Science students Eilíse Ireland and Simon Meehan have been crowned Cork Persons of the Year for 2018.
Eilíse Ireland, a Regina Mundi School student, Douglas and Simon Meehan from Ballinora and a Colaiste Choilm student in Ballincollig, received a standing ovation from the 300 guests at theCork Person of the Year annual Gala Awards Lunch at Rochestown Park Hotel.
Simon is the BT Young Scientist of the Year 2018 winner, and Eilíse was a winner at the Spellman Clean Tech competition in New York last July.
County Mayor Cllr Patrick Gerard Murphy and City Lord Mayor Cllr Mick Finn presented the Cork Persons of Year trophies to the winning students, which was seen as a great vote of confidence for the youth of Cork.
Other outstanding Corkonians presented with awards included journalist Fergal Keane, winner of the Hall of Fame award, and Joe Schmidt, Irish Rugby Head Coach who was officially dubbed an honorary Corkman.A special award was also presented to the RTÉ Nationwide team, producer Eoin Ryan and presenters Mary Kennedy and Anne Cassin, to mark their 25th anniversary.
Cork Person of The Year Award 2018 went to Simon Meehan and Eilise Ireland, award winning science students with competition judges Tim Lucey and Ann Doherty and (left) Ronan McManamy managing director of sponsors Irish Examiner.
Fergal Keane is son of acclaimed actor, the late Eamonn Keane and nephew of playwright John B. Keane. He was accompanied to the awards with members of his family including his mother Maura O’Shea.
The Gala Awards Lunch marked the 26th year of Cork’s premier award scheme. Speakers included Irish Examiner/Evening Echo Managing Director, Ronan McManamy and RTÉ’s Director General, Dee Forbes.