WEXFORD'S UNSUNG heroes had their deserved moment in the spotlight on Friday night when their tireless work for the betterment of others was fittingly rewarded.

More than 300 people gathered in the Riverside Park Hotel, Enniscorthy, for Wexford's premier event, the Rehab People of the Year Awards.

The deserving recipients graced the stage on the night with their stories of remarkable selflessness and dedication to their individual causes.

Perhaps the most poignant moment of the night was the awarding of the Leadership Award posthumously to the late Emer Lovett, the former CEO of Wexford Chamber, who sadly lost her battle with breast cancer in December 2009. Her award was accepted by her mother Bernadette and brothers Kian and Alestren.

In paying tribute to one of Wexford's best and brightest ambassadors, Kian said this was the first time an award had been presented posthumously, which was indicative of the action needed to be taken for a lady so 'extraordinary'.

'Emer achieved a lot in 38 years, support meant a lot to her and her success is typical of her belief of others,' he said.

A dedicated family man, the headmaster of Glynn National School, the founder of the Association of Parents and Friends of the Severely Intellectually Disabled, the founder and chairperson of Curracloe Soccer Club and a fundraiser, Brian McKenna was the first award winner up to accept the Achievement Award.

A most modest recipient, Brian said the success of both the Parents and Friends of the Severely Intellectually Disabled and Curracloe Soccer Club was down to the 'great team'.

'We all work well together, as an individual you can only do a certain amount,' said Brian.

Andy and Joan Cloake from Caim were the second recipients to take to the stage to accept the Humanitarian Award for their commitment over the last fifteen years to the sick and poor children of Belarus.

Although Joan preferred to say little when accepting their award, her husband Andy said that she is at her happiest and best out in the shed packing clothing.

'There are a lot of people in the Enniscorthy area who did trojan work for as long as we have. People are very good, you put out the cause and get support,' he added.

An award-winning group formed in 2004, who take to the roads with horses and carriages travelling from 'Coast to Coast' were deservedly presented with the Voluntary Group Award. Treasurer Brendan Browne, who accepted the award on behalf of the group, recalled how the fundraising project began over a 'few drinks' and now the group have raised almost ¤200,000 from their past three trips for Wexford Breast Cancer and Hospice Homecare.

The JFK Trust, a voluntary trust with charitable status, which was founded in 1988 against a background of high unemployment in New Ross, was presented with the Business and Enterprise Award on the night.

With an objective to commemorate the legacy of John F. Kennedy, the Trust has compiled the passenger lists of all Irish and British arrivals in the US from 1845 to 1890 and most notably completed the Dunbrody Famine Ship Project in 2001, which is regarded as the most ambitious project undertaken by a community group in Ireland.

The CEO Sean Reidy, who accepted the award, said it was a privilege to work on behalf of the people of New Ross and paid tribute to Carmel Delaney, Kieran O'Grady, Paddy Quinn, Wexford County and New Ross Town Councils, Senator Jim Walsh and Deputy Sean Connick for their involvement.

Seamus O'Keeffe, a man regarded as a titan when it comes to voluntary work in the community in the Kilmore parish, was presented with the Community Service Award for his involvement in community, sport, youth work, heritage and parish work, most notably Muintir na Tire, the Tomhaggard Carnival, the renovation of the hall in Bridgetown, Macra na Feirme and the Senior Help Line. With so much going on MC Ronan Collins said pioneer Seamus wouldn't have time to take a drink.

The award-winning Camross Drama Group, who have served their own community with 'distinction' over the last five-and-ahalf, decades were awarded the Arts and Culture Award.

As the heartbeat of the local community, this dramatic group have bought back coveted national titles and given hours of pleasure to their audiences as well as form friendships long after the scripts are put down and the footlights dimmed.

In picking up the award Paddy O'Gorman thanked RTE for their support of the arts and for keeping it alive.

'Sometimes I don't think they'd know their arts from their elbow,' quipped MC Ronan Collins.

The Hall of Fame Award, which is presented to a person who has made a longstanding contribution to their community, was fittingly picked up by scouting supremo Stephen Martin.

More than seven decades after he first donned a neckerchief and woggle, Stephen or' Stevie' as he is known, is a personification of scouting in Wexford.

First joining the scouts in 1936, Stevie held a variety of ranks and was awarded a number of scouting accolades, including the Member of the Silver Wolfhound, now known as the Ireland Scouting Order of Cuchulainn, the highest award a scouter can achieve.

Thankfully there is no retiring age for scouts, according to Stevie, who was heading off to Mount Leinster on Saturday.

'Scouting is not all about individuals, it is about teamwork and I owe a lot of this to team work,' he said.