Keano wins Cork award for first time

THE only surprise at yesterday’s Cork People of the Year awards, was that it had taken so long for the city’s best known son to be honoured by his own.

It was the 12th annual ceremony, yet, extraordinarily, the first time that Republic of Ireland and Man United midfielder Roy Keane had the coveted title bestowed on him.

Sadly Keane wasn’t able to attend the event which was sponsored by the Irish Examiner and RTE, but his award was picked up by his father, Mossie.

More than 300 people attended the ceremony in Jurys Hotel, including Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, who is an avid Man United supporter.

Also present was Roy’s mother, Marie, and other members of the Keane family, including his brothers Pat and Johnson.

“He is very much the best known Irishman around the world, and anecdotally we know, there are many people on this earth that have never heard of Ireland but have heard of Roy Keane,” awards organiser Manus O’Callaghan said.

Roy Keane’s impact on the Irish nation certainly goes well beyond his sporting success. Next week the musical ‘I Keano’ will open at Dubln’s Olympia theatre.

Mossie Keane had the audience in stitches with some of his memories of arguably Cork’s most famous son.

He spoke about Paddy O’Brien of the Irish Heart Foundation visiting Vietnam and meeting orphans who had never heard of Ireland, but who knew Keano.

Mossie added that one day he and a friend had visited the church in Gougane Barra and he decided to light big candles on the altar in the hope that God would cure a niggling small injury Roy had.

“I said ‘Jesus look after Roy’. The following Saturday he ruptured his cruciate in a match against Leeds,” Mossie said, adding that he was unlikely to visit that church again.

He said that he would phone Roy after the ceremony and he was sure he’d be very proud of the award.

“This is really lovely for the family. He’s a good son,” Mossie said.

Roy beat off the challenge of 11 other monthly winners to grab the 2004 title, which he will hold throughout 2005, coinciding with the city’s designation as European Capital of Culture.

Included in the shake-up were, Clare O’Leary, the first Irishwoman to climb Mount Everest; Eddie Hobbs, financial advisor; Missioner Brother De Lellis O’Sullivan, who is celebrating 50 years work in the missions and Gerry Kelly of the Cork School of Music.

The judges were Cork county manager Maurice Moloney, Cork City manager Joe Gavin and Bishop John Buckley.

Meanwhile, while Keane was making magic in Cork, illusionist Keith Barry was casting his own spell at the Tower Hotel Waterford Excellence Award for 2004.

The host of the new ‘Brainwashed’ series on MTV was back in his native Waterford on Thursday to accept the overall award for people who have brought honour and glory to the city over the past year.

Barry sprang to fame with live performances and television shows in Ireland and the United States showcasing his astonishing magic and mind control skills. He grew up in Williamstown and went to school at Mount Sion CBS.