Patricia is Kerry Person of the Year
LISTOWEL NATIVE DR PATRICIA SHEAHAN SELECTED BY KERRY ASSOCIATION IN DUBLIN
‘OVERWHELMED and honoured’ is how Dr Patricia Sheahan described the moment she was told she had been chosen as the 2020 Kerry Person of the Year.
The messages of goodwill and congratulations have been pouring in from all corners of the county and beyond this week following the announcement.
A native of Listowel, Dr Sheahan was recognised for her outstanding dedication and commitment to cancer patients in Kerry.
She was also praised for her tireless efforts in providing one of the country’s most highly regarded palliative care service units.
“I’m overwhelmed and honoured to receive such a prestigious award. I think when I moved back to Kerry I joined a fantastic team in the Health Service and Kerry Hospice Foundation,” Dr Sheahan told The Kerryman.
She has worked as a palliative medicine consultant in Kerry for the past 17 years, while also developing a fully integrated palliative care service for the people of Kerry, alongside Kerry Hospice Foundation.
Dr Sheahan is highly regarded by her colleagues, patients and their families, as well as the wider community of Kerry and West Cork, where she also leads a community palliative care team. Being honoured with this accolade has made Dr Sheahan reflect on her time working to improve services.
“It has made me look around and see where we are now from where we started. I suppose for the whole of those 17 years I was on a journey. I left Belfast with a multidisciplinary integrated palliative care service and my goal and dream when I came to Kerry was to achieve the same service for the people of the county. It’s been a fantastic achievement getting the best we can for people. I just want to say thanks to everyone I had the privilege of working with,” she said.
Kerry Association Chairperson Keelin Kissane said Dr Sheahan has touched the lives of many families in the county and those families attest to her extraordinary sensitivity and compassion, going above and beyond the call of duty.
Now in its 41st year, The Kerry Person of the Year award is one of the most sought-after accolades for Kerry people.
Moreover, 2020 marks a clean sweep for
Listowel following the announcement that Listowel Tidy Towns picked up the Laochra Chiarraí 2020 Award.
This award recognises exemplary leadership in community activity, which is something Listowel Tidy Town has done in abundance in recent years.
Ms Kissane noted that their hard work, dedication and community spirit over the last 27 years has led to awards for Listowel Tidy Town at county, national and indeed international level.
Dr Sheahan and the Listowel Tidy Town committee are looking forward to being formally presented with their awards at the Oiche Chiarraí gala dinner on Saturday, March 28 at the Red Cow Moran Hotel in Dublin.
Tickets will be available from Wednesday, February 5 on www.kerryassociation.ie (and from committee members).
‘I want to say thanks to everyone I’ve had the privilege of working with’