| Southsiders are people of the year |
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| Wednesday, 24 September 2008 | |
 Southsiders took pride of place among the winners of the prestigious People of the Year awards recently.Every year the awards provide a unique opportunity for the Irish public to honour outstanding contributions made by individuals and organisations to life in Ireland. The show was presented by Gráinne Seoige for the second year running at a glittering bash in the Citywest Hotel. Dubliners found themselves on the podium among other worthy recipients from around the country. Fr Shay Cullen from Glenageary was presented with the International Person of the Year Award by Marian Finucane for his relentless courage and commitment to protecting vulnerable children from abuse, cruelty and exploitation, and for giving them the opportunity to rebuild their lives with dignity. The 65-year-old Columbian missionary established PREDA, the People's Recovery, Empowerment and Development Assistance foundation, which now runs 12 separate projects dedicated to freeing children from brothels and jails, providing them with homes free from violence and abuse, and the support and education that they need to escape the poverty that feeds the sex industry. Joining Fr Shay on stage was another Southsider boxer Kenny Egan from Clondalkin who, along with fellow fighters Darren Sutherland and Paddy Barnes, was presented with a People of the Year award by Barry McGuigan and Donal Clancy, Quinn Healthcare director, for their character, courage, determination and sheer hard work over many years, culminating in their success in Beijing’s Workers' Gymnasium at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. The boxers gave Ireland one of its biggest medal hauls in the 112-year history of the games, claiming a silver and two bronze medals. In truth, it was a real team effort as each member of the five-man Irish party, which also included John Joe Joyce and John Joe Nevin, was only beaten by the eventual gold medal winner in their category. The Southsiders were honoured alongside fellow Dubs Keith Duffy formerly of Boyzone who was hailed for his work on behalf of children with autism and Robert McLoughlin who has provided a lifetime of entertainment for people in hospitals and the elderly at the event that was televised live by RTE. Angela Kerins, chairperson of the adjudicating panel and chief executive, Rehab, congratulated each of the winners. “The People of the Year Awards are widely recognised as one of the highest accolades a person can receive in Ireland,” she said. “The list of this year’s winners is testament to the winners’ bravery, strength of spirit and outstanding contribution to life in our community.” Sean Quinn, the chairman of the Quinn Group that sponsored the event added: “We are proud to be part of these awards that each year pay recognition to members of the public who have enhanced quality of life in Ireland, increased civic pride or who, through acts of bravery, have touched the lives of the community.” The winners of the People of the Year Awards are chosen by members of the public through a nominations process and finalised by a panel of adjudicators comprising leading members of the media, business, public service and community sectors. |
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Developed by Kevin Flynn