Down Syndrome centre Cork named Unsung Hero of 2022

A centre established up by a group of mother and father to deliver essential intervention providers to younger children with Down syndrome and their families has been named the total winners of the Cork Intercontinental Resort Community Spirit Award 2022.  It is the 2nd 12 months of the every month awards to honour the unsung heroes who volunteer and make a sizeable contribution to their local community.

A gala evening meal was held at the Cork Intercontinental Hotel to celebrate the 12 monthly recipients and to title the over-all winners. The awards evening was attended by Cllr. Fergal Dennehy who deputised on behalf of the Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr. Jack White who deputised on behalf of the County Mayor, and elected representatives from the community who were associated in the awards in the course of the calendar year.

Down Syndrome Centre Cork, the May winner, was announced as the Judges Over-all Winner at the special event. The Forge Hill primarily based centre was established in 2014 and depends solely on fundraising to produce occupational remedy, speech and language treatment, early intervention programmes as perfectly as father or mother and little one classes. It also runs occasions for siblings and networking activities for parents.

The general public vote went to the Friends of Danny Crowley, the January winner. Pursuing Danny’s untimely passing following a long fight with leukaemia in 2013 at age 12, his pals and relatives set up the Danny Crowley Xmas Swim as their way of remembering him although also elevating resources for the Mercy Kids and Teenagers appeal. Because the once-a-year event began in 2013, very well in surplus of €150,000 has been lifted for the young people at the Mercy Healthcare facility.

Willie Walsh from Carrigaline United AFC, who won the Oct award, was introduced with a Lifetime Contribution Award. Willie is Club Chairman of Carrigaline United AFC and is credited as being the driving power guiding the club’s massive expansion and achievements in new decades. He is also greatly concerned in the local local community and is a volunteer and Board Member with the Carrigaline Household Aid Centre.

Eoghan Murphy, Common Supervisor of the Cork Global Hotel claimed, “We ended up thrilled to host the 2nd annual awards evening for the winners, their spouse and children and good friends. It is superb to be capable to obtain and rejoice so many impressive individuals and groups who contribute so considerably to their communities. These volunteers are performing during Cork in each individual neighborhood and we are delighted to be ready to place them in the highlight. I would like to congratulate the in general winners again but also the regular monthly winners for their time, determination and dedication to the communities that they serve and for the effect they keep on to have on all our life.”

Director of Group Operations with Trigon Inns, Carmel Lonergan was on the judging panel, she mentioned: “We are honoured to be ready to witness these a wide assortment of local people and groups be nominated each and every thirty day period for these awards. All through the system we get huge insights into all the astounding get the job done volunteers do in the nearby local community. Making the ultimate variety is never ever effortless as everybody is so deserving of the recognition. Congratulations to all winners throughout the year, they are a favourable inspiration to us all to get out and do function within just our communities.”

The awards are sponsored by The Carrigdhoun Newspaper and Gerald McCarthy Giftware. The judging panel was manufactured up of non-public and community sector reps which include Carmel Lonergan Nicola Radley, Cork County Council Aisling Killilea, Bank of Eire and Vincent O’Donovan, The Carrigdhoun Newspaper.

Through 2022, there was a single winner for each thirty day period awarded and they were:

• January – The Friends of Danny Crowley

• February – Aisling Claffey, Carrigaline Lady Guides

• March – Carrigaline Community Very first Responders

• April – Cork’s Everton AFC

• May perhaps – Down Syndrome Centre Cork

• June – John Middleton Jnr, Crosshaven GAA

• July – Crosshaven Coast Guard

• August – Coal Quay Loved ones Festival

• September – Conserve Ballymartle Woods

• Oct – Willie Walsh, Carrigaline United AFC

• November Five Mile Bridge Local community Group

• December – Walty Murphy, Passage West