ESB Chairman selected as Kerry Person of the Year

The announcement was made at a reception in Dublin on January 22nd by the Association's Cathaoirleach, Eileen O'Sullivan. Micheal O Muircheartaigh was master of ceremonies for the evening.

Many other well know personalities were among the large attendance at the function. The award, now in it 28th year, has been presented to natives of the county in recognition of their achievements.

The award, a specially commissioned piece of sculpture by Cliona Cussen, is sponsored by the Kerry Group, and will be presented to Tadhg at the Association's 55th Annual Dinner in Castleknock Hotel & Country Club on Saturday, 17th February 2007

Accepting the award, Mr O'Donoghue, quoted Sigerson Clifford's words on his native county - "I am Kerry like my mother before me, and my mother's mother and her mam".

ESB Chief Executive, Padraig McManus addressed the gathering as Gaeilge, saying the association between the company and Cumann na gCiarraiocht had been a strong and positive one.

Duirt se, "Chomh fada siar le re Phaddy Moriarty anseo sa mBSL, bhain Cumann na gCiarraioch leas as an ionad seo led gradam Ciarraiocht na Bliana a fhogairt".

Tadhg O'Donoghue joined the Board of ESB in September 2000. He was appointed Chairman in January 2001 and is now in his second term in that role.

His reappointment for a further term in 2005 confirmed the Government's confidence in his leadership of the Board of ESB. He has steered the company through some of the largest programmes undertaken by the company in the past six years. The major network renewal programme, the PACT Agreement, the closure of the old peat stations and their replacement with two new stateof- the-art plants in the midlands are some of the more important achievements which took place during his watch.