Mary Kennedy and Brendan Graham at the casting of their hands.

Brendan and Mary to accept double honour in Cong

BRENDAN Graham, viewed by many as perhaps Ireland's greatest living songwriter, and much-loved broadcaster Mary Kennedy are to be honoured as recipients of the prestigious Cong Hands of Fame Award (CHOFA) on Sunday, November 14, when the pair have also been invited to accept the Freedom of Cong at a ceremony in the Mayo village.

Known the world over for being the location of John Ford's 1952 Oscar winning movie The Quiet Man, one intrepid local has been instrumental in bringing another touch of Hollywood back to the west of Ireland.

Cong local Paddy Rock has helped to create and establish an event that will continue to weave the village even deeper still into the nation's cultural fabric, inspired in part by Hollywood's Walk of Fame.

The Cong Hands of Fame Award has already honoured household names such as John Sheahan of the Dubliners, the late and great Big Tom, country music star Daniel O'Donnell, flautist Matt Molloy, and host of The Late Late Show, Ryan Tubridy, for how they have each - in their own inimitable ways - advanced the name of Ireland at home and abroad in their work.

This year, the privilege of having the impression of their hands delivered to immortality by way of sculptor Mark Rode, who has cast them in bronze, goes to Brendan Graham and Mary Kennedy. Mark is also the man responsible for the iconic and much visited statue of John Wayne carrying Maureen O' Hara, a representation which adorns the site where Brendan and Mary's hands will soon sit alongside previous CHOFA recipients.

Paddy Rock explained the reasons why the local committee decided to celebrate this year's honourees: “The whole concept of the Cong Hands of Fame Award is that it goes to people who have touched the world in positive ways, and while doing so have shown Ireland in a positive way as well. That's what another sculpture that's been created represents, a magnificent likeness of hands holding the world, and it's going to be known as 'Hands Around The World'. And amazingly, it was carved with a chainsaw and from a single tree - sourced locally here in Cong - by a gentleman called Tommy Kerrigan.

“This piece is dedicated to all front-line workers who stood strong on our behalf here in Cong, in Connaught, in Ireland, and all around the world. To them we say thank you.

“We're delighted that Sean Keane will be on-hand, as it were, to assist with the unveiling of the 'Hands Around The World' piece. Sean, of course, has recorded some of Brendan's songs, and he remarked to me that he feels an award like this for Brendan was long overdue.

“Now, with both Brendan and Mary, their hands are symbols of what so much of their lives have been about. Brendan as a writer has penned so many beautiful songs, while Mary, in her role as the presenter of Nationwide, has met and greeted countless numbers of men and women in towns, villages, and cities all over Ireland. So while the Freedom of Cong will go to both on November 14, the pleasure of having these mementos of two wonderful people will belong to Cong.”

The event will be presided over by the Mayor of Cong, Kiernan Hughes, while Pat Luskin, chairman of the Cong festival committee, will welcome visitors to the village, with a reception in Ashford Castle beginning at 11 a.m.

Sure to be of great interest during this part of the day will be a chat with both Brendan and Mary, while music for the occasion will come from Annette Griffin and John Staunton. The event will also feature music from singer Nicola O'Haire who will perform her version of Brendan Graham's heartbreakingly poignant 'Orphan Girl', with which the young rising star recently topped the iTunes chart in Ireland.

The occasion will come to a close with the Cong Church Choir joining Annette Griffin to perform Brendan Graham's worldwide hit, 'You Raise Me Up'.

Not only will receiving the Freedom of Cong see Brendan and Mary presented with a ceremonial staff each, it also entitles the pair to walk their ducks through the town! And this fine time-honoured tradition will be kept alive on Sunday when Paddy Rock and fellow Cong local Ray McHugh - both of whom will be mingling amongst the crowd on the day - will be looking for assistance with the duck walk from any potential 'duck whisperers' who might happen to be present.