Why ‘True Blue’ GAA fan Rhona is city’s ‘Best Dub’

A SELF-CONFESSED

‘GAA addict’ was declared the city’s

‘Best Dub’ at 98FM’s Best of Dublin Awards 2015 in the Kilmainham Hospital.

‘True Blue’ fan Rhona Gallagher, from Rathfarnham, was awarded the night’s top gong for her unwavering Dublin pride.

A member of Ballyboden Wanderers GAA Club, Rhona trains ladies’ teams and is a season holder ticket for Hill 16 to ensure she never misses a Dublin GAA match home or away.

Over 350 people attended the 98FM Best of Dublin Awards, run in association with Costcutter that included 20 prizes for the city’s best hidden gems, people and businesses.

A staggering 466,000 people across the city voted, 150,000 more than last year. Presented by 98FM presenters Adrian Kennedy and Jeremy Dixon, the event had a host of well-known Dublin faces on the red carpet including Adele King (Twink), former boxing Olympic Silver Medalist turned politician Kenneth Egan, models Holly Carpenter and Rosanna Davison, Louis Walsh’s boy band Hometown, Aslan’s Billy McGuinness, TV3’s Alan Hughes and Dublin’s Lord Mayor, Christy Burke.

Speaking about being voted

‘Best Dub’ Rhona said:

“I’m thrilled to have won. My granddad was a real Dubliner and always sang traditional Dublin songs and reared me on stories about the capital.

“I love nothing more than doing tours of Dublin, reading books and heading to my local pub, The Merry Ploughboy to belt out favourite Dublin ballads such as

‘Summer in Dublin’,

‘Raglan Road’ and the

‘Auld Triangle’.

“I was brought to my first league game by my Da in 1984 at the age of 10 and from that day GAA has become an addiction for me. I love training the ladies’ teams and running buses into the Dubs’ games for the club and locality. I even have a Dublin tattoo on my wrist.

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Speaking at the event, Jim Barry, Managing Director of the Barry Group, said.

“I’m delighted with our involvement with the 2015 98FM Best of Dublin awards.

“Costcutter is known across the country as being proud to be local so it’s a fitting partnership between us and an awards ceremony that honours those people that form the backbone of Dublin.

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98FM Presenter Adrian Kennedy added:

“The energy in the room tonight has been fantastic. Now in its second year, the 98FM Best of Dublin Awards has become a staple event in the industry calendar. It’s fantastic to see so many people celebrated tonight for their contribution to Dublin city. We talk to Dubs every day on the show and it’s been great to meet so many of the listeners here tonight. We want to congratulate all the winners and finalists.

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Tallaght Theatre, the winner of last year’s

‘Best Venue’ and

‘Best Business Campaign’ in the 98FM Best of Dublin Awards picked up the

‘Best Venue’ gong once again.

The voluntary, non-profit group receives no Government or arts council funding and has self-financed and developed itself through rentals and performances.

The

‘Best Barber/Hairdresser’ award went to Hairlough Barbers, Clondalkin, while

‘Best Restaurant’ went to Brasserie Sixty6, South Great Georges Street.

Other winners included Club 92, Leopardstown,

‘Best Chipper’, Vincenzos of Drimnagh and Hungry Bear, Tallaght for

‘Best Coffee’.