Offaly Association to honour Boland and O'Connor at awards this weekend

The recently-elected president of a European Union committee, Seamus Boland, and the chairman of Offaly Hospice, Professor Humphrey O'Connor, will be honoured this weekend as the winners of the 2025 'Offaly person of the year' and 'unsung hero' award respectively.

The annual awards are organised by a sub-committee of the Offaly Association (Dublin) and will be presented at a gala dinner in the Bridge House Hotel, Tullamore, this Saturday, April 11.

Seamus Boland, from the Island, Ballycumber, was elected the 35th President of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) last October and will preside over its 2025–2028 term.

A lifelong advocate for rural communities and social inclusion, Seamus will guide the EU body representing organised civil society.

He recently completed a term of more than 20 years as CEO of the Moate-based Irish Rural Link organisation and was previously involved in Macra na Feirme and education services for disadvantaged groups in Offaly and neighbouring Westmeath.

The recipient of the 2025 'unsung hero of Offaly' award is the chairman of Offaly Hospice, Profesor Humphrey O'Connor.

Humphrey has presided over the voluntary committee for many years, a group which has raised millions of euro for palliative care services in the county.

He spearheaded Offaly Hospice's campaign to secure a regional hospice for the Midlands.

A large turnout is expected at the awards event the Bridge House Hotel.