Browne: ‘My wife is more deserving of lifetime award’

Journalist Vincent Browne yesterday praised his wife for putting up with him for so long after he was honoured at the Limerick Person of the Year Awards.

The firebrand columnist and TV3 broadcaster was presented with a lifetime achievement award at the annual gala event.

A native of Broadford, Co Limerick, Mr Browne praised his wife for sticking by him throughout a long and eventful journalistic career.

“I think my wife Jean is far more deserving of a lifetime achievement award than I am, for having a lifetime with me,” he quipped.

He also paid tribute to the many groups in Limerick who help keep communities together.

“I’m hugely honoured to be acknowledged by people of my own county who I have such an allegiance to and I’m deeply grateful,” he said.

A woman who spearheaded a major drive to enhance and revitalise the city centre was named Limerick Person of the Year 2012. Outright winner, Helen O’Donnell is the chairperson of Limerick Tidy Towns.

The wife of former Fine Gael TD and MEP Tom O’Donnell, she introduced the concept of entering Limerick as a city into the Tidy Towns competition.

She is now leading the way on improving the look of the city’s urban landscape.

Since the close of 2011, a group of 100 volunteers including business people, retailers and members of the public have been working diligently in a bid to enhance the overall appearance of the city centre.

“I’m truly stunned and I’m seldom short for words,” Mrs O’Donnell said. “After seeing everyone else (nominated), my son said: ‘Mum there’s no way you’re going to win this’. Thank you so much, I would ask you to ask your friends, your family and people you work with to help give some of your time and talents to volunteering for community activities.

“All of us who are up here today represent that and all of us need help and everyone has a talent that they can bring to the table.”

Others nominated for the Limerick Leader-promoted award include author Kevin Barry, retired garda inspector John O’Reilly, Novas Initiatives Street Outreach volunteers, Limerick FC chairman Pat O’Sullivan, photographer Gerry Andrews and Dr Syed Tofaill, lead scientist on a project to develop a test for the early detection of Alzheimer’s.