HomeNewsMore unites us than divides, Sinn Féin's O'Neill tells Awards audience
FLIPPING THE SCRIPT: New Script receive the Health & Well-Being Award from Hugh Cormican, founder of healthcare device company Cirdan
Thomas McMullan
More unites us than divides, Sinn Féin's O'Neill tells Awards audience
NewsNovember 27, 2023by Anthony Neeson
Belfast's best days are in front of it, First Minster elect Michelle O'Neill told a full house at the Europa Hotel last night for the 27th annual Aisling Awards celebration.
Bringing together community leaders, sporting heroes, small business owners, and cultural champions, the Aisling Awards highlight was the presentation of the Person of the Year accolade to organ donation dynamo little Daithí Mac Gabhann.
CHAMP: Daithí Beag with dad Máirtín and Michelle O'Neill
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"The New Belfast of today, is not that of yesterday and the reason for this is because of all of you - your leadership, resilience, courage, and unwavering spirit and vision that define a city on the rise," Michelle O'Neill told the Aisling audience.
"All of you decided at some point not to overlook the problems facing communities in the four corners of Belfast – whether they be social, economic, cultural, educational or environmental challenges – and have confronted these with solutions.
🎉 AISLING AWARD IN EDUCATION🎉
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"Your spirit is epitomised by this year’s Person of the Year, and Freeman of Belfast, Wee Daithí, who with grace, humility, resilience and pure class represents the brilliance of Belfast."
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She added: "25 years on from the Good Friday Agreement and peace being ushered in, we now stand at a critical juncture where change is not just an option; it is a necessity. For too long have we let our differences divide us, living our lives back-to-back rather than side-by-side.
"In 2023 and twenty-five years on from the Good Friday Agreement we must now value our diversity and insist that it no longer stands between us.
"Agreement is close, and it is decision time. In the immediate weeks ahead, I want the Executive up again and to get back on track.
"Belfast is united at these awards in a way which should give heart to all those who believe that in this land there is more that unites us than divides us."
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Lead sponsor John D'Arcy of Open University Ireland, fresh from opening a new base in Derry, praised the resilience and courage of the people of Belfast and singled out for praise students at the OU who had completed a new nursing degree course.
Among the special honourees at the Aisling gala were Peter Finn, Principal of St Mary's University College, who was recognised for his efforts to build enduring linkages between the college and the local community.
