GAA star Mark is 2017 Blarney Person of the Year
“A real ambassador for his club, his village and his county and a role model for our youth.”
That was how Blarney GAA star Mark Coleman was described on the nomination form for last June’s Blarney Person of the Month award, summing up the respect and admiration in which he is held by the local community.
Last year Mark, who has been the backbone of numerous Blarney GAA teams over the years, made local history when he became the first member of the club to start a senior hurling match for Cork.
Last Saturday night Mark added yet another accolade to his already impressive list of achievements when he was unveiled as the Blarney Person of the Year for 2017 at a gala reception in the Blarney Park Hotel.
Earlier in the evening, Blarney Woollen Mills CEO Freda Hayes saw her contribution to the area recognised when she became the latest inductee into the Blarney Hall of Fame, joining a list of illustrious names who have been honoured for their ongoing contributions to the local community.
The popular duo each received a rapturous round of applause from the more than 150 assembled guests, which included local business people, community leaders, public representatives and previous Person of the Year winners and Hall of Famers.
Jointly sponsored by the Muskerry News and the Blarney & District Chamber of Commerce the awards, now in their eighth year, were founded by John Henchion,Damien Boylan and Kate Durrant and have become one of the highlights of the local social calendar.
Speaking at last Saturday’s event Mr Henchion said they receive many nominations throughout the year, adding that “no one is voted Person of the Month lightly.”
“The judging panel had a really tough job picking an overall winner from the impressive list of 11 monthly winners,” he said.
“The awards are a way for us to show off the talents and hard work of people who just don’t know how to show off. These are people who work tirelessly and often under the cloak of invisibility, with humility and for the common good, not for any personal gain.”
His sentiments were echoed by Damien Boylan who said “we can consider ourselves lucky to live in a village where charitable and altruistic work is the rule and not the exception.”
“These awards endeavour to applaud and recognise our local heroes who put their community and charitable work before themselves,” said Mr Boylan.
“As in the case of both Mark Coleman and Freda Hayes, they also recognise outstanding achievement and leadership so that other people may be inspired to follow in their footsteps,” he added.