Rehab awards for life’s stars

A BOY who saved his father’s life after a horrific farm accident shared the stage with musicians, politicians and golfing hero Padraig Harrington to be honoured in the 33rd Irish People of the Year awards.

Schoolboy Gerald Killen, 10, from Kinnegad in Co Westmeath, was honoured as the Young Irish Person of the Year, for rescuing his father Denis, who lost his arm in an accident on the family farm last May.

Host for Saturday night’s awards Gráinne Seoige praised Gerald for his “bravery, calmness and presence of mind”.

She said his calmness and courage, when so many others would have panicked, undoubtedly saved his father’s life and were all the more remarkable given his age.

Harrington was named the Irish person of the Year 2007, for his “sheer will to win” last month, when he became the first Irishman to take the British Open title in 60 years.

He was honoured for “entering sporting history while enthralling the nation” and “for a career played in the spirit of the best sporting values”.

Harrington attended the awards with his wife Caroline, who is due to give birth to their second child in November.

Christy Moore was honoured as Ireland’s Greatest Living Musician, in an award presented by Tánaiste Brian Cowen.

The award was made for what Christy’s citation called “decades of exceptional contribution to Irish music” following a public vote that attracted close to 20,000 nominations.

Judges at the event in Citywest Hotel said “Christy Moore’s ability to capture in song the essence of the moment kept him at the top of a profession where change is permanent”.

A joint People of the Year award was made to Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, former British prime minister Tony Blair, the North’s First Minister Ian Paisley and his deputy Martin McGuinness for their work in re-establishing the Northern Ireland assembly last May.

Their achievement was described by the judges as a “momentous occasion that marked the end of four decades of conflict”.

Cork mother Maureen Forrest became the International Person of the Year for her work in Calcutta.

Jane McKenna was honoured for founding the Laura Lynn Children’s Hospice Foundation following the deaths of her two daughters from illnesses.