EE news 13/01/2018.
Community Garda Sean O'Dwyer, Rev Robert

Ferris, Geoffrey Banda from Zambia, and Tom McGrath attending the awards night. Pic; Larry Cummins.
(STARTS) Blarney and Cork GAA star Mark Coleman was named as 2017 Blarney Person of the Year on Saturday (13th January 2018) at the Blarney Person of the Year reception held at the Blarney Castle Hotel. The popular local man received a rapturous response from the 150 guests at the annual awards ceremony.
Earlier, Blarney Woollen Mills CEO Freda Hayes saw her huge contrbution to Blarney acknowledged when she was inaugurated in the Blarney Hall of Fame for her ongoing contribution to the community.
Speaking at the awards, organiser Kate Durrant said, ”We receive many nominations throughout the year and no one is voted a person of the month lightly. The awards are a way for us to show off the talents and hard work of people who just don't know how to show off. People who work tirelessly under the cloak of invisibility, with humility and for the common good, not for any personal gain.
“ We consider ourselves extremely lucky to live in a village where charitable and altruistic work is the rule and not the exception. The eleven people or groups that are being honoured here tonight richly deserve their monthly award and so much more. The Blarney Person of The Year award endeavours to applaud and recognise our unsung heroes who put their community and their charitable work before themselves.”
The Muskerry News / Blarney & District Chamber of Commerce awards aim is to recognise achievement, leadership and altruism so that others may be inspired to follow.