March Cork Persons of the Month awarded to 'two sons of Cork' for 'triumphant work'

CORK’s March Persons of The Month have been unveiled for their distinguished contribution to An Old Song Re-Sung, a centennial celebration of the Irish State.

Glasheen man, Philip King and Blackpool man, Colm O’Callaghan were awarded March Cork Persons of the Month for their role in producing the live concert and TV programme which marked 100 years of the Irish State.

Filmed at the RDS, and created in association with South Wind Blows, the piece commemorated the period from 1923 to 2023 through the mediums of performance, song, music, dance, and spoken word.

Awards organiser Manus O’Callaghan said: “With Cork having played such a pivotal role in the Irish State over the past 100 years, it’s apt to present the Cork Person of the Month award to two sons of Cork who played a role in producing An Old Song Re-Sung, a work that triumphantly celebrates this milestone.”

Performers that featured in An Old Song Re-Sung, which aired on October 30, included Irish chart-topper Dermot Kennedy, folk singer-songwriter Damien Dempsey, and multi Ifta winner Aiden Gillen.

Mr King attended Coláiste an Spioraid Naoimh and holds an honorary doctorate of music from University College Cork (UCC). His work has included producing RTÉ’s Other Voices, being a founding member of folk rock band Scullion, and gaining a Grammy nomination for his music documentary Rocky World.

Mr O’Callaghan, a North Monastery and UCC alumnus, currently serves as head of specialist factual content at RTÉ and has been involved with Ifta-award winning works, The Travellers (2018), These Walls Can Talk (2016), and When Ali Came to Ireland (2015).

Mr King and Mr O’Callaghan’s names will now go forward alongside other monthly winners for selection as Cork Person of the Year at the annual Gala Awards Lunch in January 2025.