Tallaght Person of the Year award goes to Tallaght RFC’s Philip Preston
By Mary Dennehy
MORE than 400 people packed out the Red Cow Pavilion on Friday last for the 32nd Tallaght Person of the Year awards, and were present to celebrate Tallaght Rugby FC officer, Philip Preston, being crowned Person of the Year.
Organised by the Tallaght Community Council (TCC), the awards were once again a shining example of all that is good about Dublin 24, and its army of unsung heroes, who continue to build Tallaght into a vibrant, diverse and progressive place to live.
While winners were announced across the award programme’s eight categories, everybody nominated was celebrated on the night, with the event a recognition of all nominees and the work they do.
This year, Tallaght comedian Al Porter was the Special Guest and he spoke honestly, and obviously humorously, about what Tallaght means to him – and the pride that he carries for his hometown and its people.
However, the highlight of the night went to Philip Preston (36) who, nominated in the Sports category, was crowned the overall Tallaght Person of the Year for his “energetic and vivacious” work with Tallaght Rugby Club.
Philip was handed the chains of office from last year’s Person of the Year, Mary McLoughlin, for breaking down barriers around rugby through the Rugby on the Green programme – which brings rugby out into communities.
Philip, who grew up in Jobstown, made it into the nationals on Saturday when journalists realised that he is one of 32 people charged in connection with last year’s alleged “false imprisonment” of the Tánaiste Joan Burton outside An Cosán – which was also nominated, and won the Sgt Andrew Callanan Community Award for transforming thousands of lives through education.
Philip told The Echo that he was “disappointed” over the coverage of the awards by national media, as it wasn’t what he or the Tallaght Person of the Year awards are about – but Philip, who was spotted wearing his new chain of office while shopping in Lidl this week, said he is looking forward and feeling positive about the year ahead.
Speaking at the awards on Friday night, Philip, who is the Youth Development Officer with Tallaght RFC, said: “To be nominated literally for anything in the Tallaght Person of the Year was a highlight to me, to win this is just amazing.
“I think when all of the people who go week-in week-out, hail, rain or shine, go out into their community to do what they do is just amazing…and these are the heroes of Tallaght.”
Philip also referenced a conversation he had with Tallaght UFC athlete Paddy Holohan, who he quoted saying that a positive story doesn’t sell, a negative story does but a negative to positive story is the “bestseller”.
Phillip said: “Tallaght at this moment, I believe, is that best seller. We have that negative to positive story right here, right now for all of us.”
For further details on Tallaght RFC visit its Facebook page or www.tallaghtrugby.com
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