International Roscrea People Award For US Based Local Man
Thursday, 8 December 2011
For only the second time since Roscrea People of the Year Awards began, a native of the town is to be honoured with a Roscrea People International Award. The honour will be bestowed on world renowned prosthetist, Kevin Carroll, who is expected to travel from the US to Roscrea to accept his award personally at the Gala Ceremony at the Damer Court Hotel on January 18th.
Kevin, who hails from Benamore on the Dublin Road in Roscrea, recently inspired a Hollywood movie about an injured dolphin called 'Winter' on which he fitted a prosthetic tail. Actor Morgan Freeman portrays Kevin in the blockbuster movie, which not only sees Kevin create the prosthetic tail for 'Winter', but also develop a special gel that allowed the prostethic tail to be attached to the dolphin without causing the pain associated with wearing an artificial limb. This gel is now also being used on hundreds of humans, making the wearing of a prosthetic body part considerably easier.
In addition to 'Winter', amongst Kevin's best known patients have been Edward Kennedy Junior and Eilish Holton, the surviving Siamese twin from Ireland, both of whom were fitted with artificial limbs by Kevin and his business partner, Dan Strzempka.
Many people in Roscrea will remember Kevin Carroll and his family. Kevin is a past-pupil of Roscrea Vocational School and he married a local girl, Mary White, and the couple lived in Ballaghmore for a time before moving to live in the US in 1984. They have two children, Aoife and Michael.
In a recent interview with the Boston Globe, Kevin revealed that his passion of the work he currently excels in began when he was a child growing up in Roscrea. He said that he lived alongside a hospital for physically and mentally challenged children (St. Anne's) and that while he was running around, he was conscious of the children there who couldn't walk and were confined to wheelchairs. He said that his initial efforts to help them involved volunteer work and fundraising when he was just 12 or 13 years of age. He began his formal career in 1978 at the National Medical Rehabilitation Centre in Dublin.
Today, Kevin is an American Board Certified Prosthetist and has been named a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthotics and Prosthetics, one of the highest honours in the profession. He is a member of the International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics and is a professional advisor for the Amputee Coalition of America and a member of the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers as well as being a member of the British Association of Prosthetics and Orthotics. He is also Vice-President of Hanger Prosthetics.
Other recipients of the coveted Roscrea People of the Year Awards for 2011 include Roscrea Tennis Club, under the auspices of RCTLC, for the development of top class facilities on the Dublin Road and, in particular, Emmet Arrigan who is the club's long-time mentor. Marjorie McCorduck, Parkmore Heights, will also be honoured on her election as President of the Irish Ladies Golfing Union 2011-2012, as will Roscera Youth Projects, NTLP, and in particular their co-ordinator, Deirdre Cahir, for many years of commitment, care and concern.
Roscrea People of the Year Citations will be presented to a number of deserving recipients. Citations are awarded to people and institutions that have already received People of the Year Awards. The recipients for 2011 will be as follows; All Ireland Fleadh Cheoil winner Cian Hanamy; Roscrea Scouts who are celebrating 40 years of outstanding service and doing so in style in 2011; The Dean Maxwell Centre for the truly magnificent publication of 'The Wisdom of Age' with acknowledgment to writer Mary Arrigan, photographer Brian Redmond, designer Timmy Quinlan and Walsh Printers; Seamus Doran for composing and publishing the words and music 'Lead Me Home' for a full Mass.
The Awards Evening, which will be co-sponsored by Bernie's SuperValu and another sponsor yet to be announced, will take place in the Damer Court Hotel on Wednesday 18th January 2012 commencing at 7.30p.m. The evening will include entertainment by Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Ros Cre and an illustrated presentation on aspects of Roscrea's past by 'Roscrea People' editor, author and historian George Cunningham. Admission will be by voluntary donation and the profits of the evening will go to enhance the book collection for St. Cronan's Services.
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