The Lord Mayor honours ‘a hall full of heroes’

Mna Feasa, overall winners - Aba Salami, Carol Goulding, Ruth McLaughlin, Ann O’Mahony, Geraldine Johnson and Mary O’Connell, at the Lord Mayor’s Community & Voluntary Awards, with Lord Mayor Cllr Tony Fitzgerald, Ann Doherty, CEO, Cork City Council, and Maurice Gubbins, editor of the Evening Echo, sponsors at City Hall last night.

The ceremony saw the Lord Mayor, Cllr Tony Fitzgerald, present five Civic Awards to impressive individuals, as well as recognising a further six community and voluntary groups, and handing out awards to members of frontline emergency services and the defence forces for their essential work during Storm Emma and Storm Ophelia.

Tom Coleman, the chairman of Blarney Street Community Association, has worked in the area since 1980, improving the lives of those on the street.

GAA superstar Rena Buckley added her Civic Award to an impressive haul that includes 18 All-Ireland medals in camogie and football.

Pat Lyons of Cork City FC and FORAS also paid tribute to those around him who played a role in his award.

Other nominees included Support After Crime Services, the Alzheimer’s Day Centre, Middle Parish Meals on Wheels, Ballinlough Summer Festival, Club Ceoil Ballyphehane, Gurranabraher & Churchfield Men’s Shed, and the Glen/Ballyvolane/Dublin Hill Men’s Shed.

Mr Gubbins described the amount of voluntary work done in the city as “amazing.”