Popular Kilbeggan man is overall winner at Cathaoirleach Awards
The value of those who volunteer was championed at the Cathaoirleach Awards as 25 individuals and groups were recognised for their contribution.
Overall award recipient Stan McCormack from Kilbeggan, got a standing ovation as he was called to the stage at the Belvedere Visitor Centre. Clearly a popular choice, Stan was delighted, and genuinely surprised.
The guest speaker on the night, defence analyst, Declan Power, delivered a hard hitting message in his address, and tied it in with the theme of volunteerism.
He said he was delighted to be back on home territory, and told the audience of how he and his family are in receipt of services provided by volunteers in dementia care.
His experience of volunteerism goes back further, he said, as his grandmother Nell Power, a nurse in the Sacred Heart Hospital, volunteered with Meals on Wheels when she retired; both his grandfathers volunteered with St Vincent de Paul and his mother was active in organisations, from the RNLI to church groups.
“All of you out there have had the same experience, whether you’re directly at the front line of volunteering or you’re giving support to someone who is volunteering.
“Now our society is under a level of threat. There are those who would have us believe they have the hand on the reins of Irish identity, that they know what’s best for Ireland and the Irish, and who should be coming here, who should be going from here.
“There are those who would have us believe that our elected representatives are somehow illegitimate, that our process of democracy is to be found wanting.
“Of course, in any democracy, we can always do better, and there should be space for free comment – but what we have to be careful of is those who would usurp the public space, who would misinform, tell outright lies, sow seeds of dissent and have us turn against one another.
“The foot soldiers in the fight against intolerance in our society are us. We have to man the barricades, to call out intolerance – and the spirit of volunteerism is about doing the right thing, being active in your community, helping those who sometimes cannot help themselves, being there when you’re needed.
“What does that do? That creates a firm and a strong community, and I can tell you from my experience in more misbegotten parts of the world, community is the bedrock of society, the defence against negative things such as intolerance. Those of you that volunteer, I salute you. You are the foot soldiers against intolerance and ignorance.”