Congratulations to actor Jeremy Irons, who was today made an honorary Cork citizen at the Cork People of the Year awards.
The British actor received the award from producer Lord David Puttnam, who was last year’s honourable recipient. Speaking of his new Irish status, Jeremy revealed that it was “a huge honour and a great pleasure” to have been so well accepted by the people of Ireland – and in particular, West Cork. “West Cork is a place where I ground myself,” he said. “It is a place where I am surrounded by people who accept me for who I am and not for the fame that surrounds me. That is very grounding for a person who works in a profession where you are constantly over-hyped. You know your true value is not the value that some people seem to attach to you.”
Humble words from the esteemed actor, who also raised a laugh at the ceremony in Rochestown Park Hotel by exercising his sense of humour in true Cork fashion! “I am a blow in and I have been a blow in for 35 years,” he admitted. “I suppose I will always be a blow in. But at least now that I am an honorary Corkman I am not quite such a blow in. I am hoping that when I am stopped for going slightly over the speed limit the fact that I am an honorary Corkman may help tilt the balance. I am chuffed.”
Another Cork man who was honoured at today’s awards ceremony was World Champion walker Robert Heffernan, who received the event’s highest accolade of Cork Person of the Year for his achievements in athletics, RSVP informs.
