BREAKING: Tears of joy as Limerick Person of the Year 2024 announced

OLIVIA HUMPHREYS has been crowned 2024 Limerick Person of the Year.

The 24-year-old inventor of a life-changing device for cancer patients from Pallasgreen scooped the title at a special ceremony in the Clayton Hotel, Limerick city, this Friday.

Upon being honoured with the prestigious accolade, Ms Humphreys said: “I really do think that I am a product of how good Limerick is right now. I went up through the education system in the Crescent College in Limerick and I studied in UL and it's from the mentors that I had through that really good education system and the friends and the family that I had in Limerick that got me to where I am today. It's through pure encouragement and having strong role models when I was growing up that inspired me to do what I am today."

The University of Limerick (UL) graduate’s passion and dedication to the science behind her hair-loss prevention cancer-treatment creation, Athena, has earned her the title. 

She was chosen by a special panel of judges and was up against 11 other 2024 Limerick Person of the Month recipients, all of which were deserving monthly winners for their contributions to their communities and achievements in their respective fields.

READ ALSO: Best of Limerick to be honoured at annual Limerick Person of the Year awards

Mayor of Limerick, John Moran congratulated Ms Humphreys and all the monthly winners, saying: “The Limerick Person of the Month and Limerick Person of the Year Awards are a fantastic celebration of outstanding members of our community.

“Each recipient is truly deserving of the recognition they receive. Heartfelt congratulations to Olivia Humphreys, our Limerick Person of the Year 2024.

“Her innovative work with Athena is set to revolutionise chemotherapy treatment, and we look forward to seeing its positive impact on patients' lives.”

Ms Humphreys was named Limerick Person of the Month in November 2024, being the first Irish person ever to win the prestigious global James Dyson accolade that month with a prize fund of €38,000. 

Her invention, Athena, is a portable, thermoelectric battery-operated scalp cooling device for people undergoing chemotherapy treatment which is more cost-effective and time-saving than hospital models, without compromising on quality.

She was inspired to create Athena having seen her mum go through chemotherapy in hospital a few years ago and is now working as a Research and Development Intern at Luminate Medical in Galway, working on medical device tech.

Now in its 24th year, the Limerick Person of the Month and Limerick Person of the Year honours are jointly sponsored by the Limerick Leader, Southern Marketing Design and Media, and the Clayton Hotel. The initiative is supported by Limerick City and County Council.

Áine Fitzgerald, managing editor of the Limerick Leader, said: “The Limerick Leader/Limerick Live is honoured to be part of the Limerick Person of the Year awards. This event celebrates the remarkable achievements of our monthly winners, who embody ambition, hope, and selflessness.”

Dave O'Hora, managing director of Southern, said: “At Southern, we are genuinely honoured to support these awards. Every year, I make it a point to remind everyone that this is not a competition.

“No one entered - they were nominated by their peers. The individuals chosen are a testament to the collective achievements and hard work of everyone involved.”

Darren Harding, general manager of Clayton Hotel Limerick, stated: “The Clayton Hotel Limerick is thrilled to once again host the Limerick Person of the Year awards. This event is one of our favourites, and witnessing the pride, passion, and energy in the hotel on awards day is truly amazing.

“It's inspiring to see such dedicated, resilient, and passionate individuals come together in one place. We eagerly anticipate continuing this tradition of celebrating excellence within our community.”

Along with the Person of the Year award, three late Limerick entertainers were inducted to the 2024 Limerick Person of the Year Hall of Fame for their extraordinary contributions to the arts. 

Actor, poet, writer and comedian Jon Kenny along with singer-songwriter Johnny Duhan and actor, director and writer  John Murphy were honoured with the posthumous award together as part of a special celebration during the awards ceremony.

Mayor John Moran said: “Today’s celebration was made even more special by honouring the Hall of Fame inductees, who have gone too soon but have left behind legacies that continue to inspire. All three significantly contributed to the cultural and artistic fabric of Limerick.”