5 days ago
Co. Roscommon man wins Muintir na Tíre community award
A Co. Roscommon man has been named as the inaugural recipient of the Muintir na Tíre Community Person of the Year award.
Bernard Kearney, from Fourmilehouse, Co. Roscommon was given the award at an event at Muintir na Tíre premises in Tipperary Town on Saturday, May 31.
Bernard Kearney receives the 2025 Muintir na Tíre Community Person of the Year award, from Jackie Meally, national president of Muintir na Tíre. Source: Martin Quinn
Kearney worked as a development officer with the organisation for over 30 years.
According to Muintir na Tíre, throughout Kearney's life, he has been a firm believer in the mission statement and ethos of the organisation's founder, Canon John Hayes.
During Kearney's time as a development officer, the Roscommon man was well known for his involvement with community text alert groups.
Muintir na Tíre believes that Kearney's commitment to his local community, for nearly 50 years, can be seen through the many projects and initiatives that he has been involved in.
The award was presented to Kearney by Muintir na Tíre national president, Jackie Meally.
The event was preceded by a ceremony in Bansha, Co. Tipperary for the late Canon John Hayes, the founder of Muintir na Tíre.
To mark 40 years of the community alert and text alert programme, Meally and the Irish Farmers' Association's (IFA) deputy president, Alice Doyle unveiled a new memorial bench.
Muintir na Tíre
In other news, local community groups are now able to apply for funding and mentoring under a programme to 'protect and celebrate' local heritage, including natural heritage.
The Heritage Keepers programme is now open to applications for its fifth year. The programme is open to community groups and primary schools across Ireland in both urban and rural locations.
Organisers of the initiative said that this year's programme will have an increased number of places for both community groups and schools.
Heritage Keepers is an initiative of Burrenbeo Trust, and is funded by The Sunflower Charitable Foundation, through Community Foundation Ireland.
