June honour for Conal and Liam
A DYNAMIC duo of literary figures have been honoured with one of Cork’s most prestigious awards for their outstanding contributions over many years to arts and culture in the rebel county.
Writer Conal Creedon and city librarian Liam Ronayne were this week unveiled as the joint winners of the Cork Person(s) of the month award for June.
The quintessential Cork writer Conal Creedon is a Corkonian to his very core, something that is readily apparent in his prolific body of work, which includes books, plays, radio, music and his hugely popular ‘chats down Pana’.
Awards organiser, Mallow native Manus O’Callaghan, said Conal’s contribution to Cork’s cultural scene has been immense.
“His creative work started many years ago when he wrote the RTÉ Local Radio series ‘Under the Goldie Fish’, and since then he has produced a huge body of work from his city centre home. He has also been writer in residence at UCC,” said Manus.
“On social media you’ll see him pictured with friends from the artistic community, with captions describing how one of them had just bumped into so and so in town. Conal is playing in The Everyman this week, so people should go along to support him,” he added.
Conal was in typically modest form as he accepted the award.
“I guess the best way to tell people there’s something happening is by not letting them know you’re telling them,” he quipped.
Manus described Liam Ronayne as the man who has “transformed Cork’s libraries into more exciting venues and happening places”.
“Under his stewardship and open-door policy, Liam has facilitated all things artistic and educational, not least literature and poetry readings and launches. He has helped authors get published, children enjoy music and literature in his library spaces, and researchers find old newspapers and city records,” said Manus.
“He just makes things happen and makes libraries a happening place. As you might expect, Conal and Liam are good friends, both of whom have proven to also be great friends to the Cork arts and literary scene over the years,” he added.
Both will go forward for possible selection as the Cork Person(s) of the Year for 2018, the winner(s) of which will be announced at a gala bash next January.