Here are the citations from The Pride of Cork Awards 2024 the evening and we will soon publish some social imagery and a video from the night.
The Kabin
Our first award this evening honours honour The Kabin Studio Cork. The Kabin is a not-for-profit vibrant music and creative hub, repurposed from a metal container in Knocknaheeny on the Northside of Cork City. Established by GMCBeats in 2012 with the support of Music Generation Cork City, The Kabin has grown out of a love for hip hop, songwriting, performance and creative expression. The Kabin runs workshops, camps and projects in a safe, fun, non-judgemental space filled with instruments, music production and recording equipment. People from the local community and beyond can freely express themselves through rap, songwriting, poetry, video making, podcasting, art and digital media. The Kabin has done extraordinary work with both kids and adults and their performers are regular performers on The Toy Show of The Late Late Show.
Ladies & Gentlemen, This Pride of Cork Award 2024 goes to The Kabin
Caitriona Twomey – Cork Penny Dinners
We are delighted to recognise once again the incredible and never ending work of one of Cork’s oldest charities Cork Penny Dinners, with A Pride of Cork Award 2024 Cork Penny Dinners is operating over 136 years since 1888 and is the only organisation to ever receive A Pride of Cork Award twice. This according to the judges is because of its incredible open door policy that provides a hot nourishing meal, sandwiches, evening food to take away as well as survival bags and all on a 7 days a week all year round basis including Christmas Day. The Chairman of the judging panel of The Pride of Cork Awards 2024 Michael Mulcahy said, “Cork Penny Dinners is without doubt an organisation that not only helps people, but keeps people alive, it feeds them, it welcomes them and it’s a home from home for them. Some of our most vulnerable citizens and some of our families in greatest need are being cared for by the love, support and generosity of Cork Penny Dinners with over 1,000 meals a day being provided, and in turn everyone that supports their work through volunteerism or by donating to them is helping. This is why we believe a second Pride of Cork Award is justified for Cork Penny Dinners, so that we can send a very clear message out to everyone that this organisation is so much more than a lifeline for so many in Cork”. The need for the services of Cork Penny Dinners has grown to such a degree that that lines now form right down to the end of Little Hanover Street on certain days. Cork Penny Dinners is led by the incredible and inspiring Caitriona Twomey and an outstanding team who deliver 365 days of the week for our fellow citizens. Cork Penny Dinners does not receive any Government funding. Funding comes from individuals, companies, and local organisations. Many companies and individuals help with donations of goods, produce and expertise. These donations are vital to the day to day running of services.
Ladies & Gentlemen, to accept The Pride of Cork Award 2024 for Cork Penny Dinners, please welcome the amazing Caitriona Twomey
Headway Ireland
We are delighted to honour Headway Ireland with A Pride of Cork Award 2024. Headway is a nationwide service that strives to promote understanding and support for all aspects of brain injury. They have three locations in Cork, Ballincollig, Carrigrohane and Mallow. Their mission is to provide information, support, and services to survivors, their families, and carers of brain injury. Their Day Rehabilitation Services are designed to empower you to live as independently as possible, helping you reach your goals and unlock your full potential in day-to-day life. They encourage people with brain injury and their familes and friends journey toward recovery and resilience together Some of the lifeline services they offer are group and social rehabilitation, helping with return to work and courses and skills training.
Ladies & Gentlemen, to accept The Pride of Cork Award 2024 for Cork Penny Dinners, please welcome the members of Headway Ireland
JP Quinn
Cork Civic Life is delighted to confer A Pride of Cork Award 2024 on JP Quinn. JP Quinn has been Head of Visitor Services at University College Cork since August 2005. With a knack for storytelling, JP has dedicated himself to sharing the rich tapestry of the UCC Story, ensuring its accessibility to diverse audiences. Leading the charge on the university’s visitor strategy, JP spearheads initiatives to engage visitors and enhance their experience. His creative vision extends to developing university merchandise projects that celebrate UCC’s heritage and identity. Additionally, JP is an accomplished author, with notable works including “A Bee at UCC,” published in 2021, and the eagerly anticipated “A Tree at UCC” slated for release in April 2023. He has also penned “High Stools and Tall Tales” (2024) and “The ABC’s of UCC” (2024), further enriching the university’s narrative. His dedication to literacy has garnered recognition, including an award for his contributions to promoting literacy in schools in the Philippines. JP is a fervent advocate for children’s literacy, believing in its transformative power. With his dynamic blend of storytelling prowess, strategic leadership, and advocacy for literacy, JP Quinn continues to be a driving force in preserving and sharing the captivating history and spirit of University College Cork
Ladies & Gentlemen, to accept The Pride of Cork Award 2024, please welcome JP Quinn
Linda Goggin James
Cork Civic Life as the hosts of The Pride of Cork Awards 2024 is delighted to confirm that A Pride of Cork Award 2024 will be presented to Cork Cancer Care Centre on Friday March 1st in the Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa, Cork. The Centre is a voluntary led cancer support service for anyone touched by cancer. The idea for this wonderful club was conceived by Ann Dowley Spillane, who was on the journey of cancer. It was following her diagnosis and whilst undergoing treatment that she became acutely aware of the need to support each other with ideas, advice and most importantly, a shoulder to lean on. And so in February 2011, The Girls Club now known as Cork Cancer Care Centre, which is based on a solid positive approach and positive encouragement, was born. Sadly, on October 13th 2017, Ann gained her angel wings In July 2017 the name changed from “The Girls Club Cork” to “Cork Cancer Care Centre”. When Ann’s health deteriorated in 2016, Linda Goggin James took on more responsibility in all the day to day running’s of the centre, dealing with the councillors and holistic therapists, grants, training, as well as organising fundraising events. Having been mentored by Ann, Linda succeeded her in the operations of the centre after her untimely death in October 2017 and became the General Manager. The centre went from strength to strength, where the centre was now offering a wide range of holistic therapies, support groups like the connect and flourish, retreats with holistic therapies, and art therapy. Well done to everyone involved for the incredible contribution that you make at a time in peoples lives when support and love is so important to them on their journey with cancer and Cork Civic Life is delighted to honour everyone in C.C.C.C and everyone that has passed through their doors with A Pride of Cork Award 2024
Ladies & Gentlemen, to accept The Pride of Cork Award 2024, please welcome Linda Goggin James
Fr. Liam Kelleher
Cork Civic Life is delighted to confer a Pride of Cork Award 2024 on Father Liam Kelleher for the many great things that he has done for Cork, our people and in the name of Cork, for his ministry in the Cloyne Diocese, for his positive media engagement over the years and his great interest in photography that tells so many stories. The award is also for his immense contribution to athletics and field sports locally, nationally and internationally over many decades and his mentoring and guidance to so many athletes, sports people and sporting organisations. His great support and fundraising for the people of the island of Maui in Hawaii where he has been visiting for many decades, and which was devastated by the deadly fire that destroyed their homes, towns and lives last year. His support and recent visit is an inspiration to how to do practical things that will make a difference As a native of Donoughmore and having served in parishes throughout the Diocese of Cloyne before his retirement, Fr. Liam is well known, loved and respected by countless people that he has officiated at their weddings over the years, their children that he has baptised and also the requiem masses that he has led for their loved ones. Fr. Liam continues to serve the Diocese of Cloyne and the people of Cobh in his retirement
Ladies & Gentlemen, to accept The Pride of Cork Award 2024, please welcome Fr. Liam Kelleher
In memory of John X Miller
Bambie Thug
Cork Civic Life is delighted to confer with A Pride of Cork Award 2024 on Bambie Thug. Bambie Ray Robinson known by their stage name Bambie Thug, is an Irish singer-songwriter. They are known to mix numerous genres in their music, coining their own term, ouija-pop”, out of disdain for being put into one genre. Their music has been inspired by various subjects, including breakups, witchcraft, and drug addiction. Bambie Thug is set to represent Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 after winning the Irish national final Eurosong 2024 with “Doomsday Blue”. Following their victory in Eurosong 2024, both the song and Robinson have gained widespread media coverage, especially within local Irish media, drawing praise and criticism from various Irish personalities and groups. Born in Macroom, County Cork, on March 6th 1993, to a Swedish father and a Cork mother, Bambi Thug has three sisters who were also raised in Macroom. Attending St Mary’s Secondary School, they were a member of the school’s choir club, helping win the school the All-Ireland Schools Choir competition. Initially training to become a ballet performer, they later attended Coláiste Stiofáin Naofa, planning for university to study dance. They then moved to London to attend the Urdang Academy after Urdang gave a partial scholarship. However, having broken their arm during their time in college, switched to study musical theatre from then. After graduating from Urdang, Bambi Thug spent two years teaching themself how to write and sing pop songs.
Ladies & Gentlemen, to accept The Pride of Cork Award 2024, please welcome Bambie Thug
Cillian Murphy – represented by a family member
Cork Civic Life is delighted to confer A Pride of Cork Award 2024 on Cillian Murphy. Cillian is a Cork born actor who made his professional debut in Enda Walsh’s 1996 play Disco Pigs, a role he later reprised in the 2001 screen adaptation. He won a Golden Globe Award, a BAFTA Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award, and received a nomination for an Academy Award for portraying the title role in Nolan’s Oppenheimer (2023). Cillian was born on 25 May 1976 in Douglas, Cork. His mother taught French while his father, Brendan, worked for the Department of Education. He was raised in Ballintemple, Cork, alongside his younger brother Páidi and two younger sisters Sile and Orla. He started writing and performing songs at the age of 10. Cillian attended Presentation Brothers College, where he did well academically but often got into trouble, sometimes being suspended; he decided in his fourth year that misbehaving was not worth the hassle. Not keen on sports, which was a major part of the school’s curriculum, he found that artistic pursuits were neglected at the school. Cillian got his first taste of performing in secondary school, when he participated in a drama module presented by Corcadorca Theatre Company director Pat Kiernan. He later described the experience as a “huge high” and a “fully alive” feeling that he then set out to chase.
Ladies & Gentlemen, while we would have loved to have Cillian here with us and he did make exceptional efforts to try and be here, it just wasn’t possible in the end and here to accept The Pride of Cork Award 2024 to take to Cillian are some of his family members
President of ONE Cork City Branch Bob Seward
Cork Civic Life is delighted to confer A Pride of Cork Award 2024 on O.N.E Cork City Branch which is part of a national network of Óglaigh Náisiúnta na hÉireann ONE Veterans Charity Primarily working in Cork city, providing service supports to all veterans, however their reach is much further in areas of comradeship, remembrance and advocacy. They also facilitate homeless veterans from other countries living in Ireland. Cork City Branch provides a unique network for volunteer members to maintain contact with other veterans and provide assistance and supports where necessary. Comradeship is at the heart of what they do, and they use the term comrade deliberately because it evokes a sense of shared experience, a shared culture, a shared set of values, and a willingness to serve. This helps preserve a sense of identity and a sense of belonging. It evokes a sense of shared responsibility for those less fortunate than us. Branch volunteers provide a range of services, supports and accommodation to veterans, some of whom would otherwise be homeless.
Ladies & Gentlemen, please welcome the President of ONE Cork City Branch Bob Seward and other members to accept their Pride of Cork Award
Adam Drummond
Cork Civic Life is delighted to confer A Pride of Cork Award 2024 on the inspiring and courageous Adam Drummond. At just 22 years of age, the ambitious basketball star had an accident that left him paralysed from the waist down. Before his accident he was playing Division 1 basketball with Dickinson College in Carlisle Pennsylvania, however, he decided to come home to play SuperLeague with his boyhood club Neptune. Adam has an amazing and positive attitude and is so inspiring. His family home was renovated and adapted by Baz Ashmawy and the incredible DIY SOS team who were assisted by an amazing group of businesses and volunteers. The Drummond home is now wheelchair friendly and in just ten days, with the help of the local community, they transformed the Drummond’s house, making it accessible for Adam. Adam is now in college and hugely involved in sports with Rebel Wheelers Multi Sports Club and is an incredible inspiration to so many people, young and not so young, who have experienced a major upheaval in their lives and can like Adam, come back, rebuild their lives with the love and support of their family and friends Adam Drummond is what The Pride of Cork Awards 2024 are all about, recognising amazing people and organisations who are doing incredible things for themselves, for others and for Cork
Ladies & Gentlemen, please welcome the incredible Adam Drummond to accept his Pride of Cork Award
Gareth O’ Callaghan
Cork Civic Life is delighted to confer A Pride of Cork Award on the legendary broadcaster, author, columnist and qualified psychotherapist Gareth O’Callaghan. Gareth has spent over 40 years in broadcasting with RTÉ, Ireland’s Classic Hits and most recently with Cork’s 96FM. Gareth retired from radio a number of years back owing to failing health, but his health has now stabilised to the point where he is back where he loves – behind a microphone. Although he grew up in Dublin, Gareth has strong Cork roots of which he is most proud and has lived in Cork for the past number of years, and married his wife Paula here in 2020. Gareth now considers himself very much an “adopted Corkman” as we all do too
Ladies & Gentlemen, please welcome Gareth O’ Callaghan to accept his Pride of Cork Award
Bunny O’ Riordan – The Midleton Hub
Cork Civic Life is delighted to confer A Pride of Cork Award 2024 on The Midleton Hub. This is an incredible organisations, well known for its services in Midleton and all the great work that this charitable organisation does in all parts of East Cork. Thanks to Bunny O Riordan, Gina O’Flynn and all the team for what The Midleton Hub does for people and especially what it did last year when Midleton was devastated by those awful floods that are still affecting peoples lives. The Midleton Hub has incredible plans for the future that Cork Civic Life is committed to fully assisting them with.
Ladies & Gentlemen, please welcome Bunny O’ Riordan and the team from The Midleton Hub
Mark White and his team from Padel Tennis Ireland
The Judges have decided that our next recipient is deserving of A Pride of Cork Award 2024 to acknowledge his own and his new business approach to Diversity and Inclusiveness here in Cork. Since this new business came to Cork last October and was officially opened in January by the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Simon Coveney, it has been receiving incredible praise for its inclusiveness and diversity policy, like Cork has never seen before. The Judges were hugely impressed with the number of people with disabilities and the number of civic organisations such as Down Syndrome Cork, The Cope Foundation and so many more that are now using the new facility which is Padel Tennis Ireland at Fota Junction, just down the road from here and which is now the fastest growing sport in the world and everyone is addicted to. In particular, the Judges witnessed a girl who is totally blind playing Padel with sensory balls and who was really enjoying herself. This is what inclusiveness is all about.
Ladies & Gentlemen, we are delighted to confer A Pride of Cork Award 2024 on the Founder and Managing Director of Padel Tennis Ireland, Mark White and his team for their incredible inclusivity and diversity policy and delivery here in Cork”
Fr. Stephen Monaghan
Cork Civic Life as is delighted to recognise Ethiopia Deaf Project with A Pride of Cork Award 2024. The EDP is a committee of voluntary fundraisers dedicated to supporting Deaf children in Ethiopia gain access to formal education. They place a particular emphasis on assisting Deaf children from poor rural families and who are living isolated lives. They work in partnership with the Ambo Lazarist Deaf School (ALDS) to help transform the lives of deaf children living in rural communities in Ethiopia. They achieve this through their commitment to fund a school that enables deaf children access learning through Sign Language and total communication and to achieve their full potential in education. The majority of deaf children who attend the ALDS: ⦁ Come from poor farming families living in rural communities. ⦁ Live very isolated lives. ⦁ Have no formal means of communication. ⦁ Are excluded from their local schools due to a lack of awareness of their educational needs and their capacity to learn. ⦁ Live with the stigma of disability which is often perceived as a curse. Congratulations to EDP for their outstanding outreach work that makes such a difference to so many and please welcome one of the founders of EDP Fr. Stephen Monaghan to accept the award
Angie Benhaffaf
Cork Civic Life is delighted to recognise Angie Benhaffaf with A Pride of Cork Award 2024 for her great support of so many organisations in raising up to €100,000 for them from her annual Cork Wears Red Annual Charity Lunch which celebrates its 10th anniversary this yea Angie is the mum of Cork’s miracle boys Hassan and Hussein Benhaffaf and her daughters Iman and Malika and always finds time in an incredible busy diary of hospital appointments for her boys to give back to other organisations through The Red Lunch. The support from the lunch has made a huge difference to so many organisations locally and nationally and Angie’s commitment really shows that no matter how busy we are with our own lives, there is always time to do things to give back to others so that we can make a difference
Ladies & Gentlemen, please welcome Angie Benhaffaf to accept The Pride of Cork Award 2024
West Cork Animal Welfare Group
Our next award goes to West Cork Animal Welfare Group. Established in 1999, it helps around 300 animals annually. Providing rehabilitation for cruelty-treated and neglected animals, takes in stray and lost animals as well as assisting pets who cannot stay with their owner due to health issues, death or homelessness – Chairwoman and founder of WCAWG, Jennifer, volunteers at the shelter alongside the current WCAWG team of Aoibhinn, Aga, Grace and Shannon. Other board members volunteer their expertise on admin, grant applications or accounting while others assist by fostering animals, which the rescue can’t currently accommodate. Emergencies happen regularly – a box of day-old kittens dumped at the side of the road, pups separated too early from their mother, badly injured strays – ect. Tory has been attending Skibbereen Farmers Market as well as Schull Country Market every weekend since 2009 selling items that supporters crafted or donated to be sold in aid of WCAWG. She also runs the online store, while also creating and distributing Christmas cards and annual calendars – Her tireless work in supporting the team in a whole host of ways is essential for the organisation.
Ladies & Gentlemen, please welcome The Team Members from West Cork Animal Welfare Group to accept The Pride of Cork Award 2024
Cordelia Oseh
Our next award goes to Cordelia Oseh, originally from Nigeria and who came to Ireland in1999. It changed her life and Ireland became Heaven on earth for her. A promise land. She fell in love with her local community and became very interested in helping local communities with the different cultural communities living in Ireland and especially in Cork to achieve better integration into the Irish social fabric. Cordelia founded Multicultural Ireland in 2012. It was set up to empower minority groups and the wider community with the intent of improving communication on a grassroots level by building confidence, self-esteem, social opportunities and community inclusion. Multicultural Ireland creates social events though a celebration of world cultures, which promotes integration by “discovering our similarities by celebrating our differences”. Cordelia strongly believes in embracing each other’s cultural heritage and celebrating what we have in common whilst understanding each other’s differences.
Ladies & Gentlemen, please welcome Cordelia Oseh to accept The Pride of Cork Award 2024
Mary MacSweeney
Our next award is a really special one also. Whether training Opera or Seanos singers, this recipient is a technician of the voice, a sculpture of beautiful sound and a gifted and passionate pedagogue. She has taught over 40,000 voice lessons in both the the Hochschule for Music and Drama in Munich and for the last 19yrs in the Cork School of Music, honing her art singing 1 st soprano in many of the largest opera Houses & concert halls in Germany, England, Ireland, Belgium, Austria and Luxemburg. She works with the voice in a holistic way, navigating the journey of the artist. This past year she has been Artist in Residence in the IONAD CHULTURLA in Ballyvourney, training the Operatic Society Choir, The East Cork Chorus and the Soloist in St. Finbarr’s Cathedral. For 19yrs She has been the Director of the Opera Platform of Cork School of Music. This year She is retiring from CSM following a huge body of work fro the young voices of the city.
Ladies & Gentlemen, please welcome Mary MacSweeney to accept The Pride of Cork Award 2024
Mary Wilson
Our next recipient is a really special person. Receiving a degree as a physicist, Mary Wilson’s true love was for the arts and music in particular. Possessing a superb soprano voice, Mary was born in an era where the reality of pursuing singing as a career was not a realistic choice. Despite this, Mary, after marrying and raising a family including actress FIONA SHAW CBE Mary enrolled herself in the Cork School of Music in her 40’s to study vocal music and pursue her dream. Since then she has been an inspiring supporter of the arts through time and example, singing at many notable events over the years and encouraging upcoming talents along the way. We all need a little inspiration in our lives. It can help us to get through tough times and motivate us to do our best. Inspiration can be a great boost to our morale and productivity. It can be the spark that sets us on fire and propels us to reach our goals and perhaps unbeknownst to herself Mary has been a torchbearer for maintaining the passion and joy for following a dream and inspiring others to do the same. This is what we recognize tonight.
Ladies & Gentlemen, please welcome the fantastic 97 years young Mary Wilson to accept The Pride of Cork Award 2024
Clean Coasts Ballynamona
Our next award goes to an amazing organization called Clean Coasts Ballynamona. For almost 10 years Clean Coasts Ballynamona have been undertaking recognised regional, national and international best practice for the environment, sustainability and community engagement particularly in the areas of the marine environment, education and biodiversity. From small beginnings and a handful of volunteers Clean Coasts Ballynamona is now actively engaged in the preservation and management of around 3% of the Irish coastline and an inspiration to other Community Groups to undertake similar action.
The scope and scale of their work includes:
Undertaking dozens of beach clean ups on a regular and ongoing basis along the Cork Coastline and beyond. To date a minimum of 100 tonnes of marine litter have been removed from the coastline. Some of the marine litter removed has been dated back to the 1880’s.
The beach cleans now regularly engage hundreds of participants from businesses, schools, community groups and interested members of the public. Furthermore, Clean Coasts Ballynamona has substantially invested in beach cleaning equipment and logistics to maximise and multiply the impact of volunteer efforts.
Ladies & Gentlemen, please welcome Clean Coasts to accept The Pride of Cork Award 2024
Cian Ducrot – represented by his friend Adam Courtney
Our next award winner is the Irish singer-songwriter Cian Ducrot. He rose to prominence with his single ‘All For You’ which gained popularity in 2022 via TikTok and ultimately peaked at number 19 on the UK Singles Chart . His following single, ‘I’ll Be Waiting’ peaked at number 16, Cian is a self-made artist who has drawn a phenomenal following from his viral videos promoting his music and the release of his personal biographical album VICTORY. His rise has seen him support ED Sheeran and collaborate with Elle Goulding along with a myriad ofother incredible collaborations.
Ladies & Gentlemen, unfortunately Cian can’t be with us tonight, but has sent us a beautiful message that I will read our now and here to accept The Pride of Cork Award 2024 on his behalf is his good friend Adam Courtney
Paddy O’ Brien
Our final award this evening goes to a man who needs no introduction whatsoever. Paddy O’ Brien is the epitome of all that is good about Cork, all that says about Cork that we care for each other and all that ensures that our beautiful elderly citizens are our treasured family members. Paddy is Cork’s advocate for the elderly. Their voice, their spokesperson and nobody looks out for or after Cork’s elderly like Paddy O’ Brien. Paddy is the only person ever to receive A Pride of Cork Award TWICE. Cork Penny Dinners as an organisation is the only organisation to receive one TWICE, so both of these amazing legends have the very same things in common. They care about others so deeply.
Ladies & Gentlemen, please welcome the one and only Paddy O’ Brien to accept The Pride of Cork Award 2024
