Four star winners! From left, Lynn Cahill (Culture Individual) Julie Power (Heritage Individual) Dermot Quinn (of Culture Group winner Spraoi) and Romina Germani (of Heritage Group winner Waterford & Suir Valley Railway) pictured with their Munster Express/Dooley’s Hotel South East Heritage & Culture Awards which they received at Dooley’s Hotel on Wednesday evening last. | Photos: Noel Browne
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The Munster Express and Dooley’s Hotel marked National Heritage Week by staging their Heritage & Culture Awards for the second quarter of 2010 at Dooley’s Hotel on Wednesday last.
Addressing the four award winners, who were joined by family and friends at last week’s ceremony, June Darrer (Dooley’s Hotel) and Kieran Walsh (The Munster Express) heaped praise on the Q2 recipients.
The awards, created by Dunmore East bog oak sculptor Michael Fitzgerald, were presented to:
* Julie Power (Heritage Individual)
* Waterford & Suir Valley Railway (Heritage Group)
* Lynn Cahill (Culture Individual) and
* Spraoi (Culture Group).
June Darrer congratulated all four award winners, praising each for their contribution to their respective fields.
“Julie Power’s work is just beautiful and the standard of her work is simply extraordinary,” she said.
“We’ve not had a winner previously who had such a wonderful skill, one that she’s passing onto future generations and it was a great delight to honour her through the award she’s received today.”
Regarding Waterford & Suir Valley Railway, Ms Darrer stated that “it’s a wonderful addition to Waterford”. She added: “It took a lot of hard work to get it off the ground, but to everyone who played a part, well done and congratulations on sticking with it.”
Lynn Cahill’s helpful and pleasant demeanour, in June Darrer’s view, is matched by her “accomplished and absolute commitment to her work”.
She added: “I am so pleased that Lynn is now working with Waterford City Council and I know she’ll do a wonderful job in promoting the city.”
Recalling the humorous days when Spraoi practised on The Quay directly opposite Dooley’s Hotel along with its early challenges, Ms Darrer said Spraoi continues to fly the Waterford flag brilliantly.
“It’s a festival now known and respected the length and breadth of the country and those involved in Spraoi are to be commended for setting such a high standard for all other festivals in the city, both old and new, to aspire to.”
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