West Cork wins both top honours at County Mayor's  Community Awards

A community leader from Castletownbere and a group that provides an inclusive environment for people of all abilities to participate in sports have received the top awards at the 12th annual Mayor’s Community Awards in Cork County Hall.

The Mayor of the County of Cork Joe Carroll presented 11 awards, and congratulated all the nominees and winners.

He said: “The commitment by volunteers and community leaders in County Cork to making their local areas better for all is unparalleled.

“Their resilience, dedication, and community spirit are truly inspiring and these awards are about recognising and celebrating our exceptional nominees.”

Individual winners across Cork were Maria Walsh, Margaret Searson, John Casey, and overall individual winner Donal Kelly, from Castletownbere.

Group winners

Group winners were Timoleague Educational Garden, Kinsale Youth Community Centre, Carrigaline Men’s Shed, Upstart Festival Committee, The Board of the Schoolyard Theatre, Mitchelstown Community First Responders, and overall group winner, West Cork Jesters.

Mr Kelly has held numerous roles over the last 50 years, including chair of the Queen of the Sea Festival, Castletownbere GAA, Berehaven Golf Club, and the Berehaven Camper and Amenity Park. He founded the Beara Action Group and has been instrumental in the Castletownbere Development Association.

West Cork Jesters was founded in 2018 to introduce members of a local disability support group to tag rugby, and has expanded to include boxing, yoga, ball skills, arts, social gatherings, gardening and cooking demonstrations.

Chief executive of Cork County Council, Moira Murrell, said: “Cork County Council is proud to work alongside our elected members, businesses, and community groups to ensure that our county continues to grow and flourish.

“However, none of this would be possible without the people who give their time, energy, and passion to strengthening the fabric of our communities.”