Seventh Athlone People of the Year Awards launched

The 7th annual Athlone People of the Year Awards were launched at a ceremony in the town's civic offices last Wednesday. The 2011 awards, organised by the Rehab Group, are being run in conjunction with Athlone Town Council and the Westmeath Independent and the event itself will take place on Friday April 8, in the Radisson Blu Hotel. Popular TV and radio presenter, the affable Marty Whelan, will be host and compere on the night. Eight members of the community will be selected as the Athlone People of the Year award winners, with one person winning the overall award on the night of the gala banquet. Sheila Buckley-Byrne, Area Manager of the National Learning Network, Rehab Group, said the awards ceremony was a crucial part of the organisation's work. She said the event couldn't be run without the support of many of the businesses and groups involved. She especially thanked Athlone Town Council for providing funding for the event especially in these financially-challenging times. She encouraged the public to nominate a friend, neighbour or a family member, and that those already nominated but were not successful could be nominated again. Deputy Mayor Alan Shaw officially launched the 7th Annual Athlone People of the Year Awards. “We're now looking back on six successful years of the awards, which celebrates ordinary people doing extraordinary things. The range of activities and variety of people nominated is truly remarkable,†he said. “That some had an international dimension really demonstrates how open-minded Athlone people are.†He noted that so many people do good work in a quiet and unassuming way, providing invaluable support, gaining personal development and often helping the most vulnerable in society. “I call on the people of Athlone to identify these people and nominate them,†added Cllr Shaw. Padraig Lydon Chairperson Athlone Rehab Voluntary Committee and member of the national Board of Rehab Group, thanked Athlone Town Council and the Westmeath Independent for their continued support. He said the awards honour individuals and groups who have made significant contributions to our local community. “This year, I look forward once again to celebrating the achievements of more people who are contributing significantly to the life of our town.†Mr Lydon emphasised how the awards provide Rehab with the opportunity to raise much-needed funds and maintain services for clients. “Rehab's services enhance the quality of people's lives, by assisting them in fulfilling their goals, giving access to opportunities and supporting people to play a more active role in their communities,†he added. Rehab provides services to over 250 people in Westmeath annually working with HSE and FÁS. The Rehab Care Resource Centre at the Crescent provides 30 people with a range of developmental programmes. The National Learning Network's three Westmeath centres, two of which are in Athlone, at Golden Island and Blyry, cater for 220 learners, for persons out of work through accident, illness or disability. The JobFit programme launched last year has helped over 160 unemployed people, with 60 on their way to achieving qualifications and 25 people already in employment. “I would urge everyone in Athlone who had an idea about a friend, a family member or a neighbour who has contributed greatly to our community, or whose achievements deserve recognition, to nominate them for an award,†Mr Lydon concluded. Tadhg Carey, editor of the Westmeath Independent, said that the newspaper was delighted to be again associated with the People of the Year Awards. He said that one thing had remained constant over the past year in Athlone - the strong community spirit that exists in the locality. “We witnessed it in the big freeze over Christmas when people rallied around to help each other... we saw it too in the horrendous floods of 2009 when there was an outpouring of solidarity and support,†he said. “On a more joyful note, it was evident in the number of volunteer-run events which helped to brighten the mood in Athlone last summer - from the European Triathlon championships to the European People's Festival and many more - all of which couldn't have happened without community involvement.†Mr Carey noted that 2011 is the European Year of the Volunteer and that in Ireland, there is a growing awareness and recognition of the contribution of people from all walks of life to our society. He said that although there were many award events and function, the Rehab People of the Year Awards still stand as a brand leader. “And just like the People of the Year Awards, Rehab has touched the lives of hundreds in Athlone, through its work in helping people to help themselves,†he said. Mr Carey said that although this was the seventh year of the awards, there's never any shortage of worthy candidates nominated by the public, which was a testament to the area. “That's the real secret of the success of these awards. The recipients are nominated by their peers, by the general public - and there is no greater recognition than that.†You can submit nominations through the coupons in the Westmeath Independent (see Page 9) or on this website.