‘Don’t ever quit’ say award winners

TWO adventurers who trekked to the South Pole and climbed Mount Everest found themselves on another summit yesterday when they were jointly presented with the annual Cork Person of the Year award.

More than 260 guests gave Pat Falvey and Dr Claire O’Leary a standing ovation at the awards ceremony held at the Sheraton Fota Island Hotel.

The duo were honoured in particular for their January 2008 epic trip across the Antarctic.

They trudged 680 miles on foot for 58 days to the South Pole, enduring temperatures as low as minus -32.5 degrees.

Dr O’Leary said it was a big surprise to receive the award and said they wanted to thank the people of Cork for it and for their support during the mammoth journey across the ice fields.

“It meant so much to be getting messages from people back home, especially towards the end of the trip,” she said.

Pat Falvey said he was extremely proud to have achieved such milestones as a Corkman and recalled how he hit a sliotar off the 29,000 ft mountain, “making it the highest poc fada in the world”.

He also made reference to the current recession but said the people of Cork were so optimistic they’re terming it the “pre-boom” and calling on his experience in gruelling situations said the message should be “don’t ever quit”.

To mark the occasion, they were presented with two crystal vases by the mayor of County Cork, Cllr Noel Harrington, and the city’s Lord Mayor Cllr Brian Bermingham.

The pair were chosen by the judging panel of Cork City Council manager, Joe Gavin, Cork County manager, Martin Riordan and Bishop John Buckley.

They beat some stiff opposition, including Ronan O’Gara, who was unable to attend yesterday’s event as he has a pressing engagement in France today where Munster will hope to beat Mountauban in their last Heineken Cup pool game.

The awards ceremony was jointly sponsored by the Irish Examiner, RTÉ and Sheraton Fota Island Hotel and news reader Ann Doyle and MEP Brian Crowley acted as joint master of ceremonies.

“The great benefit of award schemes is, they allow us tell the good news stories of Cork’s local heroes, and these inspirational stories are particularly important to lift our spirits, especially during recessionary times,” the awards’ organiser Manus O’Callaghan said.