( l to r) Tom Collier, Fiona Collier, Dr Tom Cavanagh, Conor Cavanagh, Jackie Cavanagh and Maeve O'Shaughnessy at the awards ceremony.
Hall of Fame winner – Dr Tom Cavanagh:
This year’s Hall of Fame inductee is well known Fermoy Businessman, Philanthropist, Educationalist, Environmentalist, Tom Cavanagh. In the 27 years of the award scheme Tom is only the third Corkman to enter the Hall of Fame. The other past inductees were Ted Crosbie and Fergal Keane OBE. Despite Tom Cavanagh’s great success in Business, he has spent much of his life working for social responsibility and equality. Over the years he has worked in a quiet humble way, never looking for recognition, but has effected great change for his communities. In his youth, as a commerce student at UCC, he was named best sports all-rounder on three occasions, successful in hurling, football, basketball and especially athletics. He has promoted the importance of education and UCC thanked him for his many decades of contribution by naming a bridge in his family name on the grounds of the university. He also established Irish Business Against Litter which literally cleaned up Ireland by establishing a winning formula in anti-litter programmes in towns and cities all over Ireland. In the 1980’s he also established The Tomar Trust, which earned him the Lifetime Achievement in Philanthropy award in recognition of his contribution to communities in Munster and the rest of Ireland. This Trust provides support and resources to community groups.
Pic; Larry Cummins