Coolderry and Edenderry natives honoured at Offaly Person of the Year award

SUCCESSFUL business man and entrepreneur Noel Tynan was presented with the prestigious 2022 Offaly Person of the Year award at a ceremony in Tullamore on Saturday night last.
The Bridge House Hotel was packed for the gala event which also saw the presentation of the fourth 2022 Unsung Hero of Offaly Award.
Mr Tynan, a Coolderry native now based in Dublin, has extensive interests in the hospitality sector in the capital and in New York and employs over 170 people.
The awards, organised by a sub-committee of the Offaly Association (Dublin), were presented by the body's chairperson, Drumcullen native Jennifer Guinan.
Hundreds of Offalians, including many household names from Offaly's golden eras in hurling and football, were in attendance.
Also present was the Leas Cathaoirleach of Offaly County Council, Cllr Tony McCormack together with his colleagues Cllr Peter Ormond, Cllr Neil Feighery, Cllr Declan Harvey and Cllr Robert McDermott.
Offaly GAA was represented by County Board Chairman, Michael Duignan, while apologies were received from Offaly County Council Chief Executive, Anna Marie Delaney, Deputy Barry Cowen, Cathaoirleach of Offaly County Council, Cllr Frank Moran and Cllr Danny Owens.
The Unsung Hero of Offaly award recipient, Shane Loughlin was also unavoidably absent due to illness and the award was accepted on his behalf by his sister, Trisha St George.
The large attendance was formally welcomed to the awards by Offaly Association chairperson, Jennifer Guinan who paid tribute to the award winners and all 26 people who had been nominated.
She noted that the event was tinged with sadness due to the untimely death in recent weeks of James O'Connor, the 2021 Offaly Person of the Year and she extended a special welcome to James' wife, Lisa.
A collection for the mental health charity James founded, Accessible Counselling Tullamore, was taken up at the function with €2,000 being raised.
Ms Guinan explained that the awards are organised by a sub-committee of the Association and she thanked it members - Liam Fleury, Pat Teehan, Noel McCann, Ger Scully and Peter Carter.
She also thanked Pat Teehan for his work on the souvenir booklet and Noel McCann and the staff of The Bridge House Hotel for hosting the function.
Offaly GAA Co. Board chairman, Michael Duignan stressed the Offaly Association has provided great support to Offaly GAA over many years.
"Offaly GAA has received great support from the golf classic organised by the Offaly Association and I understand the golf classic has given a new lease of life to the Association.”
He extended his congratulations to both award winners and added: "Noel Tynan, you are a very proud Coolderry and Offaly man and fully deserving of the 2022 Offaly Person of the Year award. What you have done for Offaly people in Dublin is unreal.
"We are a great county and what we have achieved in sport is out of this world.”
Cllr Tony McCormack, Leas-Cathoirleach of Offaly County Council, said “the award has been presented to many wonderful Offaly people who have contributed so much to the county.
"It is sad that last year's winner James O'Connor has passed away and can't be here tonight. He was a wonderful man.”
"The beauty of the Person of the Year award is that it is an award Noel that you were nominated for by your own people and selected by your peers. You are a great businessman, a person who is always on the go and a man who had made many contributions to Offaly people in Dublin and across the country.”
"The Unsung Hero award goes to a man who puts others before himself. Shane Loughlin can't be here tonight due to unforeseen circumstances, but I congratulate him on his award.”
Before the presentation of the Unsung Hero Award, the citation in honour of its recipient, Shane Loughlin, was read by organising committee member, Peter Carter.
It detailed Mr Loughlin's work for the community in Edenderry on various committees and said he had been instrumental in reviving the St Patrick's day Parade in the north Offaly town.
Mr Loughlin is also involved in a charity tractor run, the annual Easter egg hunt attended by over 400 children this year and the visit of Santa and Mrs Claus to the town each Christmas.
The citation in honour of the Offaly Person of the Year was read by organising committee member Pat Teehan. [See separate article].
In a lengthy and witty acceptance speech, Mr Tynan thanked all those who organised the event and paid tribute to the late James O'Connor.
He paid tribute to his mother, Teresa, who is 93 years of age, but could not be present at the awards ceremony due to illness.
He revealed he had received a warm letter of congratulations from his former national school teacher, George Cunningham while tributes were also paid to the award winner by Bro. Denis who wasMr Tynan's mentor in the Presentation College in Birr.
Continued Mr Tynan: "My wife Clare has had a big influence on my life. She is always in the background giving me her support. I want to thank all the people from Coolderry for coming here tonight and thank them for what they are all doing in Coolderry.”
Stressing he was a proud Offaly man, Mr Tynan said he was very proud of all the county had achieved at GAA level.
“I am very humbled to be among so many Offaly GAA greats here tonight . . . among them is Seamus Darby whose goal against Kerry is still talked about all over the world.”
He thanked the Offaly Association for keeping the Offaly flag flying in Dublin and acknowledged the wonderful work done by Liam Fleury who is involved with the Association for 45 years.
"It is great to see the Offaly Association (Dublin) Golf Classic going from strength to strength and I want to acknowledge the work that Jennifer Guinan has done since she got involved with the Offaly Association.”
"I have discovered that the Offaly Person of the Year award means a lot to all who have received it. I recall when it was presented to the late Pat Smullen, a very successful jockey, he said that the award meant a hell of a lot to him.”
"Thank you again to everyone for coming and making this a special occasion for me and I include Dr Philip Brady, Brendan Martin and Matt Connor, previous winners who never miss a Person of the Year presentation night.”
Following the presentation a toast in honour of the award recipients, was proposed by the 2019 Offaly Person of the Year, Brendan Martin.
Formalities concluded with a rousing rendition of “The Offaly Rover” by Tullamore's Mick Scully.
Music filled the night air afterwards with performances by many accomplished artists, including the legendary tenor, Anthony Kearns, who is a business partner of Noel Tynan.