Birr's Gene wins Grandparent Award

Birr's Gene Barry was this week honoured with a Grandparent Award at the 2012 Hidden Hearing Heroes Awards, which highlight the achievements of those who are deaf or hard of hearing. Gene was presented with his award on Tuesday last by RTE presenter Brenda Donohue. Gene's daughter recently lost her battle with cancer, leaving behind a young son who Gene and his wife are now helping her husband to care for. In spite of his great loss Gene recently organised a golf tournament in aid of cancer care and raised a staggering total of €17,000, with €8,000 of the funds raised going directly to the hospice that provided care and support to his daughter. Speaking at the awards Brenda Donohue said winners have made a huge contribution to Irish society and have proven that being deaf or hard of hearing is not a barrier to achieving goals and dreams. "With our busy lifestyles, it is often difficult to take a step back and acknowledge people who are doing exceptional things, so awards such as these are very important," she said. "The winners' achievements deserve to be brought to the attention of the public, so that they receive the recognition they deserve." Congratulating winners Hidden Hearing MD Stephen Leddy said this, the second year of the awards, was met with an "amazing response". "I would like to acknowledge each of our nine 'heroes', who rightly deserve their award," he said. Chairperson of the Irish Deaf Society Kevin Mulqueen said his organisation was delighted to be involved with the awards. "As an organisation, we want to see a society where deaf people have full and unrestricted access to all walks of life thus becoming equal citizens, contributing and participating freely," he added.