RNLI Volunteer, Kevin Desmond, Wins Maxol Irish Motor Industry Person of the Year 2004

22 Nov 2004

RNLI Volunteer, Kevin Desmond, Wins Maxol Irish Motor Industry Person of the Year 2004

Pictured (Back Row - l to r) are: Paul O'Grady, Commercial Director, Irish Motor Management with nominees Matt Fagan, Chief Executive, Mercedes-Benz Division, Motor Distributors Ltd., Liam Corcoran, Senior Inspector, Department of Education and Science and H.B. Dennis, Motor Dealer. (Front Row - l to r) Kevin Desmond, RNLI volunteer (2004 Winner), Ivor Callely T.D., Maggie Mooney, Fundraiser and Tom Noonan, Chief Executive, The Maxol Group.

Kevin Desmond, was today (Monday 22nd November) named the prestigious Maxol Irish Motor Industry Person of the Year 2004 at an awards ceremony at the Coach House, Dublin Castle.

Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Mr Ivor Callely, presented the award to Kevin Desmond, in recognition of his outstanding voluntary work with the RNLI spanning 33 years. Earlier this year, Kevin Desmond, who has just retired from the position of Lifeboats Operations Manager at the busy Wicklow Lifeboat Station, was also recognised with an RNLI Bar to Gold Badge which he received from President McAleese for his many years of service. Kevin is also well-known in the motor trade as he spent his working life with Burmah Castrol, where he was a sales executive. As well as serving for 33 years with the RNLI team in Wicklow, Kevin is a founder member of Wicklow Sailing Club.

There were six nominees for this year's awards, which are run in association with Irish Motor Management Magazine. The awards recognise the contribution that key Irish motor industry individuals have made both to the industry and beyond - whether it be through their local community or internationally. Now in its seventh year, last year's winner was Eddie Shaw, Chairman of the National Safety Council, for his relentless campaigning on the critical issue of road safety.

Commenting at the awards ceremony, Tom Noonan, Chief Executive, The Maxol Group said:

"The Maxol Irish Motor Industry Person of the Year Awards has honoured many exceptional people over the last seven years, not least the six remarkable nominees being recognised here today. Maxol is very pleased and honoured to be associated with their achievements.

This years winner of the Maxol Irish Motor Industry Person of the Year, Kevin Desmond, is a wonderful example of the very many people working in the motor trade who realise that there is more to life than just profit and demonstrate this through there very laudable actions. Kevin has put a colossal amount back into his community over the years. Ireland needs people like him and, in choosing him for this years overall honour, the judges have been anxious to not just acknowledge his wonderful example but, also, highlight it in the hope that many more will follow."

Paul O¹Grady, Commercial Director of Irish Motor Management magazine, also speaking at the awards ceremony commented:

"Kevin Desmond represents all the unsung heroes that the motor industry provides. These are ordinary men and women who make a tremendous contribution to their community on top of their busy and active working lives. I congratulate Kevin and all the nominees who have been honoured today."

The judges for this year's Maxol Irish Motor Industry Person of the Year Awards included Andrew Hamilton, Motoring Correspondent, The Irish Times; Cyril McHugh, Chief Executive of SIMI; Brian Murphy, Past President of SIMI and Managing Director of Belgard Motors; Noel Smyth, Retail Motor Industry Federation, Northern Ireland and Paul O'Grady, Commercial Director of Irish Motor Management Magazine.

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