Martin in tune as Person of the Year

Cavan's very own music man, Martin Donohoe, was crowned The Anglo-Celt/Rehab Cavan Person of the Year for 2009 at a gala banquet in The Hotel Kilmore, Cavan last Thursday night. In the year that Cavan is due to host the 2010 All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil, and with it some 250,000 visitors, it was a timely award for Martin who was one of the key players in securing the bid for the fleadh last year. A shocked and emotional Martin, accepting the award, paid tribute to all of the award winners on the night. Humbly noting that many of them did so much charitable work and fundraising, Martin described his work as more "missionary" - converting all people to the traditional arts and music. He also acknowledged the "diddlers" who had since passed to their eternal reward and the role that they too played in promoting the traditional Irish music and dance scene in Cavan and further afield. In particular, Martin said that his award was for the younger generation coming up who were learning to play, and appreciate, traditional music and a variety of instruments. Finally, he also acknowledged those who also played a part in securing the fleadh for Cavan this year - Cavan County Council, Cavan Chamber, Comhaltas Ceoltori Eireann (CCE) locally and the Arts office. It was a brilliant night in which ten community workers were honoured. The other award winners were: Garda David Conlon, Cavan, for work as a community garda; The late Andrew Grene, who died in the Haiti earthquake, for his work with the UN in some of the most dangerous and volatile countries; Ann Hanley, Resource House Committee, Bailieboro; Frank MacManus, Cavan, for his work with St. Vincent de Paul; Susan McVitty, Ballyconnell, for her community work; Boxer Andrew Murray, Cavan, for work with young boxers; Garda Peter O'Sullivan, Bailieboro, for work as a community garda; Dominic Sheenan, Kingscourt for work with Kingscourt Harps AFC; and Ciaran Weir, Corlismore, for hospice fundraising through the Gallant 15K Challenge. There was a moving tribute paid to the late Andrew Grene, before family friend Lorraine Teevan accepted the award on behalf of the Grene family. Andrew's twin brother Gregory, who was travelling at the time, sent a special message of thanks to all those at the event. It was read out by MC, Joe Finnegan. "I thank you so much for your lovely intent in numbering my beloved twin among the people who are precious to this county. I so very, very profoundly thank the people of Cavan, who have not only done that nominating, but have granted years of kindness to both Andrew and myself growing up in Belturbet, years which gave us such a trove to draw on later." It continued: "In truth, there are no words to express the depth of that warmth and goodness, as we have seen so extraordinarily shown by the people of the area to our family at our hard, hard time." However, Gregory requested that Andrew's name be withdrawn from the final adjudication for the Cavan Person of the Year. "I believe it is an impossible task to place a value or adjudicate between the wonderful folks here who continue to work in the service of good, and a person who has lost his life in that service. I admire, so much, the names on your roster of honour. Every nominee, in his or her own right, is doing extraordinary things. And I wish, from the bottom of my heart, the warmest best congratulations to the utterly deserving winner," read Gregory's note. "My loved twin has given all that a man has to give, and only the Good Lord above can now adjudicate and reward that kind of gift, and that kind of love," it added. The words drew a standing ovation from the crowd and brought tears to many eyes. Addressing the crowd, Peter Stokes, special projects manager with Rehab and John Maguire, a director of the Rehab group, both highlighted the services provided by the Rehab group in Co. Cavan for those with a range of disabilities including the centres in Cavan and Bailieboro, sheltered housing and education and training through the National Learning Network. Derek Smith, a service user in Bailieboro, gave a humourous speech, in which he outlined the difference that the Rehab group had made to his quality of life. Derek suffers from balance problems and severe headaches. He maintains that without the support of Rehab, he would be unable to live independent. Derek described himself as a duck, rather than a swan - "calm on the surface but going mad underneath". Editor of The Anglo-Celt, Linda O'Reilly, paid tribute to all of the worthy award winners on the night. She emphasised that reports and pictures from various fundraisers and events in communities across the county are as important to the newspaper as reports from Council meetings or the District Courts. "Since becoming editor of the paper over a year ago, we certainly have never been short of things to write about - the opposite if anything. What I have discovered quickly, is that Co. Cavan is full of busy and active communities doing great work. For that, I thank you, and I will always endeavour to find space for your photos and notices and reports. The Anglo-Celt is, afterall, your newspaper." Special guest Sean Gallagher, one of Cavan's finest home-grown entreprenuers and best known for his appearances as a Dragon on RTE's Dragons' Den, accepted an achievement award at the event. He too paid a warm tribute to all of the community workers - noting that people should always be judged not by what they have, but rather their actions and what they do. Having been almost blind as a child before pioneering surgery saved his sight, Sean also identified with the Rehab service users who were living with different forms of disabilities and gave them heart to persevere in their goals. Noting about all the negative media attention surrounding the recession, the banks and politics, Sean also remarked that it was refreshing to see media "shine a light" on all the good things that are happening in communities and also to acknowledge and reward the individuals who are responsible for that good work. County Manager Jack Keyes congratulated his Fleadh Executive Committee colleague on the honour. "Martin projects a unique image for Cavan outside the county, which is great to see. He must also be complimented on the way he has worked with young people and encouraged them to take up traditional music," said Mr. Keyes. He also complimented all of the other award winners.