Awards inspired by floods delayed... by flood fears

A community awards scheme inspired by the floods which devastated a West Cork town last summer had to be postponed — ironically, because of fresh flooding fears.

The Spirit of Clonakilty Awards, due to take place last Friday, were deferred as a result of torrential rainfall which gave rise to fears that a new flood was about to hit the town.

The awards, originally inspired by the good works of local people during the Jun 28 floods, will now be held in mid-February.

In all, about 115 awards were due to be presented to a variety of people from all sectors of the community, including a former garda chief, a local butcher, a darts champion and a group of mountaineer teenagers.

Retired Garda Supt Pat Maher, Clonakilty butcher Michael (Haulie) O’Neill and 10 students from Clonakilty Community College who climbed Mount Kilimanjaro were among those who are now set to receive their ‘Spirit of Clonakilty 2012 Town Council Recognition Awards’ next month.