Dr Tony O'Reilly, Ronan Keating and the family of the late Mr Hugh Coveney are among the winners of the 1999 ESB/Rehab People of the Year Awards, which were announced at a ceremony in Dublin last night.
Dr O'Reilly, founder of the Ireland Funds and chairman of the HJ Heinz company, of Independent News and Media plc, and of Waterford Wedgewood plc, was chosen as Irish Person of the Year for his "economic, charitable and cultural contributions to Ireland".
He received the presentation in New York, by way of a satellite TV link.
The lead singer of Boyzone, Ronan Keating, was named Young Person of the Year in the awards, which were presented by the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern.
Other winners included Mr Eddie Jordan, owner of the Jordan Grand Prix team which finished third in this year's Constructors' Championship and "sporting ambassador" for Ireland; Dr Harry Counihan, physician and founder of the Rehab group, for his contribution to medicine in Ireland; and Mr Michael Colgan, artistic director of Dublin's Gate Theatre, for his "outstanding contribution" to the theatrical world.
Mr Tom Hyland, a former Dublin bus-driver who founded the East Timor-Ireland Solidarity Campaign in 1992, received an award recognising his campaign for human and civil rights for the Timorese; while Cobh-born Dr Mary McLoughlin was recognised for her "enormous humanitarian contributions to people in countries devastated by war and famine".
The other recipients were Ms Mamo McDonald, former president of the Irish Countrywomen's Association and now chairwoman of Age and Opportunity; and the Coveney family, "who overcame personal tragedy to sail around the world and raise £500,000 for the Children of Chernobyl".
The winners were chosen from hundreds of nominations by county councils, business and community groups, voluntary organisations and the public.
