BROADCASTER Joe Duffy is set to become an honorary Cork person when he attends the Cork Person of the Year annual gala lunch.

The 33rd anniversary event takes place at the Metropole Hotel on Friday January 23rd continuing a long tradition of honouring individuals and groups who have made exceptional contributions to Cork, Ireland and beyond.

The winner will be chosen from the esteemed list of Cork Person of the Month recipients throughout 2025. Judges Valerie O’Sullivan, chief executive, Cork City Council, and Moira Murrell, chief executive, Cork County Council face a difficult task in selecting the overall winner.

Monthly winners for 2025 included Sheena Crowley (January) who was recognised for her campaign to keep Rory Gallagher’s iconic 1961 Fender Stratocaster in Ireland.
Her tireless efforts led to the guitar’s acquisition for donation to the National Museum and she raised over €75,000 to secure other Gallagher instruments for a Cork museum.

Barber Joe Byrne was recognised in February for restoring dignity and confidence for countless people by providing free haircuts to the homeless, children for back-to-school, and for communions.

Tom Butler (March) was awarded for leading Ballincollig Tidy Towns to a national win. Prof Gary Murphy was honoured in April for his work in analysing modern Irish politics.

Cork Money Advice and Budgeting Service founder Patrick Coughlan was celebrated in May, while 80-year-old Michael Kiely was recognised for his athletic longevity in June after he secured two gold medals in the over-80s 800m and 1500m at the World Masters Indoor Championships in Florida.

Deirdre McCarthy (July) was honoured for breaking ground as the first woman to lead RTÉ’s News & Current Affairs division, while Justine Looney and Edel Curtin (August) were recognised as business leaders and community activists who helped revitalise the city’s Douglas Street.

The Kabin Studio’s Garry McCarthy got the nod in September, with the youth group’s hip-hop hit The Spark amassing over 1.5 billion views on TikTok.

In October, Fiona Corcoran was honoured as the founder of the Greater Chernobyl Cause, providing vital humanitarian aid for over two decades.

In November Dr Geoff Gould was recognised for founding the West Cork Fit-Up Theatre Festival 16 years ago, reviving a tradition to bring theatre to rural communities.

Staying in West Cork, Professor Rónán Collins was honoured for his vital work as a consultant in the area of stroke medicine and highlighting care failings in private nursing homes.

The Guest of Honour at the event will be European Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection, Michael McGrath. RTÉ director general Kevin Bakhurst will also speak at the event.

Miriam O’Callaghan and Marty Morrissey will serve as masters of ceremonies at the event. With 2026 marking the 100th anniversary of radio in Ireland, the Honorary Cork Person award will go to broadcaster and former Liveline host Joe Duffy.

The event will also see one extraordinary figure inducted into the Cork Person of the Year Hall of Fame.