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I’m delighted to be Joe Currivan and delighted to be a Cashel man.’
With these words Cashel Person of the Year for 2011, Joe Currivan, concluded his remarks on accepting the Cashel Lions Club perpetual trophy from club president, Seamus J. King, in the Civic Offices, Friar Street on Wednesday of last week.
In an enthusiastic and emotional speech Joe expressed his delight at becoming the 25thCashel Person of the Year. In welcoming his family and friends he said it was ‘fantastic to be here.’
He thanked Cashel Town Council for providing such a wonderful venue for the presentation. He was extremely grateful to Cashel Lions Club for organising the event and the fine work they did in the town.
He was particularly thankful to Michael Doyle for nominating him and stated that Michael himself would be a deserving recipient of the award.
In an emotional moment he remembered his father and mother and others who have passed on. He also recalled people who were sick, particularly Christy Hewitt, and wished them well.
Deputised for Mayor
Earlier Deputy Mayor Maribel Wood, who stood in for the unavoidably absent, Mayor Michael Browne, opened the proceedings by expressing the delight of the Council at hosting the Person of the Year event and putting the chamber at the disposal of the Lions Club. She congratulated Joe on winning the award
Lion President Seamus J. King then addressed those present and spoke about the work of Lions, who were celebrating their 50th anniversary this year. Their motto was ‘We Serve’ and they were delighted to be associated with this project, which recognised voluntary service to the community. The list of people who had received the award since 1987 was a who’s who of volunteerism in the town and area and Joe was a fitting companion for those who went before him. He thanked the adjudicators from Cahir Lions Club who had chosen Joe for this year’s award.
Nominated the Winner
Michael Doyle, who nominated Joe Currivan for the award, gave an account of the huge input Joe had in the soccer club. His work involved training underage teams but he was also involved in the improvements to the soccer pitch and in fund-raising for the club. Of all the people who helped out in the club he was the outstanding man. But Joe’s work didn’t stop in the soccer club. He was active in Cashel Tidy Towns and did a lot of work for old people in the town, painting their houses and looking after their gardens. Michael was over the moon that Joe was the winner because he was deserving of the award.
There were also enthusiastic contributions from the floor expressing appreciation of the work Joe did and delight at his winning of the award. Among those who spoke were Damien Sweetman, who is chairman of Cashel Town Soccer, Johnny O’Dwyer, Anne Devitt, a previous winner, Paul Ryan, Paddy Downey on behalf of Tidy Towns and Dick Lowney.
Deputy Mayor Maribel Wood stated that as a comparative newcomer to the town she was delighted with the occasion and she had learned so much of the people of Cashel through the contributions they had made from the floor. She again congratulated Joe.
Presentation to Last Year’s Winners
The final task was to present last year’s winners, Joan and Tom Ryan, with a piece of inscribed crystal acknowledging their award in 2010. Joan took great hope from the occasion. Hearing the speeches and the work that Joe was doing was enough to give one great hope for the future of Ireland, she said.
The formal event was followed by a reception for the Cashel Person of the Year 2011 and for his family and friends. There was a general feeling that the choice of Joe was an extremely popular one.