THE Kerry Association in Dublin’s Kerry Person of the Year has been announced as Dr Patricia Sheahan.

Listowel native Dr Sheahan, is Head of Palliative Care at University Hospital Kerry, has been central to the development of palliative care services in the county. She will receive her award in March.

The Laochra Chiarraí award has also been announced as Listowel Tidy Towns for their enormous success and community efforts over the past number of years. The announcements were made on Radio Kerry this morning.

Continued below…

Dr. Sheahan has been recognised for her outstanding dedication and commitment to cancer patients in Kerry, and her tireless efforts in providing one of the country’s most highly regarded palliative care service units.

Dr. Sheahan has worked as a palliative medicine consultant in Kerry for the past 17 years, while also developing a fully integrated palliative care service for the people of Kerry, alongside Kerry Hospice Foundation.

She is highly regarded by her colleagues, patients and their families, as well as the wider community of Kerry and West Cork, where she also leads a community palliative care team.

Making the announcement on Radio Kerry today, Kerry Association Chairperson, Keelin Kissane, noted that the 2020 winner has touched the lives of most families in the county and those families attest to her extraordinary sensitivity and compassion, going above and beyond the call of duty.

The Kerry Person of the Year award, which is now in its 41st year, dates back to 1979 when Dr Michael Carmody became its inaugural winner. Its list of high-profile winners makes it one of the most sought-after accolades for any Kerry person.

In a clean sweep for Listowel, the Listowel Tidy Towns Committee were announced as the  recipients of the 2020 Laochra Chiarraí award, which recognises exemplary leadership in community activity in the county.

Making the announcement, Kerry Association Chairperson, Keelin Kissane, noted that the hard work, dedication and community spirit of the Listowel Tidy Towns committee over the last 27 years has led to awards for Listowel at county, national and indeed international level and is a wonderful example of exemplary community activity.

The Kerry Person of the Year award, now in its 41st 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 being beyond the norm of everyday life.

The awards will be presented at the Association’s annual Oiche Chiarraí which will be held in the Red Cow Moran Hotel on Saturday, March 28.

Tickets for Oíche Chiarraí will be available from Wednesday 5th February on www.kerryassociation.ie or from any committee member.  It promises to be a fantastic Kerry night of celebration in the capital.