.Cathaoirleach Tralee Municipal District, Cllr Jim Finnucane presenting recipients, Louise Quill, Elaine Burrows Dillane, Francie Conway, Brian Walsh with their awards, at the Kerry County Council Annual Awards, at the Great Southern, Killarney on Friday night. Also included is Deputy Norma Foley, TD, Cllr Sam Locke, Cllr Cathal Foley, Michael Scannell, Director of Services, Kerry County Council. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan
KERRY County Council paid tribute to the county’s heroes and achievers at a gala awards ceremony in the Great Southern Hotel, Killarney last night.
Among those honoured were Louise Quill, Elaine Burrows Dillane, Brian Walsh and Francie Conway from Tralee.
The Annual Kerry County Council and Municipal District Awards were presented to teams, organisations, groups and individuals who had achieved notable success and brought distinction and honour to their communities and their native county.
The awards were presented by Cathaoirleach Niall Kelleher to nine County Council recipients and by the respective Mayor and Cathaoirligh to 19 recipients across the five Municipal Districts.
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A Civic Reception was also presented to Killarney man, Ian O’Connell to honour his courage and positive attitude in the face of adversity.
Ian O’Connell was presented with the highest accolade in Kerry, he ws accorded a civic reception by Kerry County Council “For showing strength, bravery and determination in the face of insurmountable odds”. He was honoured by Cathaoirleach Cllr Niall Kelleher, at the annual Kerry County Council and Municipal District Awards, which took place at the Great Southern on Friday night. With Ian are his parents, Mike and Noreen O’Connell and Chief Executive Kerry County Council, Moira Murrell. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan
Cathaoirleach Niall Kelleher said that the wide array of achievements and successes were inspiring and worthy of acknowledgment and celebration by the local authority. ‘We pay tribute tonight to those who have pursued their dreams, excelled in their field, led community or voluntary groups, achieved records and new personal bests, and brought glory to their teams on the field of play.”
‘Your stories and achievements are truly inspiring and prove again that, in Kerry, our people are out best asset. We thank you for your heroism, dedication and tenacity,’ he said.
Council Chief Executive Moira Murrell thanked the elected members of the council for nominating the various recipients and said the nominees showed were thoroughly deserving of their awards.
Mayor of Tralee Municipal District, Cllr Jim Finucane presenting, Elaine Burrows Dillane, with her award, in recognition for her charitable achievement swimming the English Channel, at the Kerry County Council Annual Awards, at the Great Southern, Killarney on Friday night. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan
Tralee Municipal District
• Louise Quill, for her charitable work in Tanzania
• Elaine Burrows Dillane, Channel swimmer
• Brian Walsh, for services to the community
• Francie Conway, for his work with the Christie Hennessy Festival
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.Mayor of Tralee Municipal District, Cllr Jim Finucane presenting, Louise Quill with her award, in recognition of her charitable efforts with the Tír na nÓg Orphanage in Tanzania, at the Kerry County Council Annual Awards, at the Great Southern, Killarney on Friday night. Photo: Valerie O’SullivanMayor of Tralee Municipal District, Cllr Jim Finucane presenting, Brian Walsh with his award, in recognition of his outstanding charitable work in the community of Tralee, at the Kerry County Council Annual Awards, at the Great Southern, Killarney on Friday night. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan.Mayor of Tralee Municipal District, Cllr Jim Finucane presenting Francie Conway, with his award, in recognition of his work, developing and promoting the Christie Hennessy Weekend in Tralee, at the Kerry County Council Annual Awards, at the Great Southern, Killarney on Friday night. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan
County Council awards were presented to:
• Sgt Dermot O’Connell for his creation of the Operation Páistí safety initiative
• Kerry Archaeological and Historical Society for their role in preserving and promoting the history and heritage of the county
• Irish Red Cross Kerry Branch for their volunteering spirit and dedication
• Kerry Academy of Dance for achieving success nationally and internationally
• Gary O’Sullivan, Special Olympics gold medallist
• Kerry All-Ireland Camogie Winning Team 2019
• St Michael’s College Cadet Volleyball Team on winning the all-Ireland title 2019
• Kevin Lynch for his achievement at the European Masters Athletics
• Vincent O’Connor and Martin Guerin for their heroic rescue from drowning of John Kelleher in Listowel in 1972
Cathaoirleach Kerry County Council Cllr Niall Kelleher, presenting Kerry Red Cross, Kerry Branch – Majella Forde and Maureen Millward, with their award, in recognition dedication and volunterring spirit, at the Kerry County Council Annual Awards, at the Great Southern, Killarney on Friday night. Also included is Moira Murrell, Chief Executive Kerry County Council. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan.Cathaoirleach Kerry County Council Cllr Niall Kelleher, presenting Clarissa Michaux, Kerry Academy of Dance, with her award, in recognition achieving success nationally and internationally, at the Kerry County Council Annual Awards, at the Great Southern, Killarney on Friday night. Also included is Moira Murrell, Chief Executive Kerry County Council. Photo: Valerie O’SullivanCathaoirleach Kerry County Council Cllr Niall Kelleher, presenting Marie O’Sullivan, Chair Kerry Archaeological and Historical Society, with their award, in recognition of their role in preserving and promoting the history and heritage of the county, at the Kerry County Council Annual Awards, at the Great Southern, Killarney on Friday night. Also included is Moira Murrell, Chief Executive Kerry County Council. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan.Cathaoirleach Kerry County Council Cllr Niall Kelleher, presenting team members of Kerry Camogie Team with their award, in recognition of their All Ireland Championships 2019, at the Kerry County Council Annual Awards, at the Great Southern, Killarney on Friday night. Also included is Moira Murrell, Chief Executive Kerry County Council and Cllr Mike Kennelly. Photo: Valerie O’SullivanCathaoirleach Kerry County Council Cllr Niall Kelleher, presenting Gary O’Sullivan, with his award, in recognition achieving a Gold Medal at the Special Olympics in 2019, at the Kerry County Council Annual Awards, at the Great Southern, Killarney on Friday night. Also included is Moira Murrell, Chief Executive Kerry County Council. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan.Cathaoirleach Kerry County Council, Cllr Niall Kelleher, presenting Sargeant Dermot O’Connell, Killarney Garda Station, with his award in recognition of his creation of the Operation Páistí safety initiative, at the Kerry County Council Annual Awards, at the Great Southern, Killarney on Friday night. Also included is Moira Murrell, Chief Executive Kerry County Council and Cathaoirleach Killarney Municipal District, Cllr Michael Gleeson. Photo: Valerie O’SullivanCathaoirleach Kerry County Council Cllr Niall Kelleher, presenting Kevin Lynch, with his award, in recognition of his achievement at European Masters Athletics, at the Kerry County Council Annual Awards, at the Great Southern, Killarney on Friday night. Also included is Moira Murrell, Chief Executive Kerry County Council and Cllr Michael Kennelly, Listowel. Photo: Valerie O’SullivanCathaoirleach Kerry County Council Cllr Niall Kelleher, presenting St Michael’s College Cadet Volleyball Team, Listowel, with their award, in recognition of winning the All Ireland Title in 2019, at the Kerry County Council Annual Awards, at the Great Southern, Killarney on Friday night. Also included is Moira Murrell, Chief Executive Kerry County Council and Cllr Michael Kennelly. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan.Cathaoirleach Kerry County Council Cllr Niall Kelleher, presenting Vincent O’Connor, Listowel, with his award, in recognition of his heroic rescue of John Kelleher in 1972, at the Kerry County Council Annual Awards, at the Great Southern, Killarney on Friday night. Also included is Moira Murrell, Chief Executive Kerry County Council, and John Kelleher. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan
Cathaoirleach of Listowel Municipal District Cllr Jimmy Moloney, presenting Ballydonoghue CCÉ Dancers, Cian Horgan, members of Listowel Pitch ’n Putt Club, Grainne Toomey, Sara Allen at the Kerry County Council Annual Awards, at the Great Southern, Killarney on Friday night. Also included is Cllr Mike Kennelly, Joan McCarthy, Manager Listowel Municipal District. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan
Kenmare Municipal District Awards
• Rockmount Care Centre, Kilgarvan
• Mike Moriarty who rescued two tourists from drowning in Valentia
• Tara Foley, Glencar, Sheepdog Trials Champion
• Timothy McGrath, Killorglin student for scientific creativity and ingenuity
Cathaoirleach of Kenmare Municipal District Cllr Dan McCarthy, with receipients of Kenmare Municipal District Kerry County Council Annual Awards, at the Great Southern, Killarney on Friday night.Included Tara Foley, International Sheepdog Trials, Cllr Norma Moriarty, Joanne Moriarty, Tadgh O’Donoghue, Timoty McGrath, Cllr Johnny Healy-Rae, Tom MacDonnell, Cllr Francis Flynn, Martin Moriarty, Siobhan Hayes, Kerry County Council. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan
Killarney Municipal District
• Killarney Scorchers Cheerleading Club
• Killarney Comhaltas Dancers
• Rena Kennelly for creating the Christmas Crib at St Mary’s Cathedral for 46 years
Cathaoirleach of Killarney Municipal District Cllr Michael Gleeson, presenting, all the Killarney recipients with their awards in recognition of their achievements in the town, at the Kerry County Council Annual Awards, at the Great Southern, Killarney on Friday night. Included are, Rena Kennelly, Cllr Maura Healy-Rae, Angela McAllen, Manager Killarney Muncipial, Cllr Donal Grady, Ann Mangan and Members of Killarney CCÉ, Killarney Scorchers Club, Cllr Brendan Cronin, Eileen O’Donoghue, Killarney Municipal District, Cllr Niall O’Callaghan, Cathaoirleach Kerry County Council, Cllr Niall Kelleher. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan
Castleisland-Corca Dhuibhne Municipal District
• John Lenihan, athlete
• Pat Murphy, athlete
• Nuala Moore, sea swimmer
• Seán Mac an tSíthigh, journalist
.Mary Sheehy receiving an award from Mayor of Tralee, Terry O’Brien, at the Kerry County Council Awards on Friday night. Photo by Lisa O’Mahony.
KERRY teams and individuals who excelled in sport during 2016 have been honoured at the first ever Kerry County Council Annual Awards Event at County Buildings in Tralee on Friday night.
Four county teams were honoured with Certificates of Recognition from the full Council with each of the four Municipal Districts also presenting awards to those who had achieved greatness in their own fields last year, including Tralee’s Mary Sheehy.
Representatives from the Kerry Minor 2016 hurling team and management receiving their award at the Kerry County Council Awards on Friday night. Photo by Lisa O’Mahon
Cathaoirleach of Kerry County Council, Cllr Michael O’Shea and Deputy Chief Executive Charlie O’Sullivan made presentations to four county teams who had won national titles in 2016, including the Kerry Minor Football Team who won the All-Ireland Minor Championship, the Kerry Minor Hurling Team who won the All-Ireland Minor B Hurling Final, the Kerry Juniors who were All-Ireland Champions and the Kerry Ladies Under-16s who were All-Ireland Ladies Under-16 A Champions.
The four Municipal District honours were presented by the respective Municipal District cathaoirligh to Mary Sheehy in Tralee MD for her golfing achievements with the Irish Senior Ladies Team at the European Championships in 2016; in the Killarney MD to Fossa Rowing Club who won the Junior Men’s Race at the All Ireland Coastal Rowing Championship; to athlete Alan Gleeson in Listowel MD for his medals haul at the 2016 European Transplant and Dialysis Sports Championships; and in South and West Kerry MD to rower Monika Dukarska achievements in 2016 at the World Coastal Championships and the World University Championships.
Alan Gleeson receiving an award at the Kerry County Council Awards from Cllr Mike Kennelly on Friday night. Photo by Lisa O’Mahony.
Cathaoirleach Michael O’Shea said that this was the first Annual Awards Event hosted by Kerry County Council and by coincidence the eight recipients on this occasion were all sportspeople or sports teams.
“All of our award winners tonight have shown the drive, the enthusiasm and commitment to excel in their respective fields and that is why we want to honour you in our way here this evening. 2016 was a great year for sport in Kerry and our award winners are testament to that,” he said.
Monika Dukarska receiving an award at the Kerry County Council Awards from Cllr John Francis Flynn on Friday night. Photo by Lisa O’Mahony.
The award winners each received a framed Certificate of Recognition and a glass memento of the event. About 100 people including family, friends and colleagues of the recipients. Among the guest speakers were the Chairman of the Kerry County GAA Board, Tim Murphy, the Kerry Ladies Board Chairman, Maurice McNamara and Morten Espersen, High Performance Director with the National Rowing Centre in Cork and leader of the Irish rowing team at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
Representatives from the Kerry Junior 2016 football team’s success receiving their award at the Kerry County Council Awards. Photo by Lisa O’Mahony
