The highly anticipated Cork Person of the Year 2025 will be announced at the annual Cork Person of the Year Gala Awards Lunch on Friday, January 23rd, 2026 at The Metropole Hotel. The 33rd anniversary of this prestigious awards scheme is set to continue its long tradition of honouring individuals and groups who have made exceptional contributions to Cork, Ireland, and beyond.
The winner(s) will be selected from the esteemed list of recipients of Cork Person of the Month awards throughout 2025 by a judging panel consisting of Valerie O’Sullivan, Chief Executive, Cork City Council, and Moira Murrell, Chief Executive, Cork County Council. The winner(s), will be announced by the Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr. Fergal Dennehy, and the Deputy Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Ian Doyle.
The Guest of Honour at the event will be European Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection, Michael McGrath. RTÉ Director General. Kevin Bakhurst will also speak at the event.
Acclaimed broadcasters Miriam O’Callaghan and Marty Morrissey will serve as masters of ceremonies at the event.
Cork Person of the Month winners for 2025 were:
January: Sheena Crowley – Sheena Crowley, of Crowley’s Music Centre, is honoured for her successful and relentless campaign to keep Rory Gallagher’s iconic 1961 Fender Stratocaster in Ireland. Her tireless efforts led to the guitar’s acquisition for donation to the National Museum and she raised over €75,000 to secure other Gallagher instruments for a Cork museum.
February: Joe Byrne – Joe Byrne is recognised for his four decades of selfless community work alongside running Joseph’s Hair Salon. He consistently provided free haircuts to the homeless, children for back-to-school, and for communions, restoring dignity and confidence for countless people. He continues his compassionate legacy by visiting local shelters and further charitable efforts in his retirement.
March: Tom Butler – As the driving force and Chairman of Ballincollig Tidy Towns for over 25 years, Tom Butler led the town to the pinnacle of national environmental achievement. Under his leadership, Ballincollig was crowned the National Supervalu TidyTowns Winner and Ireland’s Tidiest Large Urban Centre 2024.
April: Prof. Gary Murphy – Professor Gary Murphy, an elected member of the Royal Irish Academy (RIA), is honoured for the excellence of his work studying modern Irish politics. This city native and DCU academic is widely regarded for his contributions to RTÉ election coverage and his acclaimed biography of Charlie Haughey.
May: Patrick Coughlan – Patrick Coughlan is celebrated for his visionary role in the establishment of Cork MABS (Money Advice and Budgeting Service), a vital financial safety net across Munster. What began as a local initiative at a Credit Union evolved into the national MABS network, which assisted 1,908 new clients in South Munster in 2024 alone.
June: Michael Kiely – At 80 years old, Michael Kiely is an inspiration, recognised for his remarkable athletic longevity. He secured two gold medals in the over-80s 800m and 1500m events at the World Masters Indoor Championships in Florida, achieving this success through a unique, disciplined training regime he undertook near his home.
July: Deirdre McCarthy – Deirdre McCarthy is honoured for her groundbreaking achievement as the first woman to lead RTÉ’s News & Current Affairs division as Managing Director, holding significant responsibility for the national broadcaster’s most-watched programmes. Her work launching the RTÉ Clarity initiative demonstrates her strong commitment to journalistic integrity and public trust.
August: Justine Looney & Edel Curtin – This joint award recognises two exceptional business leaders and community activists whose work has revitalised Douglas Street. Justine Looney championed sustainable floristry and local green spaces, while Edel Curtin transformed Coughlans Bar into a two-time Irish Music Venue of the Year winner. Their leadership secured a Pride of Place Award for the area.
September: Garry McCarthy – Garry McCarthy (GMC) is the Creative Director of The Kabin Studio, a non-profit music space. He is honoured for his transformative work empowering youth through hip-hop, which has generated over 1,000 songs. His success is highlighted by the viral global hit, “The Spark,” which has amassed over 1.5 billion views on TikTok, celebrating self-expression.
October: Fiona Corcoran – Fiona Corcoran is honoured as the founder of the Greater Chernobyl Cause, which for over two decades has provided vital humanitarian aid to victims of nuclear radiation and war in former Soviet Union countries. Since the invasion of Ukraine, she has been instrumental in delivering food, medicine, and shelter to millions of displaced individuals.
November: Dr. Geoff Gould – Dr. Geoff Gould is recognised for founding the West Cork Fit-Up Theatre Festival sixteen years ago, reviving a wonderful tradition to bring professional, high-quality theatre to rural and isolated communities, including on islands. His dedication to the arts has enriched the cultural fabric of the county and inspired similar festivals across Ireland.
December: Professor Rónán Collins – Professor Rónán Collins is honoured for his vital work as a Consultant in Geriatric and Stroke Medicine and Clinical Lead for the National Clinical Programme for Stroke. He has been a leading figure in developing the National Stroke Strategy 2022-2027 and played an instrumental role in raising public awareness of care failings in private nursing homes.
Alongside the Cork Person of the Year Award, the event will see a number of other awards presented. With 2026 marking the 100th anniversary of radio in Ireland, the Honorary Cork Person award will go to broadcaster and former Liveline host Joe Duffy. The event will also see one extraordinary figure inducted into the Cork Person of the Year Hall of Fame.
Chief organisers Manus O’Callaghan and Ann-Marie O’Sullivan extended their gratitude to the Cork Person of the Year Awards partners: RTÉ; Cork City Council; Cork County Council; The Metropole Hotel/Trigon Hotels; AM O’Sullivan PR; Cork Crystal; All About Us Video; Masterkabin; Musgrave MarketPlace; and CAVS.
“The Cork Person of the Year Awards scheme is proud to continue its long tradition of celebrating the outsized contributions Cork people make locally, nationally, and worldwide. We’re looking forward to gathering at the Metropole Hotel later this month to honour a stellar lineup of Cork Persons of the Month and to reveal the winner of Cork Person of the Year 2025”, said Manus O’Callaghan, Awards Organiser..