A 95-year-old Donegal man was formally honoured for his ‘outstanding achievement and service’ to his local community in Australia at the weekend.
Paddy Kerrigan, originally from Bundoran, was presented with the prestigious Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) by the country’s Governor-General, Sam Mostyn.
He was recognised for his decades of service to the Snowy Monaro region in New South Wales, between Sydney and Melbourne.
Paddy was one of fourteen Australians rewarded for remarkable service during the investiture ceremony at Government House in Canberra.
He was introduced at the ceremony as a ‘true Snowy Mountains icon’ who made significant contributions as a pioneer of the Snowy tourist industry, championing local history and heritage as well as performing water rescues and helping those in need.
The Governor-General spoke of the breadth of recipients’ service, generosity and commitment to ‘something larger than oneself’, thanking them on behalf of all Australians.
Paddy Kerrigan and his wife of 66 years, Jan, and some of their family members.
This time last year, the south Donegal native received the Cooma Citizen of the Year award from the Snowy Monaro Regional Council.
Born in 1930 at St Patrick’s Terrace, Bundoran, to John and Kathleen Kerrigan (nee Clarke from Leitrim), Paddy had two older siblings Mary (Mae) and John (Jack), both of whom have since passed away.
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Before leaving Donegal, he served his apprenticeship as a carpenter, going on to build houses in Ireland, England and Scotland. In early 1953, he emigrated to Australia, where he began working on the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme.
In 2023, we published an in-depth interview with Paddy. You can read his remarkable story here: Paddy Kerrigan – The Donegal man who made big moves Down Under!