Call goes out to honour unsung heroes

THE call has gone out to communities across the county to help honour the unsung heroes living and working within their midst, whose efforts help enrich the lives of those around them.

Now in its fourth year, The Cork County Mayor’s Community Award Scheme was established to give public recognition to the outstanding work, carried out by volunteers across the county, that all too often goes under the radar.

County Mayor, Cllr John Paul O’Shea, said the county was resplendent with examples of individuals and community groups who do trojan work for their respective areas.

“These awards are cork County Council’s way of formally recognising these efforts and the impact they have in bettering communities,” said Cllr O’Shea.

“So if you know a person or group that go out of their way to help others and give up their time to make their community a better place, now is your opportunity to nominate them for an award,” he added.

Cllr O’Shea said the 2015 overall winners “epitomised the very essence of the awards.”

Margaret O’Callaghan, who has campaigned for years to raise the issue of suicide within her community establishing the Suicide Awareness Project in Charleville, won the individual award.

The community/voluntary group award went to Whitechurch Foroige for its efforts on behalf of the youth of the local community.

“There are so many wonderful individuals and groups across Cork County that I would like to afford recognition too, congratulate on the enormous positives they are bringing to their communities and promote further their commitment to their communities,” said Cllr O’Shea.

“Their selflessness, energy and enthusiasm are what these awards represent.”

To nominate an individual or group contact a county councillor, not necessarily your local representative, and ask them for propose your selection.

Nominations can also be made through one of the 22 community leaders who were recently elected to the secretariat of the newly established Public Participation Network (PPN)

The full list Cork County Councillors can be found on www.corkcoco.ie with the PPN secretariat members details are available at www.corkcountyppn.com

The closing date for receipt of nominations is Thursday, March 24 with the awards ceremony set to take place in County Hall on Wednesday, May 11.