UCC's Emeritus Professor of Irish History, John A. Murphy, has been named Cork Person of the Year for 2005
John A., turned 79 years of age last week, beat off stiff competition
from nominees, such as Personal Finance Advisor Eddie Hobbs and Hurling
star Seán Óg Ó hAilpín to take the Person of Year title for Cork's
Capital of Culture year.
The Award Judges were marking Professor Murphy's body of work over the
decades in scholarship, history and public life. John A. received
a huge ovation from the 400 plus attendance at the Awards Lunch at the
Rochestown Park Hotel Conference Centre (27 January 2006), and also in
attendance was Guest of Honour, President Mary McAleese.
John A. (A for Augustian) was born in Macroom in January 1927 and since
then has very much become the standard bearer for political and
cultural pluralism in Ireland. Between 1971 and 1990 he was
Professor of Irish History at UCC and his "Ireland in the Twentieth
Century" has achieved classic status.
He served in the Senate in the late 70's and 80's and is well known for
his courageous and incisive commentary on public affairs in print and
radio, not least on Northern Ireland. At a more local level he is
known for his love of the Irish language, literature and song and was
Editor of the Cork Historical and Archaeological Society for fifteen
years. As a further recognition of John A's contribution to
scholarship and public life, his colleagues recently presented him with
a book "History and the Public Sphere - essays in honour of John A.
Murphy" (Cork University Press).
The Cork Person of the Year is chosen from the twelve Cork Persons of
the Month selected in 2005. Other nominees included rugby star
Ronan O'Gara, Poet Theo Dorgan, a woman who fostered 113 children Mary
O'Connell, 84 yr old Jack Ryall who is involved in promoting all things
rural, Stage Designer Pat Murray, Choral Festival boss Jim Corr, urban
tourism organizer John X Miller, All-Ireland winning captain Seán Óg Ó
hAilpín, Rip-Off Ireland hero Eddie Hobbs, student activist for the
homeless Kenny Hyland and Sr Patricia Donovan the inner city parish
activist.
"This is the 13th year of these awards" said organiser Manus
O'Callaghan "and we just hope that the 150 or so monthly award winners
chosen since we started the scheme, will inspire others to follow their
good example, because it was Albert Schweitzer who said 'example is not
the main thing in influencing people, it is
the only thing'".
Keynote speaker President Mary McAleese was accompanied by her husband
Dr Martin McAleese. Other speakers included Tim Vaughan, Editor
of the Irish Examiner and Manus O'Callaghan, Southern Adv. Personality
M.C.'s were Ryan Tubridy RTE and Brian Crowley MEP. Award Judges
were Bishop John Buckley (Hon. Chairman), Maurice Moloney County
Manager and Joe Gavin City Manager. County Mayor Cllr. Michael Creed
and Lord Mayor Cllr. Deirdre Clune presented the Person of Year trophy
to Professor John A. Murphy at the lunch. Sponsors were Liam
Lally, Rochestown Park Hotel, Southern Adv., Irish Examiner and RTE.
Representatives from all sectors of Cork society were present at the
Gala Awards Lunch, including Government Ministers Micheál Martin, Batt
O'Keeffe, Michael Ahern and Mayors from all the town councils around
the county. TD's, from all Political Parties were also present.
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