Carers of the Year Awards 2010
Our Carers of the Year Awards 2010 have been officially launched.
The annual Carers of the Year Awards was launched by Minister for Social Protection Eamon O'Cuiv. The awards nomination process has begun and you can nominate a family carer by clicking on the below link. Alternatively you can download the form and print it.
Nominate a Family Carer Online Today
Enda Egan, CEO, Minister Eamon O'Cuiv, James Doyle, Emergency Response and Patron Mary Kennedy pictured at the Carers of the Year Awards 2010 Launch.
Kildare Carers pictured at the Carers of the Year 2010 launch along with Mary Kennedy and Newbridge Centre Manager, Anne Flynn.
Carers of the Year 2009
Congratulations to Irelands Carers of the Year for 2009 - Paddy & Anne Peppard.
Paddy & Anne Peppard from Trim, Co. Meath were announced Irelands Carers of the Year 2009 at an awards ceremony in the Westbury Hotel on Wednesday 18th November. The Peppards who are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary this week, have an extraordinary life story. They currently provide care for their 42 year old son, who received brain injuries and is wheel-chair bound following a car accident where he was knocked down at the age of four. Paddy and Anne have three other grown-up children, also provided full time care for their six other children who all tragically passed away from Cystic Fibrosis as infants.
Presenting the awards to the regional and overall recipients of the Carers of the Year Awards were patrons of The Carers Association, TV presenter Mary Kennedy, football legend, Mick O'Dwyer and Minister for Older People, Aine Brady.
Anne & Paddy Peppard - Irelands Carers of the Year 2009
The Young Carer of the Year Award was presented to Maria Maher from Ballincollig, Cork who has looked after her mother ,Mary, since she was 13 years old. Mary is a permanent wheelchair user following an accident and Maria helps her with her daily needs. She combines her caring role with a course in UCC. Maria was presented with her award by Mick O'Dwyer, Patron of the Association.
Mary Kennedy, Young Carer of the Year Maria Maher & Mick O' Dwyer.
View Full Press Release Here
The awards were sponsored by Emergency Response Ltd, awards lunch sponsored by HSF health plan, advertising by PJT Insurances and award prize by Temple Spa Hotel.
Regional Award Recipients
We are delighted to announce the four regional Carers of the Year who were chosen from over a thousand nominations received. These carers will represent Irelands 161,000 family carers.
Young Carer of the Year: Maria Maher, Cork
Leinster Region: Paddy & Anne Peppard, Trim, Co. Meath
Connaught/Ulster Region: Mary McDevitt, Donegal
Munster Region: Anne Kinsella, Limerick
Dublin Region: Nicky Harris, Dublin 16
All four regional recipients will be celebrated at regional ceremonies held in their local areas. They will then all go forward to our National Carers of the Year Awards ceremony which is held on the 18th of November 2009. At this ceremony one carer will be chosen to represent the 161,000 family carers in Ireland. They will be Irelands Carer of the Year for 2009. Our Young Carer of the Year will be presented her award at the National Awards ceremony.
The Carers of the Year Awards are kindly sponsored by Emergency Response Ltd.
Regional Award Ceremonies - 2009
Leinster Carer of the Year Awards - 15th October 2009
Paddy and Anne Peppard were presented with their Leinster Carers of the Year Award at a special ceremony in Trim Castle Hotel, Trim, Co. Meath on 15th of October. The Peppards were chosen from a substantial number of awards from the Leinster area for the care they provide to their son Leslie who received brain injuries following an accident when he was 5 years old. They have been caring for Leslie for 38 years. The Peppards sadly lost 6 sons to Cystic Fibrosis when the children were infants. The couple have been providing Leslie with round the clock care ever since his accident.
Nominations sent in for Paddy and Anne all cite the phenomenal care provided to all their children and their immense contribution to the local community.
Caoirleach Cllr Ray Butler presenting Paddy & Anne Peppard with their award. Also pictured are Karen Phelan, Project Manager & David Lowbridge, Regional Manager, The Carers Association.
Anne, Paddy & Leslie Peppard with Cllr Ray Butler.
Young Carer of the Year 2009 - Cork Regional Ceremony
Maria Maher from Ballincollig, Cork was awarded the title of Irelands Young Carer of the Year 2009 at a special ceremony in City Hall Cork on Tuesday 20th of October. Deputy Lord Mayor, Jim Corr presented Maria with a framed certificate and commended her on the great care she provides to her mother since she was 13 years of age. Maria is now 18 years old and successfully completed her Leaving Certificate and is now studying in UCC while also providing her mother with care. Maria's mother Mary is a wheelchair user following an accident. Maria and her family will travel to Dublin in November for the National Carers of the Year Awards.
Deputy Lord Mayor of Cork, Jim Corr pictured with Young Carer of the Year Maria Maher.
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Deputy Lord Mayor Jim Corr, Peter Cox, Cork Centre Manager, Mary Maher and Maria Maher, Young Carer of the Year 2009
Connaught/Ulster Carer of the Year 2009
Mary McDevitt from Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal was awarded Connaught/Ulster Carer of the Year 2009 at a special ceremony in MV's in Ballyshannon on Thursday 22nd of October. Mary cares for her mother Celine (80) who has Alzheimers, her father Liam (85) who lost the use of his right arm and her sister Margaret (47). Mary provides round the clock care for her family with very little outside support. Marys brother Paul nominated her by saying "I think Mary is doing a fantastic job, she is most deserving of this award". Chairperson and Mayor of Ballyshannon Cllr Eugene Dolan commended Mary for her tireless dedication and said the people of Ballyshannon were very proud of her.
Catherine Cox, Communications Manager, The Carers Association, Mary McDevitt and Karen Phelan, Project Manager, The Carers Association
Chairperson Cllr. Eugene Dolan, Mary McDevitt and Paul McDevitt.
Munster Carer of the Year 2009
Anne Kinsella from John Carew Park, Limerick has been announced Munster Carer of the Year 2009. Anne was presented with her award at a special ceremony in Limericks Maldron Hotel on Thursday 5th November. Anne was chosen from a substantial number of nominations as Munster's Carer of the Year. Anne has been providing full time care for her husband, Paddy, since 1972 following a car accident that left him a Quadriplegic and wheelchair user.
Anne was pregnant with the couple's third child at the time of the accident and had two other small children. Nominations for Anne all cite the phenomenal care she provides to her husband, her optimistic nature and her contribution to the local community. Anne's daughter Collette said at the ceremony "My mother is genuinely a very caring and loving person and an inspiration to those of us who often moan about the ordinary routines of our lives".
Olive Mulqueen, Catherine Cox, Regional Manager, Steffani McDonagh, Limerick Centre Manager, Karen Phelan and Sam Heinzinger from The Carers Association pictured with Anne and Paddy Kinsella and the Munster Carer of the Year Awards in Limerick on 5th November.
Paddy and Anne Kinsella, Munster Carer of the Year 2009
Dublin Carer of the Year 2009
Family Carer Nicky Harris from Dublin 16 was awarded Dublin Carer of the Year 2009 at a special ceremony in the Beacon Hotel on Thursday 12th of November. Nicky provides care for her daughter Chloe (16) following a car accident three years agi in which Chloe suffered a severe brain injury. Nicky lost her mother in the same accident. Nicky, who has two other daughters, provides care and support to Chloe whilst having Multiple Sclerosis (MS) herself. Nicky combines her caring role and her own health condition with managing a successful fashion distribution business.
Deputy Lord Mayor Cllr. Aine Clancy presented Nicky with her award and Gillian Quigley (BRI Ireland) who nominated Nicky said Nicky was an inspiration to us all and an assertive, strong and hopeful advocate for her child.
Gillian Quigley (BRI Ireland), Nicky Harris, Dublin Carer of the Year, Catherine Cox, Communications Manager, Chloe Harris.
Deputy Lord Mayor Cllr. Aine Clancy presenting Nicky Harris with her award.
