Press

12 September 2009

The Irish Rugby Team, campaigning father Steve Collins, actor David Kelly, and institutional abuse survivors among those to receive awards.

Saturday, 12th September 2009: The Irish Rugby team represented by Brian O’Driscoll, Jerry Flannery and Luke Fitzgerald, and actor David Kelly were amongst those honoured this evening with a People of the Year Award at a star-studded ceremony at the Citywest Hotel in Dublin. Christine Buckley and Michael O’Brien each received the honour of an Award for their continued campaigning on behalf of those abused in institutions in Ireland as did Steve Collins for his extraordinary bravery in the face of unprecedented gangland intimidation and unbearable personal loss.

Organised by Rehab, sponsored by QUINN-healthcare and televised live on RTÉ One, the People of the Year Awards provide a unique opportunity for the Irish public to honour outstanding contributions made by individuals and organisations to life in Ireland. You can find out more about the Awards at www.peopleoftheyear.com. The Awards this year celebrate their 35th anniversary and were presented by RTÉ’s Gráinne Seoige for the third year running, with the Tánaiste, Mary Coughlan TD, as Guest of Honour at the event.

The twelve Award winners were as follows:

1. The Irish Rugby Team was awarded a People of the Year Award for its skill, dedication and sporting success and for lifting the entire nation in difficult times. Following Triple Crown successes in 2004, 2006 and 2007, and in a stunning display of true grit and character, this Golden Generation of Irish rugby earlier this year collected the RBS Six Nations trophy and the country’s first Grand Slam victory for 61 years and, in so doing, achieved their destiny as Ireland’s greatest-ever rugby team. The Award was presented by rugby legend Willie John McBride and Rehab Chief Executive Angela Kerins.

2. Brian O’Driscoll received a surprise People of the Year Award on the night in recognition of his personal achievement and immense contribution to Irish rugby as captain of the Ireland and Leinster rugby squads and as a Lions player. In particular, he was cited as being an inspiration to his country and for his outstanding qualities of leadership, courage and flair, which were pivotal in assuring the Irish team of Grand Slam triumph.

3. David Kelly was presented with a People of the Year Award by Colm Meaney and Niall Tóibín for his immense contribution to stage and screen in Ireland and as an international film star. With appearances in countless productions during a professional career spanning over 55 years, from Strumpet City to Waking Ned, from Fawlty Towers to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the Dublin actor is regarded by many as a national treasure.

4. Christine Buckley and Michael O’Brien were both honoured with a People of the Year Award in recognition of their courage, honesty and dignity in campaigning on behalf of the survivors of institutional abuse. In recounting with raw eloquence the traumatic childhood experiences of cruelty, neglect and physical and sexual violence that they and others endured, both Christine and Michael have sought to ensure that no other child will ever have to undergo what they suffered in the State’s care. An Tánaiste, Mary Coughlan TD, presented Christine and Michael with their Awards.

5. Steve Collins was awarded a People of the Year Award for his extraordinary bravery in the midst of the unimaginable loss of his son Roy, who was murdered in Limerick, and in the face of continued threats to his life and the lives of his loved ones. Steve’s refusal to give into the gangs and his campaign to reclaim the streets from criminality has seen thousands of Limerick people rally behind him in a collective show of support, and a determination that people will not be intimidated and that the gangland bosses will be defeated. The Award was presented to Steve by RTÉ broadcaster Pat Kenny.

6. Eleanor Thomson received a People of the Year Award from singer Sharon Corr for her kindness, extraordinary compassion and selfless devotion to a dying man. Eleanor, who herself had been diagnosed with cancer, befriended Kevin – a complete stranger who was suffering from bowel cancer – on her frequent trips from Dundalk to Dublin for treatment. Eventually, as Kevin’s cancer grew worse, Eleanor invited him to stay in her home for Christmas, and then every weekend, to the point, when he became seriously ill, that she took him in full-time and became his carer until he died last February. Eleanor’s story reads like a modern-day Good Samaritan tale in ensuring that Kevin died with dignity and surrounded by love.

7. The Irish Hospice Foundation was awarded with a People of the Year award for its support and commitment to the development of a comprehensive hospice/palliative care service in Ireland and for its vision for the future care of all people facing the end of life. Just some of the innovative programmes in which the Foundation is active today include the Hospice-friendly Hospitals Programme, the Children’s Palliative Care Programme for children with life-limiting illnesses in the community, and the Extending Access Programme for patients with conditions other than cancer. The Award was presented by TV personality Mary Kennedy.

8. Ronnie Drew was posthumously awarded a People of the Year Award for his crucial role in re-energising Ireland’s musical heritage and for his inspirational talent as a musician and vocalist that brought so much pleasure to so many people. Ronnie was an iconic figure on the Irish music scene and, together with his trademark gravel voice and long grey beard, was unique. Ronnie died on August 16 2008. His son, Phelim Drew, accepted the Award on behalf of his father from Phil Coulter.

9. Bernadette Lanigan was presented with a Special Award as Nurse of the Year by Brenda Fricker and Dónal Clancy, General Manager, QUINN-healthcare, for her unparalleled dedication and care for the children who attend the eye department in Temple Street Children’s University Hospital. Bernadette is central to every area of patient care in the eye department and an unsung hero to the 10,000 children who visit the facility each year and for whom that extra personal touch is her special calling card. One of her patients, 12-year-old Michael O’Connor, says “Bernie deserves this award because she has worked hard for her entire career as a nurse and stands out above everyone else in the hospital in my memory.”

10. Sarah Kavanagh, age 20 from Rathgarogue, Co. Wexford, was honoured with the Young Person of the Year Award by Peter Kelly, aka Franc of Brides of Franc, for her immense courage in saving the life of her sister. In June 2008, a freak accident at a local petrol station saw a car suddenly career out of control and smash into a petrol pump immediately setting the forecourt alight and trapping Michelle, then aged 12, whose foot was stuck in the petrol pump with her shoe on fire. Sarah ran to her sister, and mustering every fibre of strength in her body, freed her from the carnage before dragging her to safety seconds before the entire petrol station blew up in flames.

11. Debbie Deegan received the honour of International Person of the Year from columnist Brendan O'Connor for bringing love and hope to children who need it most and for making a life-changing contribution to thousands of abandoned children in the Bryansk region in Russia. Debbie founded the charity To Russia with Love with the initial goal of supporting the Hortolova orphanage where conditions had been horrendous. The charity has since expanded its work to support another ten orphanages in the region, as well as funding a range of activities including reuniting separated siblings and supporting teenagers in the orphanages to move onto third level education.

12. Sylvia Meehan was presented with a People of the Year Award by former President Mary Robinson for her skill and tenacity in asserting the rights of older people. A vociferous campaigner for equal rights and older people, last year she led a determined campaign against the abolition of the universal entitlement to the medical card for the over 70s. Sylvia mobilised huge numbers of older people in a show of strength that was unprecedented in the history of the State and which became known as the “grey revolution”.

Angela Kerins, Chief Executive, Rehab, congratulated all of the winners: “This year is a very special year for us at Rehab as we celebrate 35 years of the People of the Year Awards. With each of the winners nominated by members of the public, these are truly the People’s awards. The winners this year and the winners 35 years ago each have one thing in common – the ability to contribute to life in our community, through bravery, courage, commitment and love. This past year has been a challenging one for the Irish people but, like so many times in our history, we are at our best under pressure and these Award winners reflect that real strength and character with their extraordinary achievements.”

Commenting on the Awards, Sean Quinn, Chairman of the QUINN Group said: “QUINN-healthcare is delighted to be involved with the People of the Year Awards for the third year running. We are particularly proud of this year’s special award which honours the nursing profession, as we recognise the importance of providing quality and compassionate service to those who most need it. These unsung heroes offer so much more than medical expertise and I congratulate Sister Bernadette Lanigan for her many years of dedication at the eye department in Temple Street Children’s University Hospital, along with all of the Award winners. I salute Rehab in organising these Awards for the past 35 years and we look forward to their continued success as we approach the next decade of the Awards’ existence.”

The winners of the People of the Year Awards are chosen by members of the public through a nominations process and finalised by a panel of adjudicators. For more information on the Awards, log onto www.peopleoftheyear.com, or become our Facebook friend – you can find us at “People of the Year Awards”.

ENDS

For additional information and interview requests with previous winners, Rehab or QUINN-healthcare, please contact:

Don Delaney, Rehab, Tel.: +353 1 205 7311 / +353 86 835 8575

Notes to Editors

ABOUT REHAB

Rehab is a leading charity which works towards a world where every person has the opportunity to achieve their potential. Over 3,600 Rehab staff provides health and social care, training and education, and rehabilitation, employment and commercial services in Ireland, England, Scotland, the Netherlands and Poland. Every year, more than 56,000 people and their families benefit from the supports provided by Rehab in over 200 locations. For more information see www.rehab.ie

ABOUT QUINN-healthcare

QUINN-healthcare launched in April 2007 and since then has gone from strength to strength. The company currently has a membership base of over 500,000 and this success can be attributed to its reputation for professionalism and expertise in providing healthcare solutions to both individuals and companies. The company strongly focuses on providing excellent customer care, comprehensive benefits and great value health insurance. For more information see www.quinn-healthcare.com

ABOUT RTÉ

RTÉ is Ireland’s Public Service Broadcaster. RTÉ operates two complementary television channels, RTÉ One and RTÉ Two and four radio stations, RTÉ Radio 1, RTÉ 2fm, RTÉ lyric fm and RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta. RTÉ also publishes Ireland’s best-selling magazine, the RTÉ Guide, operates Ireland’s leading teletext service, RTÉ Aertel, and provides up-to-date news, current affairs and entertainment information via Ireland’s most popular media website, RTÉ.ie. RTÉ is also a major contributor to the arts in Ireland and supports five performing groups - the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra, the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, the RTÉ Vanbrugh Quartet, the RTÉ Philharmonic Choir and RTÉ Cór na nÓg. For more information see www.rte.ie