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Katie Hannon with family and friends as she was honoured with the 2023 Kerry Person of the Year and
Photo By : Domnick Walsh © Eye Focus LTD
KATIE Hannon was honoured as 2023 Kerry Person of the Year and two Radio Kerry sports broadcasters were honoured as the 2023 Laochra Chiarraí winners by the Kerry Association in Dublin at a banquet in the Louis Fitzgerald hotel on Saturday night.
Katie Hannon, journalist, radio and TV presenter with RTÉ, was honoured as the Kerry Person of the Year for 2023 by the Kerry Association in Dublin.
Ambrose O’Donovan and Tim Moynihan, Radio Kerry GAA broadcasters, also received the 2023 Laochra Chiarraí award at the banquet.
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The Kerry Person of the Year award, now in its 42nd year, recognises an individual who has shown leadership, brought honour to the county, and performed services for the county to such an extent that could be described as beyond the norm of everyday life.
Tim Moynihan and Ambrose O’Donovan Radio Kerry GAA broadcasters, received the
2023 Laochra Chiarraí award at the banquet. Photo By : Domnick Walsh © Eye Focus LTD
During her tribute to Katie Hannon, a native of Duagh, the Cathaoirleach of the Kerry Association in Dublin, Mary Shanahan, said “this award is presented in recognition of the valuable contribution Katie has made to public service broadcasting”. She made reference to Katie’s work on exposing allegations of sexual assault of women in the Irish Defence Forces in a special programme ‘Saturday with Katie Hannon’ in 2021, entitled ‘Women of Honour’.
Following this exposure, a Government investigation was established and all 13 recommendations in the final report, published in March 2023, were accepted in full by the Government. Mary also referenced Katie’s voluntary work in the County as Patron of Kerry Hospice Foundation.
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Michael O’Regan, President of the Kerry Association said; “The awards recognise the exceptional contribution made by the recipients to the broader community in the public service and sporting areas”.
Katie Hannon at the Kerry Association awards in Dublin. Photo By : Domnick Walsh © Eye Focus LTD
Katie said “I am delighted and honoured to be named Kerry Person of the Year. For me ‘home’ has always meant Duagh and I will always be a Kerry woman in exile. So this is very special. In a year when we are debating the value of public service broadcasting, it also means a lot that the Kerry Association in Dublin has chosen to highlight an example of public interest journalism that has had a positive impact – although of course the credit for revealing the challenges women faced in the Defence Forces must go first and foremost to the women who were brave enough to come forward and tell me their stories.”
Ambrose O’Donovan and Tim Moynihan were selected as the 2023 Laochra Chiarraí award winners in recognition of the enormous contribution they have made to the lives of Kerry people at home and abroad, with their lively, informative, entertaining and passionate Radio Kerry broadcasts of Kerry league and championship matches.
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Tim said “I am thrilled an honoured to be selected along with Ambrose in receiving the Laochra Chiarraí 2023 award. It was a very pleasant surprise to both of us and humbling when such an award is selected by our own people. Broadcasting games is something we enjoy, and it carries with it a huge responsibility. Gaelic Football is part of the Kerry DNA, and it means so much to so many people. A big thank you again to the Kerry Association for their continuous support and making it a night that will live long in the memory.”
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