It’s Lights, Camera, Action as the curtain lifts on the 37th People of the Year Awards
With days to go to this year’s People of the Year Awards, host Gráinne Seoige is reminding people to tune into the annual awards ceremony – which celebrates ordinary people who do extraordinary things – this Saturday, September 10, on RTÉ One at 9.30pm. This year’s awards, which are organised by Rehab and sponsored by QUINN-healthcare, promise yet more heroic stories of astonishing bravery in the midst of great tragedy, of unquestioning self-sacrifice in the face of human despair, of sporting triumph against all odds, and of communities’ inspiring acts of solidarity in moments of great trial.
The awards, now in their 37th year, have become firmly established as the country’s pre-eminent awards event. Celebrating the country’s most inspiring citizens, the awards are widely regarded as one of the highest honours one can receive in Ireland. The event is also undoubtedly one of the highlights of the social calendar as a galaxy of stars and dignitaries join in honouring the outstanding contributions of our heroes to life in Ireland and abroad.
Speaking about the awards, RTÉ host Gráinne Seoige, said: “This is my fifth year to present the awards and it is an honour and a privilege to be a part of it. What we try and present to people every single year is a mixture of those who have excelled in all walks of Irish society, that we are aware of, to acknowledge their contributions, but also people whose stories we otherwise wouldn’t hear – people who perform amazing feats of kindness, of caring, and of selflessness that are an inspiration to all of us. I always leave the evening feeling really, really good about being Irish, of being very proud of the country I am from, and the people in it.”
In addition to a number of People of the Year Awards, the awards’ categories also include Young Person of the Year (under 25), International Person of the Year, Community Group of the Year, Sports Person of the Year, and the 2011 special award – Best Friend of the Year. The winners are chosen by members of the public through a nominations process and finalised by a panel of adjudicators, comprising of leading members of the media, voluntary sector and business community.
Previous People of the Year Award winners include golfer Graeme McDowell (2010), broadcaster Gerry Ryan (2010), the Irish rugby team (2009), actor David Kelly (2009), autism campaigner Keith Duffy (2008), former Northern Ireland Ombudsman Nuala O’Loan (2008), campaigner Sir Bob Geldof (2005), and broadcaster Sir Terry Wogan (2005).
For the latest updates on the awards, go to www.peopleoftheyear.com, find us on Facebook – www.facebook.com/rehab25, or follow us on Twitter – www.twitter.com/peopleawards