Highlights: Community heroes crowned at Armagh I People of the Year Awards

by
Staff Reporter
February 4, 2023

There were smiles, cheers and even a few tears as Armagh I celebrated its People of the Year Awards at the Armagh Observatory and Planetarium on Thursday evening.

The packed out event, which was hosted by the brilliant Barra Best, saw 12 winners collect awards but it was a night to recognise all our finalists.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who got involved, from our event sponsors; all the staff at Armagh Observatory and Planetarium; our host, Barra Best; our musicians, The Woodbees; our caterers 4C; our photographer Vincent Loughran; Elaine Lappin from Creating Order; and of course all our nominees and winners. Once again the awards were custom designed by Keith Sheppard glass artist and our table centre pieces by Armagh Blooms.

The winners in full were:

Inspirational Young Person Award (sponsored by McShane Packaging)

Eimear Cunningham

Sports Personality in a Sporting Arena (sponsored by Sally McNally’s at the Corner)

Étain Devlin

Carer of the Year (Alora Rejuvenation)

Patricia Black

Eco Warrior (sponsored by Traynors)

Emer Rafferty

Community Impact Award (sponsored by Aonach Mhacha)

Time2Play

Fundraiser of the Year (sponsored by Sealmax Roofing)

Deirdre Breen

Inspirational Educator of the Year (sponsored by Messy Play NI)

Martin Rafferty

Rescue Champion of the Year (sponsored by Dentistry @ Markethill)

Niall McConnell

Good Neighbour Award (sponsored by Tarasis Enterprises)

Mary McCann

The Extra Mile: Employee Endeavor Award (sponsored by JD Hunter & Co Supermarket)

Kelly Gardiner

Overcoming Adversity Award (sponsored by Allied Customs Services)

Karly Finnegan

Special Recognition – Lifetime Achievement Award (sponsored by ABL Group Insurance Brokers & Risk Advisors)

John Dalzell OBE

Barra Best

Inspirational Young Person winner, Eimear Cunningham with Philippa McShane form McShane Packaging

Sports Personality in a Sporting Arena Winner Etain Devlin with Matthew Bird from Sally McNallys at the Corner

Carer of the Year Patricia Black with Ciara Elmore from Alora Rejuvenation

Eco Warrior winner Emer Rafferty with Sinead McGeown from Traynors

Community Impact Award Winner Time2Play, this award was presented by Maire Ni Phronntaigh from Aonach Mhacha

Fundraiser of the Year Deirdre Breen with Barra Best. The award was presented by Keith Anderson from Sealmax Roofing.

Inspirational Educator of the Year winner Martin Rafferty with category sponsor Gary McSherry from MessyPlay NI

Rescue Champion of the Year Niall McConnell with category sponsor Dr Paul Reaney from Dentistry @ Markethill

Good Neighbour Award winner Mary McCann with Cormac Gribben from Tarasis
Enterprises

The Extra Mile: Employee Endeavour Award winner Kelly with JD Hunter and Co Supermarket, Owner Gail Boyd

Overcoming Adversity Award winner Karly Finnegan with Stephen McAneney

Special Recognition Lifetime Achievement Award winner John Dalzell O.B.E with category sponsor Sarah-Jayne Cromwell from ABL Group Armagh

Special Recognition Lifetime Achievement Award winner John Dalzell O.B.E

Special Recognition Lifetime Achievement Award winner John Dalzell O.B.E with the Southern Area Hospice Team, L-R James McCaffery, Bernie Murphy and Siobhan McArdle.