FOUR local heroes were honoured last weekend at an awards ceremony that celebrated their achievements and the pride they have brought to the Athy Municipal District in which they reside.
Dominic O’Rourke of Athy Boxing Club, Aidan Prendergast of Athy Scouts, transsexual gender recognition campaigner Dr Lydia Foy and St Laurences GAA Club President John Joe Walsh were each presented with the awards at the inaugural Athy Municipal District Community Awards. The awards ceremony took place at the Clanard Court Hotel on Friday night last (15 July).
Athy Municipal District Community Award 2016 recipients, Aidan Prendergast, Athy Scouts; Dr Lydia Foy; Dom ORourke, St Michael Boxing Club and John Joe Walsh, St Laurence’s GAA
Outgoing Cathaoirleach of Athy Municipal District Cllr Mark Wall presented the awards at his last official function prior to his term of office concluding yesterday morning.
Prior to presenting the awards Cathaoirleach Wall read a citation for each of the recipients which outlined their efforts over the years.
Noting how Aidan Prendergast had, with others, convened a meeting in the Leinster Arms Hotel with a view to doing something for the young people of the area Cathaoirleach Wall said; “Aidan Prendergast founded Athy Scouts 39 years ago in 1977 and he was recently awarded The Chulainn, an award which honours profound and long services to scouting. It is the highest award a leader can receive in scouting.”
Summing up the achievements of John Joe Walsh Cathaoirleach Wall said: “John Joe came to Kildare in 1956 and he joined St Laurence’s in 1957, the year the club was born as a result of Narraghmore and Ballitore GAA clubs finding it impossible to field teams in the bleak 50s. Over the years he has made many great friends in Kildare and in St Laurence’s where he is still involved and is currently president of the club.”
The cathaoirleach noted how as a young boy Dominic O’Rourke had competed for St Michael’s Boxing Club and had county and Leinster success before helping to revive the club in the 1960s. “Little did anyone realise at that time that they were witnessing the birth of a club which would go on to be the most respected and successful club in Ireland.”
Turning to Dr Lydia Foy Cllr Wall commended her on her 22 year campaign to have her gender recognised on her birth cert and he noted how this had led to the enactment of legislation last year which saw her dream realised.
“Dr Lydia Foy is an Irish transgender woman who is notable for having taken legal challenges regarding gender recognition in Ireland. In 2005 Dr Foy was awarded the Prestigious Citizen’s Prize in Brussels by the EU parliament in recognition of her campaign for the rights of transgender people in Ireland.”
The awards presented to the four recipients were created by wood turner and master craftsman Emmet Kane from ash grown in the Castledermot area.
The carved pieces carry the title Pobai which is the Irish for community and the scorched textured surface of the award represents the leadership shown by the recipients and carved coloured lines represents the many journeys they travelled over the years involved with their community.
It is anticipated that the Athy Municipal District Community Awards will become an annual event.
