Champion Rob Heffernan among front-runners for award

The bookies think today’s Cork Person of the Year award winner will either be a world gold medallist or a woman who voluntarily helps feed people who have fallen on hard times.

The winner will be announced at a function in the Rochestown Park Hotel at lunchtime. At the same event, Oscar winner Jeremy Irons will receive the title of Honorary Corkman.

Robert Heffernan — who became only the third Irish athlete to win gold at a world athletics championship — is seen as a real contender for the award.