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28 April 2006

One of the North West and Northern Ireland's best known and longest serving community workers has been honoured with an inaugural award for 'exceptional achievement'. Eamonn Deane, director of Londonderry community organisation the Holywell Trust, was presented with the award by the Community Relations Council (CRC) at a special event at the Junction on Derry's Bishop Street today (Friday April 28).

North West community worker awarded for community relations achievement

One of the North West and Northern Ireland's best known and longest serving community workers has been honoured with an inaugural award for 'exceptional achievement'. Eamonn Deane, director of Londonderry community organisation the Holywell Trust, was presented with the award by the Community Relations Council (CRC) at a special event at the Junction on Derry's Bishop Street today (Friday April 28). The presentation was made as part of Community Relations Week.

CRC chief executive, Duncan Morrow, says that Mr Deane continues to make a significant contribution to the building of a shared future in the North West and across Northern Ireland.

“Eamonn has been a driving force behind efforts to create trust, understanding and cooperation within the community of the North West since the early 1970s and his dedication, enthusiasm and contribution to community relations are unparalleled,” Dr Morrow says.

“Eamonn's innovative ideas, passion and drive are an example to all of us, and I am delighted to present the inaugural Community Relations Council Award for Exceptional Achievement to such a worthy and inspiring man,” he says.

Eamonn Deane was central to the establishment of the Bogside Community Association in the early 70s, helped set up the North West Centre for Learning and Development, set up the North West Community Mirror newsletter, was a founder member of the now Community Foundation for Northern Ireland, has been a member of the Community Relations Council, was a founder of the Holywell Trust, which was set up in 1988, and has been involved in countless community relations, cross-border and cross-cultural initiatives and projects.

END

Media contact:

Chris Harrison or Kathryn Anderson, JPR: 028 9076 0066 or 077 6641 7550.

Notes to editor:

• The Community Relations Council, established as a registered charity in 1990, aims to build greater trust and understanding between communities in Northern Ireland across the political, cultural and religious divide.

• Community Relations Week, now in its fifth year, has grown in strength and stature each year that it has taken place.