Des O’Callaghan, from Stillorgan, has won the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2012
‘Hidden Hearing Heroes Awards’.
RTE presenter Brenda Donohue presented Des with his award.
The awards are made to those who are deaf or hard of hearing and have made a significant contribution to society, their community, workplace, family or through sporting excellence.
The awards event is a joint initiative between Hidden Hearing and the Irish Deaf Society.
Des has devoted his whole life working for and helping the deaf community in Ireland. He was treasurer for the Deaf Club for many years until he moved to St Joseph’s House for Deaf Adults.
He still spends his time there looking after others in the house, helping them with their shopping and interpreting at Mass.
Speaking at the awards, RTE presenter Brenda Donohue said:
“The Heroes Award winners have made a huge contribution to Irish society. They have excelled in their chosen discipline, proving that being deaf or hard of hearing is not a barrier to achieving goals and dreams.
“With our busy lifestyles, it is often difficult to take a step back and acknowledge people who are doing exceptional things, so awards such as these are very important.
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She added:
“The winners’ achievements need to be brought to the attention of the public, so that they receive the recognition they deserve
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Congratulating the winners, Stephen Leddy, Managing Director of Hidden Hearing, said:
“This is the second year of the Heroes Awards and we had another amazing response to the initiative.
“I would like to acknowledge each of our nine heroes who rightly deserve their award. The Heroes Awards has proven an excellent platform for creating awareness about the deaf and hard of hearing community in Ireland and of the great contribution they make to Irish society.
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Kevin Mulqueen, chairperson of the Irish Deaf Society added:
“The Hidden Hearing Heroes Awards are the only awards initiative in Ireland for the deaf and hard of hearing and the Irish Deaf Society is delighted to be involved with them. As an organisation, we want to see a society where deaf people have full and unrestricted access to all walks of life thus becoming equal citizens, contributing and participating freely.
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