This is the 20th anniversary of the Kildare awards. The first recipient of the title, Matt Browne, will be the MC on the night.

Kildare County Council continues their sponsorship of the awards with Joe Mallon Motors, KTK Sand & Gravel, Keadeen Hotel, Naas Printing, Cill Dara Betting, Naas Credit Union, Business Excellence Consultancy Ltd, Bord na Mona and Naas Health & Fitness each sponsoring an individual award.

Previous winners have included Orla Tinsley, Marc de Salvo, Sister Consilio, Dr Ena Hanlon and Teresa Harrison with Barretstown Camp, Seamus Gleeson of Touch and Professor John Sweeney of NUI, Maynooth, featuring amongst the international winners.

"It is especially pertinent in recessionary times to acknowledge the hard work of community heroes," said Matt. "When state funding and government budgets are cut, it is these volunteers who keep vital support services going. We'd also like to acknowledge Kildare Co Council and our many sponsors who've remained loyal despite the economic downturn."

The committee for the event comprises of Seamus Morahan and Vincent Kelly (founder members), Matt along with his daughter, Edel Curran and Rose B O'Donoghue.

For tickets or further information, contact Matt on 087 2654592.

THE NOMINEES ARE...
Tir Na Mona
Founded in 1997, the group's primary aim was "to facilitate communication and co-operation between local community groups in the Donadea, Staplestown, Coill Dubh and Timahoe areas".

Tir na Mona continues to maximise the cultural, educational, social and economic resources to their full potential and activities organised encourage the participation of all generations and are carried out, not only with a sense of purpose, but also with great energy and fun, thereby securing the support of future generations to come.

The Annual Bog Day, The Wrenboys' Concert on Stephan's Day and Timahoe Field Day continue Irish traditions whilst raising invaluable funding for charitable organisations or local projects.

'Clean-up' days in the area have made a massive difference, both visually and to the natural environment, with over thirty tonnes of rubbish collected last year alone.

Karen Leigh, Kildare town
Spearheading a campaign run by parents of children with special needs, Karen Leigh fundraised for two years, sourced a suitable site in Kildare town and established Sensational Kids.

The charity provides therapeutic services for up to fifty children per week with varying disorders including autism, Down Syndrome, cerebral palsy, dyspraxia, global developmental delays, dyslexia and many more.
Families travel from all over Ireland to avail of the services – at half the rate of private consultancy fees. It costs n100,000 to run the centre annually with three occupational therapists, a speech and language therapist, reading teacher, administration staff and a dedicated 'tribe' of volunteers keeping the centre open six days a week.

Sourcing toys directly, Sensational Kids opened a toy shop which offers educational toys and learning aids to children of all abilities. The shop, along with workshops attended by families, fund the centre plus the Glitter Ball which is their main annual fundraiser.


Christy McEvoy, Monasterevin
As Scout Unit Leader, Christy oversees weekly meetings entailing badge work and scouting skills. During the summer, the scouts travelled to Wales for a six day holiday whilst cubs went to Killaloe, Co Clare to enjoy outdoor activities and water sports. The younger Beavers went to Tramore on a daytrip.

Four years ago, the Scout Den in Monasterevin was badly damaged by fire - three times in one year - with much of their outdoor equipment and camping gear destroyed. Thanks to Emo Oil, new tents have since been purchased. It was Christy, along with Brian Dunne, who spearheaded the fundraising to restore the damaged hall. When he is not bag packing in SuperValu, he is organising draws and sponsored events and has given twenty years of dedication to the Scout troop in Monasterevin.

Shirley Keogh, Kilmeade
Shirley is a little powerhouse on wheels! On legs or wheels, Shirley believes every person deserves equal opportunities in life, sporting and social activities. Having coped with Spina Bifida herself, Shirley joined Spina Bifida and Hydrocephauls Association in 1996 and has served as secretary, youth officer and sports co-ordinator and, with the help of others, started "Club 2000".

Members enjoy basketball, javelin, shot putt, discus and wheelchair activities and meet Thursday night in St Lawrence's GFC with annual sports' days and weekend trips organised. Despite having dialysis treatment three times a week, Shirley tries to make weekly meets with husband, Brendan attending in her absence.

In 1986, Shirley married Brendan and the couple have one son, Brendan Jnr. When her son was aged eight, Shirley reluctantly conceded to using a wheelchair but feels angry about the different way people treated her when she was 'on wheels'.

"I found people addressed other family members when I was present eg. asking my son in a shop what I required. My legs gave way, not my mind…." She is hugely supportive of The Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Association as she understands both the frustration of youth coping with disability and the concerns of anxious parents.

Frank Connolly, The Curragh
"Mr Curragh" would aptly describe this man; having lived in the Curragh since infancy, Frank has been a soldier for 32 years and served nine tours of duty overseas. His voluntary work included being treasurer of Curragh Community Council, establishing a boxing club, coaching children for the Community Games - in 1998, Frank trained three relay teams who went on to represent Kildare at Mosney.

Frank is chairperson and a member of the Board of Management of Curragh Pride Family Resource Centre which facilitates: Curragh Ladies, Spouses of Soldiers Overseas (SOS), Men's Group, Art Buddies, Parents & Toddlers, Homework Club, Counselling Services, Family Fun Week, Newsletter, Further Education, CAKE and much more.

Somehow, he managed to find time to coach Moorefield U/12 team who won the South Board Kildare Football League Div 1 this year! Not surprisingly, Frank received a "Services to the Community" award by the General Officer Commanding the Curragh Camp earlier this year.

Roisin Malone, Milltown
Roisin Malone is synonymous with Saplings school for children with autism, having initially facilitated the school in her own home in Milltown before a site in Kill was donated and the school relocated there. A new centre of excellence in Naas costing n3m is Roisin's and Saplings' next target – fashion shows, sponsored cycles, concerts, bag packing – you name it and Milltown's mega-mum will be there.

"Jumping Jelly Beans" which combines children from Foroige Club in Milltown becoming "Fitness Friends" with children of special needs, was set up in January by Roisin. This entails up to twelve youths, aged thirteen to sixteen years, giving up their time to assist with fitness for local youth with special needs.

"It has a two fold purpose – to integrate and make each group aware of the needs of their peers. We have now expanded to include Speech and Drama". They meet in Milltown Gaa weekly and Roisin is already liaising with Gaa Headquarters to try and achieve a similar arrangement with every gaa club in Ireland. In November, Jumping Jelly Beans will operate in Newbridge and Naas Sport Centres respectively.

Roisin is also a Milltown Gaa supporter and a member of the Parish Gift Programme.

Anna May McHugh, National Ploughing Association
The National Ploughing Association of Ireland (NPA) celebrated their 78th Anniversary this year with the championships being held here in Co Kildare under the eye of Anna May McHugh, MD.

In 1956, Anna May became secretary to, J.J. Bergin, founder of the NPA and she was elected MD of the NPA in 1973 - an appointment that caused quite a stir at the time! The same year, the World Championships were held in Ireland and again in 1981, when Anna May received a medal of special achievement from the World Ploughing Board for her excellence in organisation. From 1997, she has served as the only female delegate on the board and travelled to New Zealand, Canada, Australia, Kenya, Zimbabwe, U.S.A. and Zambia.

Anna May has developed the organisation to become the largest agricultural event in Ireland and one of the largest in Europe. The hosting of the ploughing championships in Co. Kildare was a massive boost to local tourism and the agri-sector but Anna May is no stranger to the farming community in Kildare as she has been President of Kildare County Show Society since its re-formation in 1995.

Jane Mullins, Newbridge
Chairperson of Newbridge Community Development (NCD), the group recently held a Public Forum on unemployment and related issues to encourage a community response to the downturn. NCD has run a Childcare Training Course in association with Fas for the past ten years and is involved with Culture Factory in developing a major youth centre to meet a variety of needs.

Jane chaired the group from 2002 to 2007 when NCD developed the Cheshire Respite Centre and led the successful High Court settlement on amenity land in Newbridge, which ensured protection for the River Liffey Linear Park. 

Jane is also Chairperson of Goodwill Housing Co-Operative Society, which completed construction of 26 homes at Rosconnell, Newbridge, last December. The project took 15 years to finalise with difficulties securing a site, planning approval and funding. The co-operative further hopes to complete the purchase of eighteen apartments in Newbridge this month, which will provide homes to people who otherwise, would not be able to afford them.

A founder member and Chairperson of Positive Action from 1994 – 1999, Jane represented women infected with Hepatitis C through the infected blood product, Anti-D and the group successfully fought the state on health and compensation issues. She is currently a member of the Board of the Irish Blood Transfusion Service.

Eoin Rheinisch, Leixlip
Last year saw this young slalom canoeist's hard work and ambition pay off when he finished fourth in his sport at the Beijing Olympics. Eoin is a member of the Salmon Leap Canoe Club in Leixlip which has had a club member in every Olympics since 1972.

Eoin finished an incredible 6th in the World Championships this year in Germany, improving one place on last year's World Cup in Spain. In 2004, the Kildare man took gold in the World Cup Finals, also held in Spain and has consistently reached the finals of the World Cup, eight times in total.

"After the Beijing Olympics, I visited a lot of primary schools in Kildare and spoke predominantly to fifth and sixth classes about my life as a full-time canoeist and my experience in representing Ireland at the Olympic Games. My goal is to try and inspire children to see what is possible when you believe in and follow your dreams. I also volunteer within my own sport to teach instructors and aspiring juniors the specific skills involved within my discipline of slalom canoeing."

Ruby Walsh, Kilcullen
For the seventh time, Ruby was crowned Champion National Hunt Jockey this year and looks destined to become one of the greatest jump jockeys in the history of National Hunt racing. The son of Ted Walsh, former Champion Amateur Jockey and well-known television racing pundit, Ruby's racing career began in the mid-90's.

In 1999/2000, Ruby gained what will perhaps always be his most memorable and satisfying win on the racecourse - riding his father's 'Papillion' to victory in the Aintree Grand National. He went on to win that race once more on the Willie Mullins-trained 'Hedgehunter' in 2005.

Ruby rode his first Cheltenham Festival winner as an amateur rider with 'Alexander Banquet'in the 1998 Champion Bumper has been the leading rider at the meeting in 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2009. The most recent festival was undoubtedly a memorable one for Ruby, as he broke the record for the number of winners ever ridden by a jockey at Cheltenham - seven times in all, including the Cheltenham Gold Cup on 'Kauto Star' and the Queen Mother Champion Chase on 'Master Minded'.

Jamie Heaslip, Naas
The Number 8 for Ireland has had an incredible year: a member of the victorious national team who won the Six Nation's Cup and the coveted Triple Crown, Jamie was chosen for the British and Irish Lions squad to South Africa where he started all three tests on the tour. With
Leinster, he enjoyed success in beating Leicester in the Heineken Cup final, with the sweetest victory of all being their semi-final defeat of Munster!

Jamie began his rugby career with his local club in Naas; he retained his commitment to the sport as he continued his education, having played with Newbridge College, Dublin University and Clontarf.

Jamie was nominated for the IRB Under-21 World Player of the Year Award after starring at the 2004 U-21 World Cup in Scotland, where Ireland finished runners-up to New Zealand. In March 2005, he made his Leinster senior debut in the Celtic League and was named in the Irish squad for the Guinness Autumn series in 2006, making his test debut against the Pacific Islanders. He has the distinction of being the 1000th player to wear the green jersey of Ireland.

The Maleady Family, Clane
International Award
The Maleady family of Clane - Ann, Pat and their daughter Tracy - are being recognised at the awards for their dedication to the abandoned children of Muldova's orphanages. It was Ann who first visited Muldova in 2003 and was appalled at the deliberate "intentional and circumstantial starvation" tactics of the government. Children who had ailments such as epilepsy or asthma were deemed as "half animals", and treated after 'full humans' were attended to.

Of one hundred and sixty children admitted to the institution annually, at least sixty would die.

Ann has visited the ex-Soviet state every year since with daughter, Tracy and husband, Pat having made three trips each. The effects of work carried out by Outreach Muldova are immediate with over three hundred Muldovan staff now providing twenty-four hour care, all year round.

On Saturday 14th, the family have organised a Murder Night at Clane Gaa Clubhouse at which they are launching a cd, "Hold my Hand", a poem written by Tracy and music composed by Charlie McGettigan.