Latest news with #CorkPersonoftheYear
Irish Examiner
29-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Patrick Coughlan named Cork Person of the Month for helping people in financial difficulty
A man whose work has helped thousands of people in financial difficulty for over 40 years has been named Cork Person of the Month for May. In the early 1990s, Patrick Coughlan helped set up a free service in the Cork city credit union where he worked – a service that proved hugely successful and ultimately evolved into the nationwide Money and Budgeting Advice Service (MABS). Cork Person of the Year awards organiser Manus O'Callaghan said Mr Coughlan has dedicated his career to helping those most in need. 'His work has provided a vital safety net for thousands of individuals and families facing financial hardship,' he said. 'His passion, vision and tireless advocacy has made a lasting difference, and his contributions to financial well-being in Cork and beyond will not be forgotten.' Mr Coughlan's journey with MABS began in the early 1990s, when he was working in the Lough Credit Union on the southside of Cork City. He and his colleague, Brendan Roche, decided to develop a structured approach to help members who were overwhelmed by financial difficulties. Recognising the need for a sustainable solution, they established an income and expenditure system that prioritised essential living expenses while ensuring regular repayments to creditors. Their approach to helping people in financial distress was strengthened by partnerships they helped forge with Cork City Council, Cork County Council, utility companies and financial institutions, who all agreed to facilitate the introduction of manageable repayment plans for those in financial crisis. As the impact of their MABS initiative grew, support was secured from the Combat Poverty Agency and the then-Department of Social Welfare, which allowed the fledgling service to expand its reach. What began as a local project soon evolved into a nationwide initiative and network. Mr Coughlan, who retired as manager and financial controller of The Lough Credit Union in 2015, is still the acting chair of South Munster MABS and he continues to play a key role in guiding the organisation. In 2024, the MABS national helpline handled 23,525 calls while South Munster MABS assisted 1,908 new clients, demonstrating the continued need for the service. Mr Coughlan said: MABS was born out of a real need to support individuals and families trapped in financial distress. 'Seeing the service grow from a small initiative at The Lough Credit Union to a nationwide support system has been incredibly rewarding. 'At the heart of MABS is the belief that everyone deserves financial stability, and I am proud to play a part in that journey.' Mr Coughlan's name now goes forward alongside the other monthly winners for possible selection as Cork Person of the Year, who will be announced at the annual gala awards lunch next January. Read More West Cork town to celebrate 200 years of the first lifeboat in Courtmacsherry
Irish Independent
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Professor Gary Murphy announced as the April Cork Person of the Month
Mr Murphy has been selected due to the excellency of his work as a contributor to RTÉ's election coverage and his writings, which include 'Haughey', his acclaimed biography of former Taoiseach Charles J Haughey. Professor Murphy who is a city native, was educated by the Christian Brothers at Sullivan's Quay and UCC. Later in his career he acted as a Distinguished Visitor Professor in various universities in the US and serves as a current elected member of the Royal Irish Academy (RIA). Members of the RIA are chosen for their distinguished contributions to scholarship and research and is considered the highest academic honour in Ireland. Mr Murphy is the author of eight books including 'Regulating Lobbying; a global comparison' which is considered the definitive work in this sector. He is widely regarded as an expert on the topic and was an advisor to the Irish Government on the introduction of their Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015. He also has a weekly column in The Sunday Times. Cork Person of the Month organiser Manus O'Callaghan paid tribute to Mr Murphy. 'Gary is one of our great Dublin-based Cork men and receives this award to mark the excellency of his work studying the politics of modern Ireland. We also honour his authorship of 'Haughey', which was widely regarded as one of the books of the year by national newspapers and historians. It is certainly time that we honour Gary in his home place.' At the Cork Person of the Year presentation Mr Murphy said: 'I have had many academic awards over the years, but never one which means as much to me as this. My Cork is the Cork of the city. I grew up in Evergreen Buildings, just off Barrack Street, and a stone's throw from Beamish & Crawford's brewery. 'I went to Sullivan's Quay primary school,' said Professor Murphy. 'It was a teeming metropolis in the 1970s full of the children of Cork's working classes. It's where I learned my love of reading and writing, and perhaps most importantly of all, hurling. My childhood was the Cork of the Lee Baths, Fitzgerald Park, Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Flower Lodge, the city library, and holidays in Crosshaven and Garryvoe.' ADVERTISEMENT Learn more Professor Murphy said he still retains that love of Cork sport, outdoor swimming, and the joy of libraries. 'My adulthood was shaped by the quintessential Cork values of hard work and humility that my parents, from Fair Hill and Blackpool on the northside of the city instilled in me and my brothers and sisters and which has stood us all in good stead. 'Those values saw me through UCC and into the world of academia where I have been lucky enough to interact with so many gifted students and colleagues over the years. Although I have been out of Cork some 32 years I wear it with me every day,' he added. Mr Murphy's name will now go forward for possible selection as Cork Person of the Year at the annual gala awards lunch on January 23 at The Metropole Hotel.
