Chamber Announces Winners of Three Special Awards in Advance of the Carlow Business Awards Night

Each year the board of directors of County Carlow Chamber of Commerce nominate winners for 3 special categories within the Carlow Business Awards.  These are awarded to individuals – rather than businesses – who deserve special recognition.

‘These special categories are very important in that they give us an opportunity to recognise and reward individuals who the Chamber feel have made a very positive contribution to life in Carlow, or to the positive perception of Carlow.’ Explains Norah Ryan, President of County Carlow Chamber of Commerce.  ‘This year we are delighted to announce that we are presenting the Lifetime Achievement Award to Fr John Dunphy, in particular for his amazing work with St Clare’s Hospitality Kitchen, the Carlow Ambassador Award to Tom Ryan (Director General of the GAA) and the Outstanding Contribution to Business Award to Patricia Lawlor (the World Health Organisation and Rathvilly Pharmacy) – three very worthy winners.’

The Lifetime Achievement Award

ls given to a Carlow person who over the period of their career has made a positive impact on business and /or society. Someone who stands out for their contribution and success.

Fr John Dunphy has been Parish Priest in the Parish of Graiguecullen /Killeshin for the past 20 years – and in this time he has become a vital and much beloved part of the community.

Fr John has been one of the driving forces behind St Clare’s Hospitality Kitchen – an extraordinary community initiative that, last year alone, provided 29,000 meals to those that needed them – without judgement and in a welcoming and warm atmosphere.

There are few businesses in the county that have not offered support in some way – and there are so many people who volunteer their time and expertise. Schools and individuals have played their part too, donating and fundraising. It really has been a team-Carlow effort. This type of dedication and support can only happen when there is an inspirational person at the heart of it.

Fr John Dunphy is that person – although he is much too humble to admit that. He is the driving force that connects the community, and brings the right people together to make ideas into a reality.

The Carlow Ambassador Award

Is given to an individual or a business that has promoted and raised the profile of brand Carlow in a positive and impactful way.

Tom Ryan is a native of Carlow and was educated at St Mary’s CBS in the town. A graduate of UCD, he trained as a Chartered Accountant with PWC and held senior finance roles in a number of technology companies before joining the Brown Thomas retail group as Financial Controller.

He joined the GAA as Finance Director in 2007 and was appointed Director General of the Association in 2018, thus becoming the sixth person to hold that position since the early 1900’s, and the first Carlow person to do so. He is a passionate advocate for the positive role that Gaelic Games can play in community life and the benefits of active GAA participation at all levels and in all guises.

Quite apart from his role at Croke Park, Tom has enjoyed a lifelong involvement in Gaelic games. A regular visitor to Netwatch Cullen Park to support all Carlow teams, he is also a long standing member and officer of Faughs GAA Club in Dublin, where his family all play.

Tom’s commitment to, and belief in the importance of community, and his proud roots in Carlow make him the ideal recipient of the Carlow Ambassador of the Year Award.

The Outstanding Contribution to Business Award

Aims to recognise Carlovians who have flown the nest and have gone out into the world and achieved outstanding success in their respective area or field.  Patricia Lawlor stood out as the ideal recipient of this award, for her international work on malaria and travel-related infection with the WHO, as well as her commitment to her community-based Pharmacy in Rathvilly.

Patricia, a native of Rathvilly, moved to Switzerland in 1988 to follow an academic career.

She is currently a Professor at the University of Zürich and Head of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Collaborating Centre for Travellers’ Health, Switzerland. She is also the Director of the European network, EuroTravNet, which monitors travel-related infections imported to Europe.

She serves the WHO as Head of the Collaborating Centre for Travellers’ Health and as a member and Chair of various WHO advisory committees. And she is widely published with more than 250 peer reviewed papers and 3 books.

Patricia started a community pharmacy in the heart of her beloved Rathvilly in 2005 right next door to where she grew up. “Rathvilly Pharmacy” celebrates 20 years in business this year and it serves the local community with the full spectrum of pharmaceutical health services.

Patricia is married with 2 children and splits her time between Switzerland and Carlow.

‘ We are really looking forward to meeting each of the winners of our special awards on the 18^th of September at the Carlow Business Awards in VISUAL.’  Says Nicola Doran, CEO of County Carlow Chamber of Commerce.  ‘The awards night is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate and reward excellence in our county.  We will also be announcing a further 23 winners on the night – so 26 categories in total.  The excitement is mounting and we wish all of the finalists the very best of luck.’

For further information or to buy tickets visit the events page of www.carlowchamber.com.  If you cannot make it to the event on the 18^th of September, keep an eye out on Chamber socials where winners will be announced on the night.