The Community Spirit Awards were launched at the beginning of 2021 to honour and recognise the unsung heroes who volunteer and make a significant contribution to their community in Cork.
(L/R) Gerald McCarthy (McCarthy Gifts & Awards), Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr. Gillian Coughlan, Jack White (Carrigdhoun), Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr. Colm Kelleher, Eoghan Murphy (Deputy General Manager - Cork International Hotel), and Nicola Radley (Judge, Cork Country Council)Nominations were opened to community groups, organisations and individuals in Cork from first-responders to community centres, victim support services to sports groups and those volunteering in the health and disability sectors.
There are 12 monthly winners through to the final which will be decided by an online public vote.
The 12 monthly winners are:
· Jamie O’Toole, Ringaskiddy Tidy Towns
· Cork City Missing Persons Search & Recovery
· One Green Village, Crosshaven
· Elaine O’Regan, Ballygarvan Community Association
· The Rainbow Club
· Frontrunners Cork
· Norman Deane, Harlequins Hockey Club
· Francis McEveney, Passage West Ladies Football Club
· Bru Columbanus
· Ability@Work’s Friendly Phones Initiative
· Kilreen Celtic Underage Coaches
· Carrigaline & District Lions Club
The overall winner will be announced at a special event at the Cork International Hotel.
The Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr. Colm Kelleher congratulated the 12 monthly winners, saying:
“Each and every one of the Community Spirit Award winners can be so proud of what they have achieved. They represent the very best of volunteerism and helping others that can be seen across Cork. It is so important to recognise the unsung heroes who strive to make life better for their community whether it’s spending their free time searching for missing people or providing accommodation for the families of those who are seriously ill in hospital. What may seem like a small deed can make a massive difference, for example the volunteers who give up their time every week to coach our youth teams are helping our young people grow up healthier and happier. Cork is a better place because of all these people and I would like to thank them and the organisers of the awards for shining a spotlight on all that they have done.”
General Manager of the Cork International Hotel, Carmel Lonergan said:
“We have been blown away by the calibre of nominations that we have received over the last year. There are so many remarkable people working quietly in every community in Cork selflessly giving up their time to help others. The 12 finalists are made up of volunteers who have raised millions for charity, spent thousands of hours cutting grass or have provided vital services to their community. It has been a challenging two years for everybody which is why we felt it was so important to recognise and highlight the difference these volunteers are making to all our lives.”
The awards are sponsored by The Carrigdhoun Newspaper and Gerald McCarthy Giftware.
The judging panel was made up of private and public sector representatives including Carmel Lonergan; Nicola Radley, Cork County Council; Aisling Killilea, Bank of Ireland; Vincent O’Donovan and Jack White, The Carrigdhoun Newspaper.
Eoghan Murphy, Deputy General Manager of the Cork International Hotel thanked the judges and sponsors, he said:
“We are so grateful to the judging panel for their time and effort each month, it wasn’t an easy job to select the 12 monthly winners such was the high quality of all the submissions. It is wonderful to see such an inspiring mix of groups and individuals in the running to be crowned overall winner and that is thanks to the people who took the time to make a nomination. I would also like to thank the Carrigdhoun Newspaper and Gerald McCarthy Giftware, their sponsorship has made the awards possible. It is now up to the people of Cork to choose the overall winner.
Online voting is now open, to cast your vote, visit: corkinternationalairporthotel.com/vote/
