The search has just begun for the country’s most inspiring citizens who will be crowned 2012’s People of the Year.
Members of the public are being asked to shine a light on the real-life heroes around the country, people who have shown great courage in the face of adversity or who have given selflessly of their time to transform the lives of their communities, and ensure that they get the recognition that they truly deserve.
At the launch of the 38th awards last week, a group of Young People of the Year winners from previous years were joined by cricketers John Mooney and Andrew Poynter – winners of the sports award in 2011 – to support the call for nomination.
Owen O’Keefe, Young Person of the Year for 2010, said: “Swimming the English Channel was one of those once-in-a-lifetime events that I won’t ever forget. It was an amazing experience even if it did leave me aching all over, and I’m not so sure I would do it again in a hurry.
“Being presented with a People of the Year Award by Brent Pope and being in the same room as other award winners such as the Irish rugby team and Graeme McDowell really brought home to me the significance of what I had achieved. The award will always have pride of place in my home.”
Irish cricketer John Mooney also shared the same experience. “Half-way across the globe for the Cricket World Cup last year, nothing could have prepared us for how our success, particularly against England, had impacted on the public consciousness back home in Ireland,” he said.
“Now we will be doing our best to continue to live up to that honour in assuring Ireland’s place on the cricket world map, not just in 2011 but for many years to come.”
All it takes to get a People of the Year Award is one nomination and people can submit details of their nominee online at peopleoftheyear.com or by contacting the People of the Year Awards office for a nomination form at 01 205 7260.
The closing date for entries is Friday 29 June 2012.
