News:
January 2008

The man responsible for the success of the Cork International Choral Festival, John Fitzpatrick, was named Cork Person of the Year yesterday (Jan 25th).

President Mary McAleese and a representative group of guests from all sectors of Cork society, gave John a thunderous ovation at the annual Gala Awards Lunch held at the Sheraton Fota Island Golf Resort & Spa at Fota Island, Cork.

Choral Festival Director John Fitzpatrick from Blackrock Road in Cork received his award from City Lord Mayor Cllr. Donal Counihan and County Mayor Cllr. Tom Sheahan. Also on stage to congratulate John was President Mary McAleese and Award M.C.s Miriam OCallaghan from RTE’s Prime Time and M.E.P. Brian Crowley, recently elected President of the U.E.N. Group in Europe.

John Fitzpatrick has been involved in the Choral Festivals organisation for thirty-three years and has been Festival Director for the last 14 years. Now considered one of the major choral festivals in Europe, the Festival runs over five days each May, and the recent 53rd Festival, provided 117 performing groups, 3,910 participants from 20 countries, giving some 73 performances in 38 venues around Cork City and County. It gives a major financial boost to the region and is now one of our top visitor and local attractions.

John Fitzpatrick, an Arts and Music Graduate of U.C.C., has broad ranging experience as a choral conductor and lecturer. He is also noted for his commitment to community choirs, and is considered Irelands most experienced adjudicator at international level. In his professional life he is Director of the County Cork VEC School of Music, which employs 90 teachers and provides instrumental music tuition to over 2,800 students in 35 centres throughout the county.

This years 53rd Festival was considered by the critics and general public to be a huge success, for its standards, range, diversity of activities and especially for the manner in which it interacted with the City said awards organiser Manus OCallaghan.

John Fitzpatrick was accompanied at the awards lunch by his wife Jane, mother Eileen and children Colm and Aisling.

This was the 15th year of the Cork Person of Year Awards and the Judges were Bishop John Buckley, City Manager Joe Gavin and County Manager Martin Riordan.