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Irish Examiner

John Spillane among community heroes honoured at Lord Mayor's awards ceremony

Folk legend John Spillane has been honoured for his remarkable contribution to Cork's cultural life, and migrant support group Nasc has been honoured for its tireless integration work, as the city recognised its civic leaders. Lord Mayor Dan Boyle presented Mr Spillane with the 2025 culture award as he hosted the Lord Mayor's Community and Voluntary awards ceremony in City Hall on Wednesday to recognise the contribution of various individuals or organisations to the life of the city. Among the winners of the six civic awards were Sanctuary Runners founder Graham Clifford for his work promoting solidarity and inclusion through sport. Musician Jimmy Crowley was honoured for his outstanding contribution to the musical landscape of Cork, as a collector and performer of the city's cultural heritage. Joanna Dukkipati was honoured for her commitment to supporting and empowering migrant communities through encouraging cultural expression, while Nora O'Donovan was presented with an award for her advocacy and efforts in championing the rights of older people in Cork. Siobhán O'Dowd was recognised of her long-term contributions to community development, inclusion, lifelong learning and LGBT+ activism in Cork, while environmentalist Maria Young was honoured for her dedication to environmental sustainability and her encouragement to all to work with and interact with nature. Mr Boyle said the civic awards are an opportunity for him to pick just six from the many hundreds he could have chosen, not for any one event or occasion but for a lifetime of dedication and service in the common good. 'And for every six I could have chosen, there could have been 600 others,' he said. We have all been touched or had our lives enriched by the work of one or more of tonight's community award winners and this is the location and occasion to acknowledge and recognise that. He paid special tribute to John Spillane's contribution to the city and to the world of music and culture, for his lifelong contribution to the popularising of the Irish language and the mythology, music and storytelling of Ireland. 'John Spillane is a man at the height of his creativity, energy and enthusiasm,' he said. 'This then is not so much a lifetime achievement award as a 'watch this space' award. 'John has given us so much and has so much left to give and it is only fitting then that we recognise this in a special way this evening.' Mr Boyle presented his 2025 community and voluntary awards to groups in various categories, including: The Mexican Community Cork, in the arts, culture recreation and heritage category, The Save Our Bride Otters campaign group in the climate action, active travel and sustainable development category, The Clogheen Kerry Pike Community Association in the community development and lifelong learning category, Mayfield Men's Shed in the recreation, sport, health and wellbeing category, Cycling for All Cork in the social inclusion, advocacy and integration category, The Hut Youth Project in the social services, charities and environment category. However, he named Nasc as the overall winner of the community and voluntary awards. Council chief executive Valerie O'Sullivan said while the council is an important presence in the community, it is not the sole means for making improvements in the community. 'Your presence tonight is a very important recognition of the fact you, the community, are the activists on the ground that plot and plan how to improve your area,' she said. Read More Cork sports retailer is running to a new location of its own