Rehab Galway People of the Year award winners are announced
Date Published: {J}
The Rehab Galway People of the Year will be honoured at a Gala Banquet to be held in the city in April.
Twelve individuals, clubs and organisations were chosen by a panel of judges, from nominations made by the general public, and were revealed this week.
Three of the awards will go to men who have dedicated their lives to working in the media but have also contributed to their communities. Keith Finnegan has built up a huge profile as a presenter and CEO of Galway Bay FM but is also chairman of Aids Action West as well as having other charitable connections. Jim Carney, sports editor of the Tuam Herald and broadcaster, has used his love of Galway, and particularly its sporting achievements to promote the city and county selflessly.
Ronnie O’Gorman is the third media man, chosen for having set up Ireland’s first free newspaper, the Galway Advertiser and for his support and promotion of the arts. In recent years he has got involved with the city’s small businesses and is current chairman of the Galway Business Association.
Other individuals include Pat Dolan who has fought for children’s rights in Ireland and has worked in St Anne’s Children’s Centre in Taylor’s Hill, John Marley who has worked as psychiatric nurse in the Connemara area and Ray Carroll from Salthill for being part in a four man crew which smashed one of the world’s longest standing records by rowing across the North Atlantic as well as being the holder of four other world records.
Also receiving a People of the Year award are PJ Coyle, head coach of the Galway City Harriers, Martin Fleming of the Corofin branch of Friends of Chernobyl, Peadar Burns, a long standing supporter of Ability West and Marina Fiddler of MADRA, for her incredible work with abandoned, neglected or abused dogs in the Connemara area.
Two organisations nominated are the Galway Hospice for providing a service for patients both at the Renmore facility and in patients’ homes since it was established in 1990 and the Tigers Club in Mountbellew which was established in 2001 to help people with special needs.
The Gala Banquet and presentation of awards take place in the Clayton Hotel on Saturday, April 2.