Nominations sought for Offaly Person of the Year

The Offaly Association, Dublin is pleased to announce the launch of our Person of the Year Award for 2009. It's that time of year when the association asks Offaly people to nominate individuals in the community whom they consider to have made outstanding contribution in one or more of the following fields: - Since this event was launched in 1988 the award has grown in importance and prestige and given the standard of nominations, to be chosen is a major achievement. The 2009 Offaly Person of the Year will follow in the footsteps of John Dowling RIP (1988), Fr Tom Scully (1989), Eddie Joe Dooley RIP (1990), Paddy Larkin RIP (1991), Brian Cowen (1992), Michael Byrne (1993), Jane Feehan (1994), James Nolan (1995), Kieran Keenaghan (1996), Br Denis Minehan (1997), Tom Parlon (1998), Matt Connor (1999), Brian Whelahan (2000), Dr Philip Brady (2001), Maura Allen and John Horan (2002), Seamus Carroll (2003), Miriam O'Callaghan (2004), Tom and Paul Mangan (2005), Sr Oliver Wrafter (2006), Stephen Grant (2007) and the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann Organising Committee - Attracta Brady, Karen O'Grady, Tom Bourke, Mary Berry-O'Connell and Louis O'Dwyer (2008). Sponsorship of an event like this is all-important and the association is indebted to its sponsor The Celtic Lodge Guesthouse, 81-82 Talbot St, Dublin 1, for its continued generous sponsorship. A special word of thanks to Mr Noel Tynan for his help and assistance in this regard. Nominations for the award are invited from the people of Offaly through coupons placed in the local papers and a specially elected committee of the Association will choose the winner. The winner will be announced in early spring and will receive the award at our annual dinner shortly afterwards. It is also planned to honour the achievement of the All-Ireland-winning Offaly hurling team of 1985 at next year's function in some way, for what will be the 25th anniversary of their final win over Galway which captured the Liam MacCarthy Cup for the county for the second time. Tickets for the annual dinner dance will be available in early January and can be ordered through any member of the committee.