Clones man crowned Monaghan Person of the Year 2025

CLONES man Shane McLoughlin, an amputee, six-time world-record holder and former Paralympian, has been named the 2025 Farney Foundation County Monaghan Person of the Year.

He was bestowed the title at a gala ball in the Hillgrove Hotel, Monaghan town, for the second such annual awards ceremony last night.

A panel of three judges selected Shane as the overall winner from a group of nine finalists including a retired garda superintendent, community worker, local cancer charity, footballer, Castleblayney business and a local pipe band.

Shane was genuinely shocked to be announced as the winner and when he took to the stage with his daughter, Jessica, to collect his award he surprised all at the gala event when he announced his plans to give his award away outside the county - to fellow amputee, Katie Walsh from Galway.

On Valentine’s Day, Shane broke his sixth world record when he became the first amputee to pull a 120-ton passenger ferry.

By his side for this challenge was seven-year-old Katie Walsh from Tuam, who is a lower leg amputee like Shane.

The two had met at a charity truck pull when Katie approached Shane to tell him that he inspired her when she saw what he could achieve despite his disability.

Each year, the Monaghan Person of the Year also wins prize money which has been collected from a round of paid voting in the competition. The winner can then elect a charity to donate their winnings.

Presenting the award, organiser of the Monaghan Person of the Year Awards and director of the Farney Foundation, Brian Ruddin explained how the Foundation guarantees a minimum of €1,000 is donated to charity.

When Shane was asked what charity he wanted to donate his prize money he told Mr Ruddin that he and his daughter had already discussed it and they had decided on Jessica’s school, St. Comgalls NS in the Connons, outside Clones.

“I’m going to give it to Jessica’s school because it’s a wee country school and we’re always fundraising for this school in the Connons and I’m going to donate it to them, if that’s OK?”

“You’re the man,” Brian Ruddin said to a round of applause from the Hillgrove audience.

The full list of finalists for the 2025 County Monaghan Person of the Year included: ladies county footballer Sharon Courtney of Donaghmoyne, retired Garda Superintendent Joe Sullivan; Linda Moore of Cú Chulainn Blood Bikes; Shane Tyres, Castleblayney; Mary Byrne, Castleblayney; Shane McLoughlin from Clones; Aughnamullen Pipe Band, Aisling Ward, Magheracloone and The Friends of Carrickmacross Cancer Society.

Shane McLoughlin told the ‘Celt he was travelling to Carrick-On-Shannon today (Sunday) to do a charity truck oull and would go to Tuam directly after to give his award to Katie Walsh.