40th People of the Year Award open for nominations

Ireland’s People of the Year awards is 40 this year and, to celebrate, past winners Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh, Mark Pollock, Christina Noble, and Jane McKenna were joined yesterday by awards ambassador and actress Aoibhín Garrihy in Dublin to open the nominations campaign for the 2014 awards.

Aoibhín was joined by junior award ambassadors Clodagh, 8, and Darren, 9, to ask the public to nominate this year’s winners.

Past winners from across the decades also joined together to call on people to nominate everyday heroes and heroines living in their local communities.

Nominations are open from today and can now be submitted online at www.peopleoftheyear.com or on Facebook. The closing date for entries is Friday, September 5.

Former winner Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh said at the launch: “These awards are an incredible way of honouring those heroes in our local communities, people who are going out every day and making changes around the country. In 1997, I was honoured to receive an award and humbled to be in the company of such inspiring people.”

Seán Egan, Rehab chairman, said: “The 40th anniversary of the People of The Year Awards is a great opportunity to nominate someone you think has gone far beyond the call of duty, in their bravery, their commitment to their community and selfless dedication.

“People who inspire us all deserve recognition and acknowledgment.”