Press

22 April 2011

The People of the Year Awards, Ireland’s national awards ceremony organised by Rehab and sponsored by QUINN-healthcare, celebrates the country’s most inspiring citizens, and today (Thursday, April 7th, 2011) launched its 2011 call for nominations. Members of the public are being asked to join in and nominate ordinary people in their communities who do extraordinary deeds by clicking on www.peopleoftheyear.com or by emailing poy@quinn-healthcare.com.

In Dublin’s Herbert Park, long-time People of the Year Awards supporter, RTÉ’s Claire Byrne, joined with NYPD real-life hero Paul McCormack and some of the nation’s little heroes to launch this year’s nominations campaign. 2011 represents the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks and Paul was commanding officer of the NYPD 41st precinct (Fort Apache – the Bronx) at the time the outrage was visited upon the people of New York city. The New York City Rescue Services, represented by Paul and a number of other colleagues, received a People of the Year Award in Dublin in November 2001 in recognition of their incredible bravery, courage and sacrifice on that fateful day for America and the world.
The 2011 People of the Year Awards take place in Dublin on Saturday 10th September, and will be broadcast before a live television audience of hundreds of thousands on RTÉ One. Now in their 37th year, the Awards become even more celebrated each year and have become a key highlight in the Irish social calendar with Ireland’s great and good sharing in celebrating the achievements of individuals and organisations to life in Ireland and abroad.

Previous winners have come from all walks of life, from all age groups and from all backgrounds – all with one thing in common – their deeds have made a difference at home, in their community and to the nation. Amongst the more high-profile winners have been golfer Graeme McDowell (2010), broadcaster Gerry Ryan (2010 – posthumous award), actor David Kelly (2009), the Irish rugby team (2009), Olympic boxer Kenny Egan (2008), singer/actor Keith Duffy (2008), golfer Padraig Harrington (2007), campaigner Sir Bob Geldof (2005), broadcaster Sir Terry Wogan (2005), and singer Ronan Keating (1999).

The winners of the People of the Year Awards are nominated by members of the public and finalised by a panel of adjudicators. Categories include Young Person of the Year, International Person of the Year, with other Awards presented for achievements in the areas of arts and culture, sport, public sector achievement, among others. Each year, new and exciting Special Award categories are introduced and 2011 promises to be no different – further details will be revealed in the coming weeks! The closing date for entries is Monday, 20th June, 2011.

Angela Kerins, Rehab Chief Executive, said: “The People of the Year Awards have become a really special part of Irish society. Each year on a Saturday night in September, we get to share in the remarkable and moving stories of those whose deeds have made Ireland a better place in which to live. Who can forget Rio Hogarty who was honoured last year for her work as a foster mum in supporting over 140 children over the last 40 years, and the sheer tenacity of Owen O’Keefe who won the Young Person of the Year Award for his tremendous effort in becoming the youngest Irish person ever to swim the English channel for charity. We look forward to similar stories of courage, resilience and common cause in 2011. So please nominate your inspirational heroes now on www.peopleoftheyear.com’’

Commenting on the occasion of the launch, Dónal Clancy, Director and General Manager, QUINN-healthcare added: “We are so proud to be involved with such an outstanding awards ceremony for the fifth year. As well as celebrating the achievements of some of the more high-profile people in our society, the Awards are perhaps at their most precious and memorable in honouring the extraordinary achievements of the ordinary people in our society. Everyone knows a hero in their community and I would urge people to make sure to nominate the heroes in their lives before the closing date of June 20 2011.”

Eddie Doyle, Commissioning Editor, Entertainment Programming, RTÉ Television, commented: “RTÉ is very proud of its long-standing association with Rehab and the People of the Year Awards. Last year over 400,000 viewers tuned in to see the enormous range of achievements of Ireland’s everyday heroes celebrated and we have no doubt that this year’s nomination process will once again bring some remarkable stories from the length and breadth of the country to the fore.”

Nomination forms are available from Rehab, Roslyn Park, Sandymount, Dublin 4 or by telephoning (01) 205 7200.