John, 91, awarded prestigious medal for service to Cork's oldest charity

A 91-YEAR-OLD has been recognised for his long service with Cork city’s oldest charity.

John Ahern, living in Ballinlough, was honoured with a prestigious Benemerenti Medal for over 55 years of volunteering with the Sick Poor Society.

The Benemerenti Medal was first awarded by Pope Pius VI as a military decoration.

In 1925, the concept of awarding the medal as a mark of recognition to persons in service of the Catholic Church, both civil and military, lay and clergy alike, became acceptable.

Speaking to The Echo, Mr Ahern said he was first asked to get involved with the charity by the late Canon Michael Crowley.

Mr Ahern’s late father was also a volunteer with the Sick Poor Society, which provides everything from food vouchers to coal and assistance to families with children going back to school.

The charity is reliant on people sending donations to meet the needs of those who require assistance.

“Every Monday night we go around to people and sometimes there might be an emergency call and they ring us up and anytime at all we go around to people and help them," Mr Ahern said. 

The Sick Poor Society was founded in 1820 by a Bartholomew Murphy of Blarney St.

It once had a number of branches, but the Sick Poor Society of the South Parish is the last one remaining. 

It's future, Mr Ahern said, is reliant on the continued efforts of dedicated volunteers. 

“Our membership has dropped off. When I joined, there was 50-60 members in the Sick Poor, now that’s down to – at the max – 14 or 15. 

“I don’t know what the future will hold, that depends on the members themselves and other people to join up.”