The Tipp O’Neill Diaspora Awards for 2022 were handed out on Friday night in Buncrana.
The awards celebrate the contribution of the diaspora to Donegal, and also the achievements of people from the county across the globe.
Four awards were given out on Friday night the first of them to a husband and wife who run a global Home Health Care business, BAYADA was founded by Mark and Ann Baiada, both of whom are members of the Donegal Association of Philadelphia.
South Donegal born Moya Doherty is the chair of the Board of RTE, and the commissioning producer and originator of Riverdance. She is a writer and broadcaster, and a founding director of Tyrone Productions.
Ardara native Kathleen Sheerin is based in Dublin, and was the first woman chairperson of the Donegal Associaton in Dublin. She is also a Life Member and former president of the association, and was instrumental in establishing the Donegal Person of the Year Award.
The final recipient, Dr Susan Whoriskey, is a pioneer in the area of vaccines, and serves as an advisor to the Clinical Translations Research and Innovation Centre at Altnagelvin Hospital, with an emphasis on scholarships for medical students in the North West.
Kathleen Sheerin spoke with Donal Kavanagh, after being celebrated for her work with an award:
Tipp O’Neill’s son, Tommy, was also present at the awards event.
Speaking with Donal Kavanagh, he took the opportunity to celebrate the late John and Pat Hume, who his father was especially close with:
