Tom Conway, Chairperson of the Clare Association, Dublin, presenting the Clare Person of the Year Award 2023, to Dr. Peter Daly.
Awards such as the one he had just received raised existential questions in the minds of recipients such as who am I or could I be the person being described?
By Tony Mulvey
Impostor phenomenon, originally described in 1978, was now topical because the late Michael Parkinson reportedly suffered from the syndrome, Dr. Peter Daly told the large attendance of over 200 at the Clare Association Dublin annual awards function at the Falls Hotel, Ennistymon last Saturday night when he was presented with the Clare Person of the Year for 2023 award by association chairman, Tom Conway.
He said the syndrome was defined as “a psychological experience of intellectual and professional fraud; a belief that others have inflated perceptions of one’s abilities and fear of being judged. That fear exists despite continual proof of success and sufferers ignore praise, are highly self-critical and attribute success to luck, hard work and help from others rather than their own skill, intelligence or ability”.
It gained momentum among healthcare workers during the Covid pandemic though he was sure there were sporadic cases affecting bishops, judges and garda superintendents before that, he said.
He added “I must say I consider it a rather dubious entity, typical of our modern world. None of us is an island and though we might have skill, intelligence and ability our successes do depend on the will of God, or fortune as some might term it to-day, aligned with personal effort and the support of others. In my own case, I have been blessed with good fortune and good health and though I have worked hard I had the support of numerous people many of whom I wish to acknowledge to-night, having done so earlier in the case of my wife.
“Parents generally determine how we fare in life and I was fortunate in that regard. I was among the most ‘parented’ of children. For the first seven years I was in the sole charge of Tom and Katty but in 1954 I was dispatched for some time months to my Godparents, my father’s sister May and her husband Jim O’ Halloran, in the Corner House, Market Street, Ennis. I made my First Communion then while attending the Convent of Mercy national school. I was next consigned to my mother’s sister Annie and her husband Jimmy Kelleher when my parents emigrated in 1956 and it was decided that Eileen and I would remain in the Irish education system while Denis and Geraldine went with them. Living about two miles from Ennistymon, I attended Furglan national school and had the pleasure of additional parenting from Annie’s sister, Bridie and Jimmy’s brother, Mickey, married on the adjoining farm with nine children all of whom provided input to my rearing. Four of those mentors were present at to-night’s function, John, Mary, Teresa and Monica and I hope you derived as much benefit as I did. I am pleased to have my siblings, Eileen, Geraldine and Cormac and their families here, as well as member of uncle Gerard’s, uncle Maurice’s and uncle Paddy’s families, all Mullins’ from various places. Visits to and from cousins had a significant effect on my development with 45 of us in my generation”.
He told guests that he always welcomed intellectual competition from within and without the family. From schooldays this is represented this evening by J.B. McInerney from Kilmaley, the O’ Looney family, Knockpatrick from Furglan, Liam Ashe from St. Flannan’s and John McKiernan from medical school. He said he was truly grateful to his teachers, trainers and fellow students, his own pupils and the many patients from whom he cared.
“When asked what directed me into cancer care, I don’t have a clear answer. My father died of pancreatic cancer at 58 when I was 21 and that was soon followed by the death in 1973 from malignant melanoma of Tom Galvin who had graduated with John and I just two years earlier. Tom’s remains have since lain in Drumcliffe and we will never know what he might have achieved. Such considerations have provided strong motivation to create and grasp opportunities and to improve services for others. Unfortunately members of Tom’s family cannot attend to-night but I send my greetings to them, particularly his mother, Mary, as she heads towards 100.
Among the distinctions he gained in St Flannan’s College were a college gold medal for Irish, an intermediate certificate scholarship (5th place in Ireland) and a Clare County Council university scholarship based on his examination results in 1964.He studied at St.Patrick’s College and UCD and undertook basic medical training at a number of hospitals in Dublin before becoming a member of the Royal College of Physicians in 1975.
Among those remembered at the function were Brother Seán MacNamara, Ennis CBS and Jimmy Gavin, a native of Cree, both long time supporters of the association and whose deaths occurred recently. Brother Seán,originally from Kilmurry McMahon, was a member of the association since its early days and at the time of his death was the association’s representative in Clare. Over the years he enjoyed being mc for the annual awards dinner.
Well known musician and radio host, Kieran Hanrahan, originally from St. Michael’s Villas, Ennis, was also honoured at the function when he was named the Clare Association Dublin Hall of Fame winner for 2023.
Chairman Conway outlined that Kieran has been playing traditional Irish music since he was fourteen years old. He was well known for his contribution to traditional Irish music and his tireless efforts in promoting the music of his native county and country .Over the years Kieran was a founder member of traditional bands such as Stocktons Wing, Inchiquin and Temple House Céilí band. He has hosted radio programmes for the Irish national broadcaster RTE since 1991. He is an assistant lecturer at the Conservatory of Music and Drama at the Dublin Institute of Technology where he works in the Traditional Music programme. He achieved a first class honours master’s degree and was also awarded the DIT Gold Medal for Academic Achievement in 2012.
Currently ,Kieran hosts Ceili House, the radio programme on traditional Irish music aired weekly on RTE, Radio 1. Also for the past number of years he has been the artistic director of the Temple Bar Tradfest in Dublin City Centre.Most recently Kieran was playing his part in promoting and enhancing traditional Irish music at the All Ireland Fleadh Cheoil in Mullingar and also at the annual Trad Festival in Milwaukee in America.
He praised Kieran for his outstanding and professional approach in ensuring traditional Irish music continues to be part of our culture in this country and indeed further afield.
A cheque for over €5,000 from one of the association’s fund raising events was also presented by Tom Conway to the Clare area of the Irish Red Cross for Clare community services. He presented the cheque to treasurer of the Clare area Irish Red Cross James Lafferty who outlined the many services they are providing for communities throughout all of Co. Clare.
