Inspiring night of celebration for Ireland’s unsung heroes
Some of the country’s most positive people were recognised for their efforts at awards
A MAGICAL evening saw some of Ireland’s unsung heroes recognised for their tireless devotion to Irish society and charity at the first Sunday Independent / Gala Retail Inspiration Awards.
The big winner on the night was Kate Durrant from Co Cork, who received two awards at the black-tie celebration in The Marker Hotel, Dublin, last Wednesday — for
Overall Inspirational Person of the Year as well as the Inspiration in the Community award.
Ms Durrant co-founded Blarney Community First Responders in 2015, along with critical care nurse Deborah Lynch, after three deaths relating to Sudden Adult Death Syndrome (SADS) rocked the community.
“Charity, giving and helping others is in the fabric of what we do in Ireland,”
Ms Durrant said.
“Ireland is full of quiet people picking up litter, the people who listen, who care — the good neighbours, the people who send a dinner into someone who’s been bereaved. That’s what makes Ireland.”
She added: “It’s the quiet people of Ireland, who work with humility, under the cloak of anonymity, who make Ireland wonderful.”
Ms Durrant is part of a network of volunteers, equipped with automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) and trained in CPR and oxygen therapy, who are contacted when an emergency takes place. They’re often on the scene before paramedics.
Since the group’s inception, the team has responded to almost 100 incidents.
Along with two others, she also brought Darkness into Light to Blarney for the first time in 2017, raising over €100,000 for Pieta House.
Broadcaster Lucy Kennedy presented the awards while celebrities including RTE’s Marty Morrissey, Irish soccer legend Niall Quinn, Paddy Smyth, the winner of Channel 4 reality show The Circle, and former Miss Universe and blogger Roz Purcell, presented the accolades to winners.
And while Greta Thunberg may be gaining recognition internationally for her campaign on climate change, Dun Laoghaire schoolgirl Flossie Donnelly (12) was heralded for her significant impact in the fight against plastic right here in Ireland.
Flossie was presented with the Inspiration in Environmental Change award at the event, which she attended with her family.
The young environmentalist has established Flossie And The Beach Cleaners, a marine charity which sees volunteers cleaning waste from our waterways. The group also strives to educate children on the importance of looking after nature.
“I’m super happy to receive the award,” Flossie said. “But no one can tell people how to save the environment. Adults need to remember we’re talking about their child or their grandchild’s future.
“This isn’t about one person, it’s about a generation.”
Flossie’s father Nick said: “Words can’t describe how proud we are. Before Flossie’s campaign, the environment wasn’t top of my agenda. We saw the headlines, of course, but it was really Flossie who brought it home to our family.”
“I don’t want my generation to suffer the plastic problem my parents’ generation made,” Flossie added.
The Inspirational Young Person of the Year award went to 15-year-old Sophia Shally from Westport, Co Mayo, a talented singer who has raised more than €10,000 for the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust by making a CD, Peggy’s Songs, with her mother, Nora.
Sophia was just seven months old when she was injured in a fire, suffering severe burns to her face, hands and scalp. She has had numerous operations and recently underwent more surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, where she had to stay for six months. The procedures are expensive and interrupt her teenage life, yet she remains incredibly resilient.
“It’s amazing to have something positive after everything that’s happened,” Sophia said.
“I hope the award will change perspectives on how burns survivors are represented in the media. I would like us to be seen as normal — like everyone else.”
Aundrey Reilly (48), from Cootehill, Co Cavan, was honoured as Inspirational Carer of the Year for her tireless work providing 24-hour care to her childhood sweetheart and husband, Brendan, who in 2011 was diagnosed with a rapidly progressive form of Multiple Sclerosis.
Brendan is now in the latter stages of the illness and Aundrey has ensured he has remained at home.
“I’m totally stunned to be recognised,” she said. “My husband hasn’t walked in over a year, he’s been wheelchair bound since last Christmas.
“It’s great to show caring in a more positive light, and for the awards to recognise the work we are doing as carers.
“Brendan is very proud of me but I do what I do, of course, out of love.”
In 2017, Aundrey’s father suffered a stroke and she again stepped in, offering care and assistance with daily living, ensuring he remained in his home.
Solicitor and double Guinness World Record holder Dr Sinead Kane was the winner of the Inspiration in Sport award.
Ms Kane (37), from Youghal, Co Cork, has 5pc vision and is registered blind but has never let her disability hold her back.
She broke the Guinness World Record for the furthest distance for a female on a treadmill in 12 hours, running 130.5km — the equivalent of three marathons.
She’s also the holder of a Guinness World Record as the first blind person to complete a marathon on seven continents, in less than seven days, which she did in January 2017.
The athlete also recently competed in the Ultrarunning World Championships after winning a discrimination case against the International Association of Ultrarunners (IAU).
“I’m overwhelmed and shocked to win this award,” Ms Kane said. “You see one person winning, but behind me there’s my guide team, legal team and my family and friends.
“Without these people I wouldn’t be here, so I am thankful for them.
“Running gives me a platform to speak about disability and it builds my confidence. I only took running up at age 30, when I was asked to do a 10k for charity. I don’t do things to win reward but it’s nice to be recognised — it makes it all the more worthwhile.”
William O’Keeffe (66), from Drogheda, Co Louth, received the Inspirational Charity Champion accolade, after raising almost €1m during many years of helping those in need in his community.
The former all-Ireland championship bodybuilder has mounted marathon charity missions such as rollerskating from Tralee, Co Kerry to Limerick, pulling a 60-tonne truck, as part of a team of four and bench-pressing 100 kilos 2,000 times in under 50 hours, to raise funds for Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, the Boomerang Youth Club in Drogheda, and Drogheda suicide prevention and bereavement charity, SOSAD.
He also recently raised money in aid of Hannah Donnelly, a 19-year-old from Drogheda, whom he regards as a “warrior princess”.
The teenager was born with Apert syndrome which causes her bones to fuse together and she needs constant care. Hannah cannot speak, so communicates using her eyes and shaking her head.
She’s been in hospital for two years but due to a lack of funding for 24-hour care, she’s so far been unable to return home.
“It’s wonderful to be recognised but I’m only a keeper of the award,” Mr O’Keeffe said.
“This is for all the people who supported me in the gym, all the people in Drogheda, who put their hands in their pockets.”
Gary Desmond, CEO of Gala Retail, said the winners are “true examples of people who are making Ireland a better place for us all”.
‘It’s great to show caring in a more positive light. Brendan is proud of me’