The Faces of Cork

FACES of Cork is a unique photographic exhibition in the year of The Gathering that will not only be enjoyed by well over 1.25 million passengers passing through Cork Airport this summer but will also inspire people to donate by text and help two very deserving Cork-based charities, Friends of Marymount Hospice and Haven.
It was officially launched by one of the 63 chosen subjects, rugby legend Ronan O’Gara and among the West Cork faces featured are filmmaker Sir David Puttnam, food artisan Sally Barnes, Baltimore lifeboat coxswain Kieran Cotter and Glandore fisherman Lar Casey.  Several of the pictures also adorn buildings at several locations in the city.
Donate
Everyone is asked to show his or her appreciation by texting the word ‘Face’ and the number 50300 which will automatically donate €4 to be shared equally between Marymount and Haven, with 100% of the money going to both charities.
Ronan O’Gara said he was there because he believed fully in both charities. Marymount Hospice was close to the hearts of all because there wasn’t a family in Cork not affected by terminal illness.
 Its chairman Dr Cillian Twomey, was a long-time family friend whose advice at the start of his sporting career he would always remember, but he also wished to acknowledge the fabulous work he and the Curraheen-based charity did.
Haiti-based Irish NGO, Haven, he continued, was doing fantastic work since the terrible earthquake of January 2010 and he was privileged to become very close to and associated with Carmel and Leslie Buckley and learn about the amazing work they and Denis O’Brien and volunteers were doing day-in day-out.
He concluded by paying tribute to all the lensmen, main sponsors Cork Airport and Cork City Councils, the County Council, O’Callaghan Properties, Therapy, The Body Shop, The Sextant Bar, Imperial Hotel, Mayne’s and McCarthy Insurance Group and all those photographed.
Dr Cillian Twomey joined with Ronan in thanking all associated with ‘Faces of Cork’ as well as Tony O’Brien and Marian Murphy of Marymount Hospice and St Patrick’s Hospital, Curraheen and said the charity was delighted to be have been one of the two chosen. He urged people to text ‘like mad’.
Returned thanks
Leslie Buckley returned thanks on behalf of Haven and specially praised Ronan O’Gara for the many hours of enjoyment he gave in sport, to Cork Airport and Green Man Studio for the unbelievable display area on the ground floor and initiator Dennis Horgan. He also acknowledged the input of fellow Haven workers, of which over 1,500 have travelled to work on the Caribbean island where over 2.1 million were made homeless in 2010 and 360,000 still remain so.  He urged people to pledge their support by texting ‘Face 50300.’
MC was Kevin Cullinane, marketing manager, Cork Airport who said airport users this summer will get the chance to get up close and personal with the many varied faces of Cork in all their guises.
Other ‘faces’ to view on the ground floor of the airport include entertainer Joe Mac (McCarthy), GAA stars Seán Óg Ó hAilpín and Eoin Cadogan, rugby Lion Simon Zebo, soprano Cara O’Sullivan, artist Kevin Sanquest, singer-songwriter John Spillane, ‘Echo Boy’ Michael O’Regan, TV presenter Bill O’Herlihy, rugby pundit George Hook, photographer Billy MacGill, broadcaster Marcus Connaughton, community activist Bob Seward, Olympic sailor Peter O’Leary, special Olympian Roy Saville, publisher Con Collins, adventurer Pat Falvey and others from all walks of life in the city and county.
The attendance included, then Lord Mayor of Cork John Buttimer, Deputy County Mayor John A Collins and Co Manager Martin Riordan, Lilibeth Horne and Liz O’Farrell of Cork Airport,  Regina Donnelly of Marymount, Kylie Basnett of Cork International Airport Hotel and most of those featured in photographs, including Michael Twomey and Frank Duggan, who along with Billa O’Connell were recently made Freemen of Cork. Music was provided by Evelyn Grant.
By Leo McMahon