Search now on for 2026 Offaly Person of the Year and Unsung Hero
The closing date for receipt of nominations for the awards is Friday, January 29 2027
TO win an award that is selected by the people from your own county is very special.
That's according to the 2025 Offaly Person of the Year, Seamus Boland, who was speaking at the official launch of the 2026 award on Monday night last in the Bridge House hotel in Tullamore.
Mr Boland, who is President of the European Union's Economic and Social Forum, exhorted Offalians to send in their nominations for the award before the closing date of Friday, January 29 next.
Also present at the launch was the 2026 Unsung Hero of Offaly, Professor Humphrey O'Connor, who is Chairman of the Offaly Hospice Foundation and two past winners of the Person of the Year award, legendary footballer, Matt Connor and Dr Philip Brady.
The gala dinner and awards presentation ceremony, aptly described as a "night of nostalgia" by organising committee member, Noel McCann, takes place in the Bridge House Hotel, on Saturday, April 10 next.
The search for the award winners was formally launched by the Cathaoirleach of Offaly County Council, Cllr Declan Harvey, who described it as a fantastic scheme which honoured people from all parts of the county.
Speaking at the outset of formalities, committee chairman, Liam Fleury, welcomed the attendance including Deputy Carol Nolan and her parliamentary assistant, Ashling Foy, Deputy John Clendennen, Cllr Harvey, Cllr Shane Murray, Cathaoirleach, Tullamore Municipal District, Cllr Ollie Bryant, Cllr Sean O'Brien, Eoghan Ryan, Chief Executive, Offaly County Council, Dymphna Bracken Tullamore Lions Club and Michael and John Plunkett, Tullamore St Patrick's Day parade committee.
Apologies were received from Cllr John Leahy, Cllr Neil Feighery, committee PRO Peter Carter, Tom Parlon, Offaly GAA county board chairman and Caroline Collins Murphy, president, Tullamore and District Chamber of Commerce.
Mr Fleury extended a particular welcome to the past year's recipients, Seamus Boland and Professor Humphrey O'Connor.
He said the Offaly Association in Dublin in the mid 1980s were looking at ways to honour Offaly natives and those who made their lives in the county who had contributed to society in a variety of different fields of endeavour.
"Former GAA President, John Dowling from Tullamore was the first to be honoured and tonight we begin the search for the 38th Offaly Person of the Year," he stressed.
The Drumcullen native added that a number of years ago the committee decided to introduce a second award to honour people present in every parish in the county who contribute enormously behind the scenes.
As a result the Unsung Hero of Offaly award came into being he outlined.
He invited the people of the county to make their nominations for both awards through the coupons in the local papers or by emailing the committee secretary Ger Scully at [email protected]
After the closing date for nominations the judging panel will meet and select the award recipients from the list of nominees.
Mr Fleury paid tribute to the sponsors, Noel Tynan, from Coolderry, of the Celt Bar in Dublin who has been a long time supporter of the Offaly Association, Offaly County Council, in particular Tullamore Municipal District and Birr Municipal District.
He also referred to the annual GAA fundraising golf classic held by the association which raises over €30,000 for gaelic games each year. Concluding he thanked the local media and the Bridge House Hotel for sponsoring the launch.
Seamus Boland said he was a very proud Offaly man and one who was lucky enough to be alive when the county won its first All-Ireland final.
He said that all the people nominated for the awards last year were excellent and to be nominated itself was a huge recognition.
"Community is very strong in Offaly and people from Offaly have contributed on the national scene and punch above their weight."
The farmer from the Island encouraged as many people as possible to answer the call for nominations and stressed that everyone knew deserving people in their own communities. Mr Boland noted that people in the voluntary and community sector worked very hard for no pay.
He said he and his family had a great night at the awards ceremony in April and thanked the council for their support.
Cllr Declan Harvey said the "awards do exactly what it says on the tin" by honouring people from all over the county and not just concentrating on the main population centres
He said the council was committed to supporting the event financially into the future.