By Ken Duffy

Our long time Swords Tidy Towns member Matt Cullen who is one of the founder members of our group twenty years ago along with myself recently celebrated Fifty Years of volunteering. He has volunteered with many different organisations over those years. There are two groups I know that hold a special place in Matt’s heart, Swords Tidy Towns which he helped to found and (ILFA) the Irish Lung Fibrosis Association to which Matt has given much of his time since he was diagnosed with the decease himself a number of years ago.

What we all admire most about our friend Matt besides his commitment to his community is that he has never allowed his illness to get in the way of his voluntary work. His constant smile and upbeat attitude have served as an inspiration to all the group over many years, even through the ups and downs he has suffered over the years since being diagnosed.

Matt was the winner of the 2015 All Ireland Volunteer of The Year Award, Swords Tidy Towns nominated him in recognition of all his hard work over many years and for his ability to always turn negative situations into a positive ones.

To celebrate Matt’s Fifty-Year milestone and recognise his contribution to the group, we organised a party in his honour in the Whiskey Room at the Old Schoolhouse where a wonderful time was had by all in attendance.