Music mogul Louis Walsh from Kiltimagh has been announced as the Mayo Person of the Year.
The announcement was made by Muintir Mhaigh Eo in Dublin on Monday.
Siamsa Sráide street festival committee in Swinford were announced as the Meitheal winners for 2009, recognising their community volunteerism efforts.
Louis Walsh needs no introduction. In recent years he has copperfastened his reputation as an astute judge on a number of popular talent TV shows from Popstars to Popstars: The Rivals to the X Factor which just completed its fifth series.
He has managed chart topping acts such as Boyzone, Westlife, Shayne Ward, Girls Aloud, Six, Ronan Keating, G4, and Samantha Mumba although some those business relationships are now defunct.
The Swinford Siamsa Sráide street festival has an annual fixed date — it has been held on the August Bank Holiday weekend since the mid 1980s. It is a summer street festival with open-air céilí, dancing, heritage day, and international busking competitions. There are also history walks, talks, and poetry recital.
The two winners have been congratulated by Mayo Deputy Michael Ring who said: “This is a magnificent achievement by the committee of Siamsa Sráide and its chairperson and a true reward for the marvellous work which they carry out. I would in particular like to congratulate Brid O’Connell, Francis Brennan, Brendan Cassidy, and all the hard working people on the wonderful job they do each year with Siamsa Sráide.”
Dep Ring continued: “This award recognises the hard work of each and every member of the committee and all the hours which they have put in to making it a success. It is a tremendous voluntary effort by the committee and all the people from the locality who help out at the time of the festival. I wish the committee well for the future.”
Dep Michael Ring also congratulated Louis Walsh on being announced the Mayo Person of the Year. “It is an award richly deserved,” he stated.
The Muintir Mhaigh Eo prizes will be awarded at the annual Mayo Association Ball on Friday February 13 in City West Hotel, Dublin.
