Time to nominate your unsung hero for Tallaght Person of The Year 2023

THE countdown for the 2023 nominations for the 40th Tallaght Person of The Year awards is in earnest this week, nominations close at midnight Saturday, 21st of October, 2023.

Tallaght Community Council (TCC) are urging people who are considering making a nomination, to do it as soon as possible !

There are 3 days left in which to do it online.

There are 9 categories in the awards for people to consider nominees for – arts, business, community, environment, learning and innovation, special needs and carers, heart of gold, sports and youth.

This gives people lots of scope within which to nominate their unsung hero for the awards before the closing date.

Last year’s winner, Zak Moradi had been nominated in the Maurice McConnell Youth category for many years as a coach and mentor in Thomas Davis GAA club, as well as his anti racism work in sports.

Zak heaps praise on the GAA for helping him as a refugee to Ireland to find friends and become part of the local community.

Zak thrived in the culture and ethos of the GAA, and became a great advocate of the sport and a pretty good hurler in the process.

“The GAA helped me as a young chap coming to Ireland to live, clubs are open and inclusive to anyone with an interest in playing the sport.

“It also teaches great life skills such as team work, respect, loyalty and friendship.

“I am delighted to be part of the GAA movement and Thomas Davis club.

“Being awarded Tallaght Person of the Year last year was a huge shock!

“But one that has made me extra proud of being a lad from Tallaght and being part of the GAA,” said Zak.

A recent addition to the categories of the awards is the Learning and Innovation category.

Tallaght has always been a centre of studying and learning, since the times of early christianity.

Last year, Kevin Shortall, a Kilnamanagh native, who is now the principal of St Aidan’s school was awarded the winner of the Learning and Innovation category for his passion for learning and the innovative culture he creates everyday in the school for his pupils and teachers.

“Sometimes, when you’re working away, doing a job that you believe is very important, the last thing you hear is “well done” or “Thank you”.

We all have self-doubt and fears and constantly worry about how well we are doing.

That’s natural.

It keeps us trying.

What’s important, though, is for everyone to feel appreciated and valued.

Being given a Tallaght Person of the Year Award meant so much to me.

“It made me stop and think, and feel huge gratitude.

“I realised the immense privilege I have to be doing the job I do, but it also taught us that others not connected with our school community were noticing how fantastic a community it is.

“It wasn’t just about me, it was so much more about our wonderful school.

“Thank you,” said Kevin.

Preparations are well underway for this year’s event and nominations are coming in at a steady pace.

“This year we have seen over 100 unique nominees submitted so far, and we expect this to take an upward swing in the last few days as the closing deadline approaches.

“The core element of the community awards are the nominees.

“Each and every nominee deserves to be proud of being recognised by someone in the community for the positive impact they have in Tallaght.

“We urge anyone on the fence about nominating a neighbour or friend – do it!

“Recognising others and showing gratitude is an important and powerful thing we can all do in the awards,” said Tara De Buitlear, PRO and Awards Marketing Manager.

Votes can be placed on the Tallaght Community Council website HERE.

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