Awards scheme to honour volunteers in Cork county

AN awards ceremony is to be launched later this year to acknowledge the work of volunteers and community groups in Co Cork.

It will also become an annual event, which will be hosted by Cork County Council.

The idea for the awards came from Cllr John O’Sullivan, who won unanimous support from his colleagues for the event.

“The criteria for the awards will be put together by next September and it will then be advertised to the public. It is intended that we will hold the inaugural awards ceremony later in the year and then every year after,” the Fine Gael councillor said.

Council officials have approved the move, which is being undertaken because it is the European Year of the Volunteer.

“These awards will be specifically community, volunteering and civic awards,” the Courtmacsherry-based councillor said.

Mayor of County Cork, Tim Lombard, said it was important to recognise the achievement of people who do marvellous work behind the scenes, like those in voluntary movements such as tidy towns organisations and Muintir na Tíre.

County manager Martin Riordan said the first awards ceremony would likely lead the way to bigger events and he would make money available to finance it.

Meanwhile, the county council is also seeking to broaden its links with China to foster more economic development in the region.

Council officials have agreed to investigate the possibility of inviting Liu Biwei, the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China, to visit the county, following a request to do so by Cllr Noel O’Connor (FG). Councillors are also to look at the possibility of promoting industries in the Cork area to markets in the country which has a population of 1.3 billion.