Local woman is named as Most Inspirational Person
Olive Murray from nearby Leamonaghan was named Offaly’s Most Inspirational Person at this year’s Gala Retail Inspiration Awards with Virgin Media.
Olive’s extensive and inspirational charity work earned her the title of Inspirational Person in this year’s awards.
Established four years ago to celebrate individuals who work to create better communities with their selfless acts and inspirational deeds, Gala Retail awarded inspirational people from every county in Ireland, naming county inspirational people who were each gifted €1,000 in Ireland Hotel vouchers.
Olive Murray continues to hold annual coffee mornings for the Offaly Hospice Foundation, which she organised with her nurse daughter Vanessa before she succumbed to cancer at the age of 30.
Over the last 30 years, the events have grown so successful that Olive has had to relocate the fundraiser from her home in Leamonaghan to the lounge of the local bar, Gussie's in Ballycumber.
Olive has managed to stage the event without fail each year, despite being a busy mum to her own children and 52 foster children.
"I started holding the coffee mornings in 1992 in my house for the first few years but then the event got so big, we relocated to Gussie's Pub and Shop in the village.
"The first year, we thought we were brilliant making €60 but now, with the help of the Mellas Women's Club in organising the events, we are making up to €3000 for the hospice in the few hours that it's on.
"These services are so important because death hits us all. My husband Jim and I lost Vanessa to ovarian cancer in 1999.
"She was just 20 when she was diagnosed, but unfortunately, after a ten-year battle, she passed away. She was a nurse who helped me in the first few years of the coffee mornings.”
From a huge volume of nominations, 26 county heroes were crowned. Noreen Murphy, from Bantry in County Cork, was named as the Overall Inspirational Person of the Year for her services to mental health with the establishment of Lisheen’s House Suicide Prevention Charity.
According to Gary Desmond, CEO of Gala Retail, choosing the winners was a challenging task.
“We’ve heard some truly inspirational stories from people across Ireland during these awards, which has affirmed something we already knew – that we have so many selfless people carrying out great work in our communities,” Gary said.
Mr Desmond continues: “Now in their fourth year, the Inspiration Awards pay tribute to people who play a key role in creating a better country for us all. Operating in communities throughout Ireland, Gala Retailers have seen first-hand some of the great work that people have been doing and we are proud to have been able to recognise some of these inspirational individuals.
“We were overwhelmed by the level of nominations and Olive along with the fellow inspirational heroes are true examples of people who are making Ireland a better place. Congratulations Olive and all our county heroes!”
As a community retailer with 175 convenience stores nationwide, Gala store owners often hear of inspirational stories in their local communities, and this year’s Gala Retail Inspiration Awards with Virgin Media have elevated Ireland’s unsung heroes onto a national stage, giving these inspirational people the recognition they deserve.