BLARNEY ALL SET FOR ANNUAL

Excitement is building as eleven ‘Blarney Person of the Month’ nominees are in contention for the overall 2023 title, which will be announced at an awards ceremony on this Saturday night, January 27 at The Castle Hotel in Blarney.

The awards, which will be attended by more than 150 guests, aims to recognise achievement, leadership and altruism in community, sport, business, arts, family or, indeed, from any sector or activity in the local community so that others may be inspired to follow.

“With so many worthy monthly winners during 2023, our panel of judges have once again had a particularly difficult task on their hands to choose an overall winner,” said Kate Durrant, one of the organisers, adding that while the nominees come from a wide range of different backgrounds they all had one thing in common.

“Through their lives and achievements each and every one has excelled in their own special way. In that regard, they are all winners,” said Kate.

The nominees this year include retired home help assistant Noreen O’Mahony, best selling author Michelle McDonagh, Miss Cork Rachel O’Leary, World Transplant Games medal winner Mairead O’Mahony, Catherina Casey who recently received the Freedom of the City of London

in recognition of her work with the Irish community in London, and Micheál Mullins, the Whitechurch midfielder who captained his county at the All-Ireland U20 final.

Last year’s winner was popular Inniscarra man John Connolly who received the 2022 Blarney Person of the Year, whilst All-Ireland winning theatre group Blue Hat Productions was honoured with a Hall of Fame Award.