Milford Care Centre win Limerick Person of the Year award 2023
Milford Care Centre have been named Limerick Person of the Year 2023 at a ceremony in the Clayton Hotel in Limerick last Thursday. The centre, which provides specialist palliative care services and older persons services in the Midwest, was honoured by the judges for their “incredible work with some of the most vulnerable people in the community.”
Munster and Ireland rugby legend Keith Earls was awarded a Lifetime Achievement award at the ceremony and said it has been his “honour to represent Limerick all over the world”. Born in Moyross, Keith earned 202 caps for Munster and 101 for Ireland throughout his inspirational career, retiring from rugby in 2023.
This is the 23rd year of the awards that were set up to honour the achievements and success of local people at home and abroad.
‘SIGNIFICANT’ CONTRIBUTIONS
Speaking at the awards ceremony, Mayor of the City and County of Limerick, Cllr Gerald Mitchell, congratulated Milford Care Centre.
“The Limerick Person of the Year Awards are a fantastic recognition of people and organisations making significant positive contributions to life in Limerick. The Milford Care Centre are worthy overall winners for their tireless work with some of the most vulnerable people in our community. There is hardly a family in Limerick that has not experienced the empathetic, professional care the Milford staff provide to patients and their loved ones, guiding them through a very difficult period.”
Accepting the Limerick Person of the Year award 2023, chief executive of Milford Care Centre, Mary O’Brien, said it would give the hard working staff a boost.
EARLS HONOURED
At the ceremony, Keith Earls was accompanied by his wife Edel, who he quipped “should get a lifetime achievement award for putting up with me.”
The rugby legend received a standing ovation as he was called for his award and gave an emotional, off the cuff speech.
“Limerick means so much to my family. Limerick faced many challenges as I was growing up and putting things right for Limerick and not having people speak badly about Limerick was my motivation. All my travels all over the world, all my achievements, the thing I used to look forward to the most was getting back to Limerick and getting into the city centre and strolling around, meeting the characters and some of the great people of Limerick.
“It was an honour for me to represent them and one of my favourite moments last year was to bring a trophy back to Thomond Park for the people of Munster and the people of Limerick.”
Mayor Mitchell added that Keith Earls has been an inspiration both on and off the pitch.
“I was delighted to see Keith Earls being honoured for his amazing contribution to sport, representing Limerick at the highest levels across the world. He has provided so many thrilling moments on the pitch during a glittering 16 year career while also being a fantastic ambassador for Limerick. Keith has also spoken openly and bravely about his bi-polar disorder diagnoses in 2021, helping to create awareness of the condition. Even in retirement he continues to be an inspiration.”
Speaking about his retirement, Keith said: “I am genuinely starting to grieve my rugby career at this moment. It was an honour to represent Limerick my whole career and it’s an honour to be up here to receive this award.”
The monthly winners across 2023 were as follows:
January – Monaleen Intermediate Hurling Team, All-Ireland Intermediate Club Hurling champions; February – Hermitage Green - Music Legends and Limerick Ambassadors; March – Serosep – Community and Charity Support; April – Molli-Ann O’Halloran - ASD Advocate; May – Fr Seamus Enright – Community Action; June – The Munster Rugby Team - United Rugby Championship winners; July – Limerick Senior Hurling Team – Four in a Row All Ireland winners; August – Milford Care Centre; September – Limerick Youth Service - Golden Jubilee celebrants; October – Ben Holland, six year old who came to Mother’s Rescue; November – Croom Community Development Association – Work in the Community; December – Dermot Whelan, Champion of Mental Health and Mindfulness.
The annual Limerick Person of the Year awards are jointly sponsored by the Limerick Leader, media agency Southern and the Clayton Hotel.