Super Dan honours Hidden Heroes
CELEBRITIES from across the world of TV and entertainment gathered yesterday for the 2023 Hidden Heroes awards – lauding 11 Irish everyday superheroes for their extraordinary activism.
Singer Daniel O’Donnell, Kin star Yasmin Seky, TV personality Mary Kennedy, actress Jenny Dixon and presenters Emer O’Neill, Nuala Carey and Alan Hughes were all among the guests at last night’s gala.
The ceremony was held at the InterContinental Hotel in Dublin, and Hidden Heroes managing director Stephen Leddy said it was ‘humbling’ to recognise the selfless acts of others – adding that the whole team was ‘in awe’ of those acknowledged. The awards intend to highlight Ireland’s evolving society by congratulating those working towards sustainable communities as well as the ordinary people battling exceptional challenges.
This year’s winners include 35-year-old Dubliner Jonny Dillon, a musician who trained to provide music therapy for the special needs group his brother attends, and Malawian-born Dylan Rebello, a Dublinbased special needs assistant in a primary school dedicated to encouraging children from all walks of life to play and learn together, regardless of their background.
Trish O’Neill from Waterford is the scheme’s first ever Sustainability Hero. A third-generation beekeeper, her love of bees, nature and the natural world has encouraged her to support the ecosystem and natural environment in both her career choice and lifestyle.
Hard of Hearing Hero Kevin Quaid, from Cork, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s nine years ago, and later diagnosed with Lewy body dementia. He is chair of the Irish Dementia Working Group, vice-chair of the European Working Group, and co-founder of Lewy Body Ireland.
As well as being involved in research projects, Kevin has written two books and is a motivational speaker on how to find the positives and passions in one’s life.
The five Phelan brothers, from Dungarvan in Co. Waterford, who cycled the length of Ireland, raising thousands of euros for Crumlin Children’s Hospital, were named the 2023 Family Heroes.