‘I believe in communities and playing your part’ – Declan

The 2025 Westmeath Person of the Year is Declan Leonard, stalwart of Clonkill Hurling Club and a lifelong volunteer. He was among seven recipients of the Cathaoirleach Awards presented in Belvedere House, Gardens and Park last Friday evening. Several other groups also received awards, including Pride of Place for Milltownpass Tidy Towns and Westmeath Community Development for Age Friendly.

There were 24 nominations for this year’s Cathaoirleach Awards, presented by Liam McDaniel, cathaoirleach of Westmeath County Council. Accepting his award, Declan Leonard said he was “very surprised and deeply honoured”.

“I always believe in communities and playing your part. There is always help needed and I would encourage everyone to help out,” he said.

Declan’s interests stretch from GAA and hurling to community recreation, community sports, and activities for all age groups, working with those with disabilities and older people. He is described as the first to recognise an emergency and ensure that those most vulnerable are catered for, establishing community hubs, providing transport to hospital appoints, and much more.

The winner of the Children and Youth Supports award was Mary Finnegan from Ballynacargy. Mary is engaged with many groups in the community. She likes nothing better than bringing young and old together to learn and have fun. Mary is known to dress up for all types of events, sometimes as Santa’s elf, others as Fairy Godmother or a Ninja.

The Equality and Social Inclusion Award was won by Claire Garry from Mullingar, who used her artistic abilities to establish the Arch Club, a group to support those not in a position to access mainstream education and activities. The group has 128 members, ranging in age from four to 94 years.

The Sports and Recreation Award went to Dermot Garvin, founding member of St Malachy’s GAA, who has clocked up 30-plus years volunteering. He was an active footballer and has served as chairperson, selector, secretary and eventually club president. He has served in the local social services, Friendship Club and senior citizens club, and has been a driving force in many fundraising programmes.

The Environment and Heritage Award went to Dalton Park Community Garden, Mullingar, a small but dedicated group that has reinvigorated “a dump”, put in a polytunnel and now encourages the community to come together for a chat, to work with the earth and see things grow and flourish. They share their produce with the community and welcome all.

The Active Elderly Award went to Rose Wright from Milltownpass. An astute businesswoman, Rose was a leader in a tough commercial world. She went on to be a leader in uniting the community to help themselves and lives up to her motto – “Give to the world your best and the best will come back to you”.

The Community Involvement Award was won by Helen Conneely of Ballinahown, who has worked as a volunteer for more than 25 years and has led the community in many projects.

MC for the evening was the effusive Aonghus McAnally, actor, musician, magician, billiards champion and retired radio and television presenter, who entertained the crowd with his banter and finished up by singing a few songs, much to the delight of the audience. He even took out his guitar and accompanied the Clann Lir CCÉ from Castlepollard as they provided the pre-ceremony entertainment while the guests enjoyed a lavish spread of food and beverages.

During the evening, Mr McAnally observed that sound engineers at the ceremony were Nolan Sound from Castlepollard. He paid tribute to Patrick Nolan, who died recently, saying “we bought all our sound systems from Pat”.

He also paid tribute to the tenacity of event organiser Annette Barr Jordan, saying that in his 40 years in RTÉ he had worked with some exacting people, but none compared to Annette.

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“Emails at 11.39pm, 5.47am, lunch time, when I was on the loo, and all with the assurance that there was ‘no hurry, come back to me in the next four minutes’,” he laughed.

Introducing the cathaoirleach of Westmeath County Council, Cllr McDaniel, Aonghus referred to the fact that despite adversity, Liam continued to work as an elected public representative and shoulder to shoulder with many groups in the county. He said that volunteering remains at the heart of what he does.

Cllr McDaniel said volunteering ensures no one is left out. “Every hour you give, every project you take on builds stronger communities,” he said.

He pointed out that Westmeath County Council had put €593,000 into community groups this year, “but the real investment comes from you”.

“This is your night, be proud!” he told the gathering.

Barry Kehoe, chief executive of the council, said he sees the difference strong communities make and the strong impact they have on people’s lives. He thanked the chairman and public representatives for their ongoing support for volunteers and community-based organisations. He thanked Ms Barr Jordan and the team at Community Development and all involved in organising the awards ceremony, and Mr McAnally for bringing his energy and warmth to the proceedings.

Market Hill Residents Association, Ballymore, took first place in the Residents Association Awards and were presented with a cheque for €5,000 by Mr Kehoe. Glenidan Residents Association came second and also received €5,000.

The Eco School Awards were announced by Shane Boyne, Environmental Awareness officer with Westmeath County Council, and presented by Cllr McDaniel. The overall winner was Mullingar Academy of Childcare.

Preschool awards – first, Little Friends Preschool, second, Ballymore Community Childcare. Primary schools – first, Dean Kelly NS, Athlone, second, Mullingar Presentation Senior School. Secondary schools – first, St Joseph’s Secondary School.

The overall winner of the €5,000 Tidy Towns Award, presented by Cllr Tom Farrell, was Ballinahown Tidy Towns. Tyrrellspass Tidy Towns came second and received €2,500.

For the first time, two groups in the Athlone Moate Municipal District increased their points in the Tidy Towns competition, by 12, last year and they, Streamstown and Rosemount Tidy Towns, jointly received the Endeavour Award and cheques for €2,000 each.

In the Mullingar Kinnegad District, Multyfarnham came first and received €4,000 and Castlepollard, in second, received €2,500. Finea Tidy Towns received €2,000.

Cllr Vinny McCormack announced that the two groups selected to go forward to represent Westmeath in the National Pride of Place competition are Milltownpass Tidy Towns and Westmeath Age Friendly Programme.

A new award introduced this year was the Environmental Film Award for secondary schools. Athlone Community School won it and a clip of their video was played.

Shane Boyne, announcing the winners, revealed that the full 10-minute film will be shown in schools and in Mullingar and Athlone cinemas in June, prior to the main movies. He said that the award was co-funded by the Department of the Environment. “We got outstanding music interpretation and expert kinetograph, fantastic directorship and proficient story adaptation,” he reported.

The Age Friendly Recognition Awards were presented to Castledaly Ladies and Gentlemen Age Active Group, Moate Men’s Shed, Mullingar Shamrocks Healthy Green and Inclusive Club, and Delvin Friendship Club, by Anne Drury representing Westmeath Older Persons Council, and Anne Barr Jordan, Age Friendly programme manager. All four projects will be entered in the National Age Friendly Recognition Award.

The STEM awards were presented by Cllr John Dolan. The winners were Athlone Family Resource Centre, Cara Phort Family Resource Centre, Ballynacargy, Athlone Community Radio, Dun na Si Amenity and Heritage Park, Moate, Loreto College, Mullingar, and Foróige Gateway, each of which received €500. Mr McAnally announced that the Loreto College award was to be dedicated to the former deputy principal Sinéad Lawlor, who sadly passed away recently.

First place in the Project of the Year Awards went to Mullingar Tidy Towns and second place to Ballykeeran Residents and Tidy Towns Committee. Both received €5,000 and the awards were presented by Mr Kehoe. Cllrs David Jones, Emily Wallace and Niall Gaffney accepted the award on behalf of Mullingar Tidy Towns.

Others who attended the ceremony included Minster for State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Robert Troy, Cllr Frankie Keena and Cllr Paul Hogan.