Artane, Cathal Miller, led the Irish Paralympic Team out to a rapturous reception in the Olympic Stadium in London, it marked not the just pinnacle of many of the athletes’ careers, but the final step on a long and winding road that led to London 2012. Years of dedication, sacrifice, commitment, belief and passion had led to this moment. As a sea of tricolours decorated the stadium, the members of the Irish team savoured the moment. Their dream had become a reality — now it was the time to make new dreams.

The 49-strong Irish Team competed in ten sports over the 12-day event: Athletics (Track & Field), Boccia, Cycling, Equestrian Dressage, Powerlifting, Rowing, Sailing, Shooting, Swimming and Table Tennis. An intense effort was made over the last two years to provide athletes with the best preparation possible for the Games. In 2010, many competed in World Championships. Each athlete set their own individual goals that would push them physically, mentally and emotionally. Training camps were held in Ireland, Northern Ireland and in Portugal helping them to improve their chances of qualification. This proved invaluable for many, and by June this year, 49 Irish athletes had qualified for the Games.

Ireland has been represented at every Paralympics since the event went international in 1960. For some, London 2012 was the first time they competed at the Games, while others are well accustomed to competing on this world stage. London 2012 marked John Twomey’s (sailing) tenth consecutive appearance in a Paralympic Games while Tom Leahy (boccia) made his eighth appearance and Ronan Rooney was competing for the sixth time. There were some firsts also: Séan Baldwin became the first ever Irish air rifle shooter to compete in the Paralympic Games, while, following a successful transition from athletics to powerlifting, Roy Guerin became Ireland’s first Paralympic powerlifter since 1968.

The 2012 Irish Paralympic Team was the most successful Irish team at a Paralympic Games with a total medal haul of 16 — eight Gold, three Silver and five Bronze — placing them nineteenth overall in the medal table. Over the course of the 12 days the Irish public watched with admiration at the skill and determination of all of the athletes, each of whom have overcome disabilities to push their bodies to achieve their sporting triumphs. There were many highlights during the Games. Helen Kearneys’ triumphed in Equestrian with three medals — two bronze and one silver. Catherine O’Neill and Orla Barry were successful in Woman’s Discus with silver and bronze respectively. Over in the pool there were golds for Darragh McDonald in the 400m Freestyle and Bethany Firth in the 100m Backstroke. The Irish team also had great success in cycling where Catherine Walsh and James Brown both picked up bronze medals in their Individual Time-Trials and Catherine who was competing at her sixth Games also won silver on the track. The Equestrian team picked up bronze in the Mixed Team Championship.

Jason Smyth made his mark in Paralympic history with his double win on the track, leaving the competition in his wake as he sprinted to gold in the 100m and 200m, breaking world records in the process. The comparisons with other legends of the track were inevitable. He said “To be compared to Usain Bolt who is probably the greatest athlete in the world at present is a tremendous honour. I wouldn’t call myself a Paralympic legend yet. I will look towards Rio and there is more to come from Jason Smyth yet”.

Mark Rohan stamped his authority on hand-cycling by winning gold in both the Time Trial and the Road Race. The former inter-county Gaelic footballer with Westmeath went into the Games as World Number One and with hope and determination of winning gold. Following his wins he said, “It has been a tough ten years, and to end with this... I have always given 100 per cent to sport. Sport is sport, whether it is in an able-bodied competition or a disabled competition. The emotions are the same.” Mark wants to use his experience to promote sport for people with disabilities. “I want to show people that there are real opportunities out there in sport if you have a disability. I think I will get a lot of satisfaction out of that.”

Sport is about sacrifice and behind every athlete is a vital support network of coaches, trainers, and most importantly, family. For Michael McKillop from Antrim, this is certainly true as his father Paddy is his coach. Michael who has Cerebral Palsy, went into the Games as reigning 800m Paralympic champion and double world champion and world record holder over 800m and 1500m. In a fantastic display of athleticism he retained his 800m title and cruised to victory in the 1500m. Bursting with happiness at his achievement, he was unaware that the best was yet to come as his mother Catherine stepped forward to present him with his medal. Given the honour by sponsors P&G, Ms McKillop’s heartfelt embrace with her son epitomised what sport is all about – pride. It is fitting as athletics plays a very important role in the McKillop family — Catherine met her husband Paddy when they were both All-Ireland under-17 1,500m champions. Michael McKillop exemplifies the spirit of the Games and this was recognised by the International Paralympic Committee when he and one other athlete were awarded the Whang Youn Dai Achievement Award at the Closing Ceremony.

The 2012 Irish Paralympic Team members epitomise the Paralympic motto “Spirit in Motion”. Their outstanding sporting achievements have inspired a nation and in doing have helped to change perceptions of people with disabilities showing that “however difficult life may seen, there is always something you can do, and can succeed at” – Stephen Hawkins, speaking at the Opening Ceremony of the 2012 Paralympic Games.

Maeve Flaherty Neighbour of the Year - Special Category

For her fantastic neighbourly spirit, willingness to turn her home into a place of refuge for people in difficulty, and unwavering support as a friend and neighbour, Maeve was named Neighbour of the Year

Read Maeve 's Story

Maeve Flaherty, from Ballinteer, Dublin 16, winner of the 2012 special award category Neighbour of the Year, for her fantastic neighbourly spirit, willingness to turn her home into a place of refuge for people in difficulty, and unwavering support as a friend and neighbour. “Everyone in Ballinteer knows Maeve,” says Margaret Moran, Maeve’s neighbour of 27 years, who nominated her. Maeve is the epitome of what a good neighbour should be, offering a helping hand to all in trouble, from neighbours caring for a sick relative, children in need of a warm, nurturing home environment, the homeless and those in need of shelter.

Known locally as “Maeve who helps everyone”, she mows the grass on the street, plants flowers, cleans up litter and graffiti, and supports a club in the area for local youths with whom she has a fantastic rapport. Her selflessness is perhaps best illustrated in the incredible support that she has provided Margaret, who is deaf, in caring for Margaret’s husband who is being treated for cancer. “I don’t think myself or my husband would still be here if it wasn’t for her. She lives her life to better the lives of others. She is a true living legend,” says Margaret. The award, promoted in association with RTÉ 2fm’s Tubridy programme, was presented by Ryan Tubridy.

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