County Roscommon man presented with Muintir na Tíre Community Person of the Year Award
Jackie Meally, national president of Muintir na Tíre, presents the Community Person of the Year Award 2025, to Bernard Kearney, from Fourmilehouse at Muintir na Tíre headquarters in Tipperary Town. Pic: Martin Quinn
A County Roscommon man who worked as a development officer for over 30 years with the community development organisation Muintir na Tíre has been chosen as the inaugural recipient of the Muintir na Tíre Community Person of the Year Award.
Bernard Kearney from Fourmilehouse was presented with the award at an event at the Muintir na Tíre headquarters in Tipperary town on Saturday last.
Bernard has, throughout his life, been a firm believer in the mission statement and ethos of the organisation's founder, Canon John Hayes.
As a former development officer he is very well known for his involvement, along with his outstanding promotional work, with Community Text Alert groups throughout the region.
His commitment and energy to his local community for nearly 50 years can be seen through the many projects and initiatives that he has been involved in.
He was described at the award ceremony in Tipperary as one of the exceptional community leaders in County Roscommon, and a tireless voluntary worker on behalf of countless local groups over many decades.
The award to Bernard was presented by the national president of Muintir na Tíre Mr.Jackie Meally.
The event in Tipperary Town, which was preceded by Mass for the late Canon John Hayes, founder of Muintir na Tíre, in Bansha Church, County Tipperary, also saw the unveiling of a new memorial bench at the organisation's headquarters by the Jackie Meally, and the deputy president of the IFA, Alice Doyle, to mark 40 years of the Community Alert and Text Alert Programme.
