A DISTINGUISHED career in medicine was toasted with Dr John Hillery awarded Clare Person of the Year with special accolades also presented to Mark Sheedy, Tony Griffin and the late pair of Joe Vaughan and Dermot Hayes.
At The Rine Hotel in Dromoland, the Clare Association Dublin held its annual awards function. The Newmarket-on-Fergus venue hosted what was the forty fifth year of the Association’s awards dinner.
Spanish Point native, Dr John Hillery was named the Clare Person of the Year, Ballyea’s Tony Griffin entered the Hall of Fame, Mark Sheedy of Kilmurry became the first winner of the inaugural Clare Young Person of the Year. The inaugural posthumous Clare Legacy Awards were presented to the families of Dermot Hayes and Joe Vaughan.
Dr Hillery qualified in medicine at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland in 1983. He went on to build a distinguished career in psychiatry, with a particular health and intellectual disability services. For more than twenty years as a consultant psychiatrist, he worked with individuals and families facing complex challenges. John’s contribution has extended into education, research and the development of better services. His Joseph P. Kennedy Fellowship, working under Eunice Kennedy Shriver, helped inform his contribution to the establishment of UCD’s Centre for Disability Studies in 1996.
Ciarán O’Connell, a native of Corofin who is Chair of the Association stated, “Throughout his career, he has brought that experience to positions of national and international responsibility. As President of the Medical Council, he helped shape standards within the medical profession. As President of the College of Psychiatrist of Ireland, he represented a profession working at the heart of some of our most pressing healthcare needs. His leadership has also included the International Association of Medical Regulatory Authorities and, since 2022, the chairmanship of the Mental Health Commission. Those are significant responsibilities. Their importance is measured in what they mean for people: better care, stronger protections and greater respect for the dignity and rights of those who depend on our services”.
A son of former President, Patrick Hillery, John contested the 2011 General Election for Fianna Fáil when the Soliders of Destiny lost 58 seats, he polled 6,015 first preference votes and was eliminated on the ninth count. He was appointed to the Mental Health Commission in 2020 and has served as its Chairperson since 2022.
Recalling leaving Spanish Point when he was very young, Dr Hillery emphasised how important it was for people to have a sense of belonging and the Clare Association in Dublin was playing its part to help Clare people keep in touch with their native county.
Former Clare hurler, Griffin an All Star winner in 2006 entered the Hall of Fame. The function heard that his achievements had earned him a lasting place in Clare life for his contribution through sport, charity, writing and his work with young people.
Following the death of his father, Jerome, Tony completed an extraordinary 7,000-kilometre charity cycle across Canada and Ireland in 2007, raising more than €1.1 million for cancer care and research. He later co-founded the Soar Foundation, supporting young people through personal-development and wellbeing programmes, and is the author of Screaming at the Sky and The Teenager’s Book of Life.
As a performance coach, he was involved with Kerry’s All-Ireland winning side of 2022 and previously worked with the Kildare footballers and Dublin hurlers. He was part of Brian Lohan’s Clare backroom team in 2026.
“Tony has shown a willingness to take on a challenge, to share what he has learned and to use his experience to help others. Tonight we celebrate the hurler, the fundraiser, the author and the mentor. We also recognise the generosity and determination that connect those achievements,” Chairman O’Connell stated.
On receiving his award Tony recalled training for Clare with Ger Loughnane and said from a young age all he wanted to do was to play for Clare and play in Croke Park. He also paid tribute to his family and added that he loved Clare and where he came from.
An All-Ireland and Munster winner with Clare’s U20 and minor hurlers in 2026 and 2023, Mark Sheedy was the first recipient of the Young Person of the Year award. His exploits in this year’s Munster U20 final where he saved three penalties and scored one in a shootout saw him attract international attention for the game when he featured on ESPN.
According to O’Connell, “moments like that are built long before the cameras arrive. They come from training sessions, repetition, setbacks, encouragement and the determination tokeep improving. Mark’s achievements also reflect the support of his family, his coaches, his teammates and everyone who has helped him along the way. Tonight is a proud occasion for all of them. His progression to the Clare senior panel and his National Hurling League debut represent further important steps in a career that has already given us much to celebrate. Mark, this award recognises what you have achieved at a young age, the pride you have brought to Clare and the example your commitment offers to other young people. We look forward to following your progress in the years ahead”.
Mark who is an electrician with the ESB thanked the Clare Association Dublin and all associated with the function and paid tribute to his family and all his hurling colleagues at club and county levels.
Marking another first for the Association were the Clare Legacy posthumous Awards to remember Clare people whose contribution continues to be felt in the lives of others and to remember their kindness, commitment and the time they gave so freely. Those honoured were the late Joe Vaughan of Dublin and a native of Moy and the late Dermot Hayes of Ennis who hailed from Kells in Corofin.
Moy native, Joe Vaughan was a respected teacher, boxing coach and lifelong community volunteer. He spent more than 40 years at Coláiste Dhúlaigh and founded West Finglas Boxing Club in 1974, providing generations of young people with encouragement, discipline and opportunity.
He spearheaded fundraising efforts for the Dom Savio charity, raising over €1 million through the annual 24-hour skipathon. A stalwart and Honorary Life President of Moy GAA, he won a Junior Championship with the club in 1986. He passed away in August 2025. His students won thirty-six consecutive City of Dublin VEC boxing titles, an achievement recognised by the VEC with the presentation of a medallion. Joe also faced serious illness in his own life. More than twenty years ago, he underwent treatment for leukaemia and made a remarkable recovery. The years that followed brought many more opportunities for him to do what he had always done: teach, coach, encourage and help. His sister, Mary Browne accepted the award.
Dermot Hayes devoted more than thirty five years to disability rights, equality and social justice and was one of Clare’s most prominent activists. He co-founded Disabled People of Clare and helped lead the successful campaign to establish a renal dialysis centre in Ennis through his work as Chairperson of the Clare branch of Irish Kidney Association. For the Clare Leader Forum, he was a true leader and he inspired people with disabilities to speak up and fight to get services.
In 2023, Dermot published his memoir The Road That Rises which detailed his decades of activism, his time in hospital and his convictions. He died in January 2026. The award was accepted by Dermot’s wife Marian and daughter Aimee who spoke on behalf of the family.
Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council, Cllr Joe Killeen (FF) was the first speaker on the night. He praised the Association, its voluntary work, pride in their county of Clare and commitment to recognising people who serve others were deeply valued. MC for the night was Tom Conway of the Clare Association Dublin and dance music was provided by the all-girls band, Cailin Lua, Killaloe.
All photographs by John Sheridan
