*Article courtesy of Tony Conboy*
A full account of the nominees and the event details can be seen on pages 26/27 of The Roscommon Herald. People wishing to attend should contact Bridie on 094 9862565 or email roscommonvoluteerawards@gmail.com). The Roscommon Volunteer awards function for 2018 will take place on Friday night next in Kilbride Community Centre at 7. Boyle has two nominees Mary Clifford and Damian Regan in the ‘Volunteer of the Year’ Category. There are four categories.
Damian Regan ‘The Run Walk n Roll for Cancer Research’
Damien has raised huge awareness in the Boyle area about cancer research and has organised the annual run for 23 years. The event formerly known as the ‘Terry Fox Run’ started in Boyle in 1996 with approximately 60 participants. Now in its 23rd year and known as ‘The Run Walk n Roll for Cancer Research’, it has an average of up to 400 participants. To date the event has raised around €180,000 for Cancer research in Ireland. It is a family event for all ages and the community turn out in huge numbers every year to support this worthy cause.
Damian is an inspiration to all in the community and especially to cancer survivors, by raising awareness and collecting much needed funds for Cancer Research.
Damian is also always available to help out at other events and occasions in the community.
Mary Clifford (nominated by Boyle GAA) has been involved in a myriad of activities in Boyle Parish. She is also involved in significant organisations on a wider basis up to national level.
Mary has a great interest in Gaelic Games and follows the fortunes of Roscommon and her native Donegal with consistency/dedication. She has actively been involved with:
Boyle GAA for a number of years. She has been secretary of Boyle GAA Club and a regular co-ordinator to the club’s weekly fund-raising Lotto. She is an ‘ever-present’ at Boyle GAA’s Abbey Park for Senior club games and all attended activities. She has been with Boyle Chamber of Commerce; Secretary of The Irish Road Haulage Association for 5 years. Mary was a member of Boyle town Commission for ten years until it was de-commissioned.
Amongst the myriad of other activities she has contributed to fundraising for the Annual Elphin Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes for people with disability in which she organises the annual bag-pack at SuperValu and with the Roscommon Brothers of Charity. A member of the Parish Council, an usher/steward and Eucharistic Minister in St. Joseph’s Boyle Parochial Church.
Mary makes an ongoing difference through her reliability and high standards in all that she does despite the diverse calls on her time and capability. She is the quintessential proof of the expression ‘if you want something done, ask a busy person’. We in boyle GAA are hugely conscious of this. She makes her contributions with a flawless integrity and is a patient and calming presence in whatever debates surface.
She brings to it a clear and unquestionable integrity which is acknowledged by all her officer colleagues and the broader GAA community. This is visible in her loyal support for her native Donegal and her adopted Roscommon.
Mary is married to Liam and they have two children Henry and Hillary.