Dublin Civic Honour Award
Labhrás Ó Murchú of Cashel, Co. Tipperary, has been honoured by Dublin City for his cultural and social work. He has received the prestigious 1996 Lord Mayor's Civic Honour Award which was presented by Lord Mayor Alderman Sean D. Loftus, B.L., at a ceremony in the Mansion House on Wednesday, June 19, attended by members of the Corporation.
Former recipients of the Award included Ronnie Delaney, Gay Byrne, Jack Charlton, Frank Feely (City Manager), Neil Jordan and Lady Valerie Goulding.
The award citation referred to the Ardstiúrthóir of Comhaltas as 'an excellent ambassador for Ireland and her people'. The citation reads as follows:
'Labhrás Ó Murchú is the Director General of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann - The Irish Cultural Movement - which has a network of over 400 branches throughout the world. Apart from having a branch in each of the 32 counties, Comhaltas has spread throughout Britain, North America and Australia. It has European branches in Luxembourg, Sardinia, Milan and Nuremberg and has even spread to Tokyo. Over one million people attend functions organised by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann in each year and its cultural tourism programme generates a multi-million pound income for Ireland.
'Labhrás Ó Murchú came from Cashel, Co. Tipperary and he is married to Una of Co. Clare who is a teacher/guidance counsellor. She is also Artistic Director of the National Heritage Centre at Brú Ború in Cashel, Co. Tipperary. In addition to being Director General of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann Labhras is also Director of Cultúrlann na hÉireann, the Irish Cultural Institute, at Belgrave Square, Monkstown, Co. Dublin which attracts thousands of students and tourists from all over the world.
'Labhrás has also found time to be the National Organising Secretary of the AITM - the trade union for traditional performers; the Co ordinator of International Tourist Information Programmes and the National Chairman of the Irish Family History Foundation. The Irish Family History Foundation is involved in the establishment of the Irish Genealogical Project, both North and south, and has a high tourist profile. This involves 35 centres nationwide and is government assisted. Its function is to provide a professional service to the Irish Diaspora worldwide.
'Through his numerous activities Labhrás has promoted North/South co-operation and reconciliation and was honoured by his native county for his achievements as Tipperary Person of the Year.
'He was a former Timire of Conradh na Gaeilge. He is also the National Chairman of Fondúireacht an Phiarsaigh (the Pearse Foundation) since its inception in 1978 and to which 33 national bodies are affiliated.
He is the editor of the Heritage Magazine Treoir.
'Naisiunai go smior e, Labhrás Ó Murchú. Ní chailleann sé riamh deis le tábhacht féiniúlacht na hÉireann a chur ina luí ar phobal na tíre. Léiríonn sé i gcónaí gur chuid lárnach den bhféiniúlacht sin an Ghaeilge, an ceol agus an dúchas Gaelach, agus gur mithid duinn a bheith br6duil asainn féin mar Éireannaigh.
'Ta cuid mhaith dá shaol caite ag Labhrás ag cothú, ag neartú agus ag leathnú an cheoil Ghaelaigh, agus gach a bhaineann leis, ni hamháin sa tír seo ach ar fud an domhain.
'Tá fás agus forbairt ar Chomhaltas Ceoltóir Éireann, a fhágánn go bhfuil craobhacha bunaithe anois ar fud an domhain uilig. Tá cuid mhór den chreidiúint ag dul do Labhrás Ó Murchú as an stiúir agus an cheannródaiocht a léirigh sé mar Ard-Stiúrthóir an heagraíochta sin. Is ambasadóir den scoth é, don tír agus do mhuintir na hÉireann.
