REVEALED: Details of second batch of nominees for Offaly Person of the Year award

DETAILS of the second batch of nominees for the prestigious Offaly Person of the Year and Unsung Hero of Offaly awards have been revealed.

A total of 21 nominations have been made for the awards which will be presented at a gala dinner in the Bridge House Hotel, Tullamore on Saturday, April 9 next.

The event is organised by a special sub-committee of the Offaly Association (Dublin).

Tickets for the event can also be purchased in late February from any member of the organising committee or from the Bridge House Hotel.

Last week ten nominees were announced and this week we reveal the details of the other 11. They are as follows:

James O'Connor, Tullamore

Successful Tullamore businessman James O'Connor is also a dedicated advocate for mental health issues. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Accessible Counselling Service (ACT) in Tullamore which provides help, support and counselling to people from all backgrounds with mental health issues.

Declan Kelly, Kilclonfert

Kilclonfert man Declan Kelly has provided inspirational leadership as manager of the Offaly U-20 football team. In 2021 he restored pride in the county during the Covid pandemic when he guided his charges to historic Leinster and All-Ireland championship titles.

Michaela Morkan, Shinrone

Offaly camogie legend Michaela Morkan has called time on an outstanding career with the Faithful after 16 seasons. Widely regarded as one of the finest players of her generation, she shone for Offaly throughout a county career which started in her teens as she collected All-Ireland Junior honours in 2009 before Intermediate success followed a year later.

John Cronin, Tullamore

A native of Donegal but living in Tullamore since the 1980s, John Cronin has reached the pinnacle of Irish athletics. A long serving chairman of Tullamore Harriers, he is currently the  president of Irish Athletics and has been an adjudicator  at several international events, including the Olympic Games.

Seamus Boland, The Island

Seamus Boland was elected President of the EESC Diversity Europe Group in 2020. Formerly manager of Tullamore Traveller Workshop, and Shannon Banks Workshop in Athlone, in 1995 he was appointed Regional Director of Midland Regional Youth Service. He became national Co-Ordinator of Irish Rural Link in 2001. He serves on a number of National Development Plan monitoring committees, the board of Pobal and is a community and voluntary pillar representative on the National Economic and Social Council.

John Jones, Rhode

John Jones published a book aimed at schoolchildren and encouraging them to get out and enjoy nature and the countryside in this era of mobile phones, laptops and tablets. The book, entitled Nature and Wildlife: Co. Offaly, was distributed to national schools across the county.

Sr Genny, Tullamore

Gr Genevieve Hassey, better known as Sr Genny, has devoted her lifetime to working with young people in Tullamore and the wider area. She has been deeply involved with St Mary's Youth and Community Services in Tullamore as well as many other community groups.

Nicole Turner, Portarlington (Gracefield)

Irish Paralympian Nicole Turner competed at the  2020 Summer Paralympics  in  Tokyo  and won a silver medal in the  women's 50 metre butterfly S6 bringing glory to her country and county. She has also represented Ireland in a number of other international competitions.

Darragh Kenny, Belmont

The Belmont man, ranked as Ireland's top show jumper in 2021, represented his country and county with distinction in the Olympics Games in Tokyo last year. Based between Europe and the USA, Darragh has represented Ireland at a host of international events.

Daingean GAA

Daingean GAA club's 300 members stepped up to the plate during the Covid pandemic by helping the elderly, vulnerable and frontline workers in the community with essential services. They also turned and footed turf in an extraordinary gesture and distributed it to members of the local community.

Pullough Community Shop

In an era when small villages and rural areas are losing services such as shops, post offices and pubs, locals in Pullough came together and ensured the much-needed local shop survived. The Pullough Community Shop is staffed by hard working volunteers who provide a much needed service in the area.

REVEALED: The first 10 nominees for the 2021 Offaly Person of the year award

The ten nominees announced last week were John Feehan, Birr; Abdul Hafiz, Tullamore; Geraldine O'Neill, Daingean; John O'Connor, Durrow; Paul Galvin, Tullamore; Bertie McMahon, Clara; Jack McDermott, Tullamore; Brian Sheridan, Clara; Peter Ormonda, Shinrone, Ken Smollen, Tullamore and Clara.