Services for Persons with a DisabilityGalway City Mayor's Award Winners 2009 Announced
27 January 2010Soccer Veteran Billy Carr is Galway City Credit Union’s Volunteer of The Year
Mervue resident and long time soccer coach Billy Carr was last night announced as Galway City Credit Union’s Volunteer of the Year at the seventh Annual Mayor’s Awards for Galway City.
Mayor of Galway City, Cllr Declan McDonnell presented the top award to Billy Carr in recognition of his work over the years on behalf of Mervue United as both a coach for underage teams and his fundraising activities which has raised more than half a million euro over the 50 plus year’s of his involvement.
Other recipients of Mayor’s Awards for 2009 include the 750 volunteers who assisted with the Volvo Ocean Race in the city last Summer as well as individuals and groups like Renmore Resident’s Association which celebrated its Golden Anniversary last year.
Nearly 70 individuals and groups received certificates from the Mayor in celebration of voluntary activity in community life in the city. The winners of the individual awards remained a closely guarded secret until the ceremony itself which was held in the Black Box in front of an audience of 400 people and broadcast live on Galway Bay FM. The Awards are organised by Galway City Council and are sponsored by the Galway City Credit Unions.
The recipients in each of the categories were:
- St. Anthony’s & Claddagh Credit Union Arts, Culture, Heritage & Cursai Gaeilge Award – Ala Community Theatre Group, in recognition of its contribution to community-based activity in the arts;
- St. Columba’s Creditit Union Residents’ & Local Areas Award –Renmore Resident’s Association for its ongoing work over 50 years;
- Naomh Pádraig Credit Union Social & Community Support Award – The Galway Volvo Ocean Race Volunteers for their contribution to making the stopover the success it was;
- Naomh Pádraig Credit Union Social & Community Support Award – Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind, Galway Branch for their continuing support and assistance to blind people in Galway;
- Sports Volunteer of the Year Award – Michael Grealish in recognition of his service to rugby with Our lady’s Boys Club and with the Connacht Brach of the IRFU;
- Children and Youth Award – The Volunteers of Big Brothers Big Sisters Galway for their mentoring, support and friendship to young people in the city;
- Young Volunteers of the Year – Foundation Nepal/Transition Year Students of Coláiste Iognáid for their work in raising funds and increasing awareness of disadvantaged communities in Nepal;
Each of the winners received a Galway Crystal trophy and a cheque for €700.
-------------------------------------------
Buaiteoirí Ghradam Mhéara Chathair na Gaillimhe 2009 Ainmnithe
Is é an tIar-Imreoir Sacair Billy Carr Oibrí Deonach na Bliana Chomhair Chreidmheasa Chathair na Gaillimhe
Ainmníodh Billy Carr atá ina chónaí i Mervue agus atá ina chóitseálaí sacair le blianta fada mar Oibrí Deonach na Bliana Chomhair Chreidmheasa Chathair na Gaillimhe ag Gradaim an Mhéara aréir, gradaim atá ar siúl don seachtú bliain.
Is é Méara Chathair na Gaillimhe, an Comhairleoir Declan McDonnell a bhronn an gradam mór le rá seo ar Billy Carr mar aitheantas dá chuid oibre le blianta fada i Mervue United mar chóitseálaí na bhfoirne faoi aois agus mar gheall ar na gníomhaíochtaí bailithe airgid go léir a raibh sé páirteach leo. Bailíodh os cionn leath mhilliún euro sa tréimhse 50 bliain a raibh sé rannpháirteach leo.
Ar na daoine eile a bronnadh Gradam an Mhéara orthu in 2009 bhí os cionn 700 oibrí deonach a chuidigh le Rás Mara an Volvo sa chathair an Samhradh seo caite mar aon le daoine aonair agus grúpaí mar Chumann Áitritheoirí na Rinne Móire a bhí ag ceiliúradh Comóradh Caoga Bliain anuraidh.
Fuair beagnach 70 duine aonair agus grúpa teastas ón Méara mar aitheantas don obair dheonach a bhíonn ar siúl acu i saol an phobail sa chathair. Coinníodh ainmneacha bhuaiteoirí na ngradam aonair faoi rún daingean go dtí an searmanas féin a reáchtáladh sa Dubhlann i gcomhluadar 400 lucht féachana agus bhí an searmanas á chraoladh beo ar Galway Bay FM. Is iad Comhairle Cathrach na Gaillimhe a eagraíonn na Gradaim agus is iad Comhair Chreidmheasa Chathair na Gaillimhe a dhéanann urraíocht orthu.
Is iad seo a leanas buaiteoirí na gcatagóir éagsúla:
- Comhar Creidmheasa Naomh Antóin & An Chladach Gradam na nEalaíon, Cultúr, Oidhreachta & Cúrsaí Gaeilge – Grúpa Téatair Pobail Ala, mar aitheantas don obair a dhéanann siad maidir le gníomhaíochtaí pobalbhunaithe i gcúrsaí ealaíon;
- Comhar Creidmheasa Naomh Columba Gradam do Chúrsaí Comharsanachta agus Áitritheoirí –Cumann Áitritheoirí na Rinne Móire don obair leanúnach atá ar siúl acu le breis agus 50 bliain;
- Comhar Creidmheasa Naomh Pádraig Gradam Seirbhísí Sóisialta & Pobail – Oibrithe Deonach Rás Mara Volvo na Gaillimhe as an méid a rinne siad chun go n-éireodh chomh maith sin leis an ócáid;
- Comhar Creidmheasa Naomh Pádraig Gradam Seirbhísí Sóisialta & Pobail – Madraí Treorach do na Daill in Éirinn, Brainse na Gaillimhe as an tacaíocht agus cúnamh leanúnach a thugann siad do dhaoine dall i nGaillimh;
- Gradam d’Oibrí Deonach Spóirt na Bliana – Michael Grealish mar aitheantas don seirbhís atá tugtha aige ó thaobh cúrsaí rugbaí leis an Our Lady’s Boys Club agus le Brainse Chonnacht den IRFU;
- Gradam do Leanaí agus an Óige – Oibrithe Deonacha in eagraíocht Big Brothers Big Sisters Gaillimh mar gheall ar an gcúnamh, an tacaíocht agus an cairdeas a roinneann siad le daoine óga sa chathair;
- Oibrithe Deonacha Óg na Bliana – Fondúireacht Neipeal/Mic Léinn na hIdirbhliana i gColáiste Iognáid as an obair a rinne siad ag bailiú airgid agus ag cur le tuiscint maidir le pobail faoi mhíbhuntáiste i Neipeal;
Fuair gach buaiteoir trófaí Criostail na Gaillimhe agus seic de €700.
