Boland and O'Connor honoured at Offaly Person of the Year awards
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Séamus Boland, winner of the The Offaly Association Dublin 37th Offaly Person of the Year Award ,pictured with Seamus Dooley, the 2023 winner and his good friend Fr. Sean Healy in the Millennium Room of the Bridge House Hotel, Tullamore. Ger Rogers Photography Ger Rogers PhotographyImage 2 of 4
Offaly Person of the Year 2025 Séamus Boland, President of the European Economic and Social Committee and Prof. Humphrey O’Connor, Unsung Hero Award recipient, pictured with the Offaly Association Dublin 37th Offaly Person of the Year and Unsung Hero Selection committee in the Millennium Room of the Bridge House Hotel, Tullamore L. - R. Peter Carter, Editor, Offaly Topic, Liam Fleury, Chairman of the Offaly Association Dublin, Ger Scully, Editor Tullamore Tribune and Noel McCann, Bridge House Hotel. Ger Rogers Photography Ger RogersImage 3 of 4
Offaly Person of the Year 2025 Séamus Boland, President of the European Economic and Social Committee pictured with his family, from left: Eoin Buckley, Jackie Farrington, Naomi Buckley, Geraldine Boland, Lauren Buckley, Sean McParland and Jamie Boland. Ger Rogers Photography Ger RogersImage 4 of 4
Unsung Hero Award 2025 recipient Humphrey O’Connor pictured with his family, from left: Mark, Ciara, Eileen and Tara O’Connor, Mark McGrath and Emer O’Connor. Ger Rogers Photography Ger RogersBallycumber man Séamus Boland and Tullamore resident Prof. Humphrey O’Connor were honoured at the 37th Offaly Person of the Year Awards in the Bridge House Hotel in Tullamore on Saturday last, April 11.
Boland, president of the European Economic and Social Council, was chosen as the Offaly Person of the Year 2025, while O’Connor, chair of Offaly Hospice, was selected as the Unsung Hero.
The awards event is hosted by the Offaly Association (Dublin) and its chairperson Liam Fleury made the formal award presentations.
During his address, Fleury welcomed Deputies John Clendennen and Tony McCormack, Offaly County Council Cathaoirleach Cllr John Leahy and other councillors present.
He also acknowledged the long-standing support of main sponsor Noel Tynan,
The Celt Bar, Talbot Street, Dublin, associate sponsors Tullamore Municipal District, Birr Municipal District and Brosna Press for their sponsorship of the souvenir brochure and Tullamore DEW for their sponsorship of the drinks reception.
Master of Ceremonies Ger Scully noted the presence of former winners of the Person of the Year Philip Brady, Matt Connor and Nicole Turner and Mairead Martin (wife of the late Brendan Martin) at the function.
Addressing the large gathering, Offaly County Council Cathaoirleach Cllr John Leahy said it was a great honour for him to be present at such a wonderful evening and congratulated Seamus Boland and Prof Humphrey O’Connor on their selection of Person of the Year and Unsung Hero respectively. “Both Seamus and Prof O’Connor will acknowledge the support and sacrifices their families have made over the years and I believe these awards are an acknowledgement of the sacrifices made by those family members,” he said.
“Offaly County Council has a long association with the Offaly Person of the Year awards and I know that association will remain for a long, long time and assure the committee of the continued support of Offaly County Council,” he added.
After he was presented with the Person of the Year award, Seamus Boland said he was humbled to have been selected by the committee.
READ THE CITATION FOR SEAMUS BOLAND HERE
“I want to congratulate Prof O’Connor on his selection as the Unsung Hero and acknowledge the huge work as he done with Offaly Hospice.
“I could not believe that the citation that was read out was about me.
“I want to acknowledge the wonderful support I have received from my family over the years and also the support I got from Connie Hanniffy and the Kenny family in Ballycumber.
“I have also believed that the community is important and my mandate is about local communities and I believe that without the work done by Humphrey O’Connor Offaly Hospice would not be where it is today.
“Social partnership within communities is vital and it is important that we all work in partnership to ensure there are no vacuums within local communities.
“We have to ensure that civic society is listened to and heard.
“This award is so special because you are nominated for it by the people of the county. Thank you to all who nominated me.
“If we get people to listen then we can get things done in civic society. It is vital and important that we do not just talk the talk, but that we walk the walk.”
Prof Humphrey O’Connor congratulated Seamus Boland on his selection of 2025 Person of the Year and said it was a complete surprise when he had been informed he had been selected as the 2025 Unsung Hero and
“This award is not personal to myself, it is to the Offaly Hospice Foundation people past and present without whom we would not have achieved so much.
READ THE CITATION FOR PROF. HUMPHREY O'CONNOR HERE
"The support of those people has been tremendous. I also want to acknowledge the wonderful support we have received from so many dedicated volunteers, those who organise fundraising events for us.
“I want to thank all my colleagues Offaly Hospice for their support and encouragement over the years.
“Offaly Hospice is a voluntary organisation and when you join us you are in it for the long haul. Offaly Hospice is about having a facility with an experienced and caring staff.
“Through my involvement with Offaly Hospice I have made many lifelong friends including former Person of the Year winner Dr Philip Brady and I want to thank Philip for coming here tonight and thank you all for making this a special night for Offaly Hospice,” Prof O’Connor.