Oisín is 3 years old and a real-life little miracle with the most infectious smile. He was born at 25 weeks weighting 950grams. He has been through so much in his short life, spending the first 7 months in NICU where he had some major ups and downs, nearly losing him multiple times and being told he would never make it home, with 35 operations (another 3 in the pipeline) and constant hospital visits he continues to face new challenges on a daily basis. He still remains tube fed and is on oxygen at night. Oisín has quadriplegic cerebral palsy among other conditions. This means he has difficulties with muscle control, balance, and coordination, so simple things such as sitting without support is extremely difficult. He’s incredibly determined and tries so hard every day to learn these things and on average does a minimal of 3 hours of physio a day. Oisín has had a bumpy ride from day one but what he’s endured in his first few months of life is nothing compared to what he deals with daily. He is still fighting to be his best daily and we think he is bloody AMAZING!!!

Rebecca Boylan has been involved in the hairdressing business in Armagh city for over seventeen years. This has led her in recent years to research hair loss and the treatments that are available. Many of us take for granted the locks that God gave us, but for those inflicted with hair loss, either caused by alopecia, thinning hair or as a result of medical treatment, it can have a detrimental effect on their whole outlook in life. Thanks to Rebecca’s generosity and willingness to help others, she has put a smile on so many peoples’ faces by giving them back the confidence they thought they had lost forever. From handmaking and donating wigs to cancer patients, to fitting integration systems free of charge, she has helped numerous adults and children all over the province. Never one to give up, during the Covid 19 pandemic, she fought the legislators to have the work she does deemed essential so that she could continue to help others. While she gets great joy by putting a smile on someone’s face, her passion for what she does has been an emotional rollercoaster. The joy achieved by her contribution to the person’s wellbeing is sometimes tinged with sadness by the failure of other medical treatments that they received. Currently she is in the process of training others to continue her good work.

Laura Nelson has turned her indescribable grief for her daughter Emily into a beacon of light for mums with similar experiences across Ireland, North and South and beyond. In August 2016, at a routine twenty-week scan, she received the devastating news that baby Emily would not be coming home to stay with her and her family. To the disbelief of the medical staff, Emily was born with life on November 24th, 2016, but sadly passed away shortly afterwards in Laura’s arms. Laura resorted to exercise to navigate her way through her grief. She retrained as a pre- natal and post-natal fitness instructor, and from there Strong Mums NI was born. Laura offers live online fitness classes via zoom. She loves helping other mums to enjoy exercise and reap the physical and mental health benefits. She also provides free monthly fitness and support classes for mums affected by baby loss. Emily’s classes, as they are called, are live via zoom, which means the mums can partake in a safe and welcoming environment in the comfort of their own home. This also provides a forum for grieving mums to connect, share and/or listen to others experiencing similar heartache. Emily Nelson’s footprint may have been small but thanks to her mother Laura, she will leave her mark.

Kelly Mallon is without doubt one of Armagh’s greatest sport stars; if not the greatest. Be it camogie, ladie’s football or road bowls she has achieved and set standards that will probably never be equalled. From captaining her native Madden to a first county camogie title in over 30 years in 2014, to the triple achievements in 2021, her record on the sporting field will stand the test of time. For not only did she captain Armagh ladies to back to back Ulster titles in 2021, she also gave a player of the match display in the ladies county final, top scoring in the match as Armagh Harps also claimed back to back county titles after a 22 year gap from their previous success. To complete the hattrick of wins, she also claimed a ninth ladies road bowl championship by regaining her title and at the same time consolidating her place as the most successful lady in the history of the sport. Apart from the range of notable achievements on the sporting field, it is the great esteem in which she is held by her teammates which makes her a superb role model. A tough sportswoman with a warm heart, she has the ability to reach out and relate to teammates of all ages on the county squad and at club level. A great ambassador for County Armagh Kelly Mallon has finally got the wider recognition she deserves for her achievement, commitment and quiet efforts for others.

Peter Haughey has been the driving force behind Newtown Together Group. On a piece of unused land on St. Michael’s GAA Grounds, Newtownhamilton, he has dedicated all his energy and time into building a vibrant, welcoming community space. Peter’s constant enthusiasm in the group is an example of creative community development and a model of good practice. He has inspired many other groups, particularly ‘Men’s Sheds’ to strive to achieve something from nothing, through hard work and dedication without limits. During Covid, Peter invested all his time into alleviating isolation and loneliness amongst older people in South Armagh, making connections and ensuring everyone had someone. He epitomises the best of community work. He takes time with everyone, finds a place for every new place. A fine example of positive volunteering, teamwork, and leadership. Peter was also one of the first in the county to source and deliver care packages of PPE to the elderly often funded out of his own pocket. To keep the younger generation occupied, he made bird nesting boxes and opened a community garden incorporating a grow wild project. His craft classes have opened up a new world to people of all ages. Peter Haughey is your ultimate community person.

Special Guest

Lily Rose Caherty

Eleven-year-old Lily Rose Caherty is a star in the making. A first year student at St Paul’s High School, Bessbrook, she hails from Meadowvale Newtownhamilton.  The oldest of three daughters of parents Claire and Sean, she has been singing and playing guitar from a very young age. Through her studies at M.D Rafferty School of Music she has come to prominence and Cordelias Foundation are delighted that she has accepted the invitation to entertain us tonight.