By TOM GILLESPIE

According to the citation the expression 'unsung hero' is overused. "However in Kevin Bourke's case it is entirely appropriate".

A native of Ballyvary, Kevin is a full time official with the Rehab Foundation in Mayo and has just celebrated 21 years with the organisation. While his primary responsibility is fund-raising, in 1980 he realised a dream to establish a £1m. Workshop for the rehabilitation of the mentally and physically ill. The unit now employs sixty people.

The citation continued: "Despite his day job he used his spare time to help others. He has worked in modest but significant ways to help bring peace through his work to heal the rifts that divide communities in Ireland as a whole.

"He established Camp Europe, an international venture, which brought together disabled people from nine European countries to Ballinrobe in 1989.

"He set in place numerous projects involving exchange visits between the two traditions North and South, namely Prism, Gateway and Co-Operation North."

Kevin has been involved, in a voluntary capacity, in many projects including the Peace and Reconciliation Schools renewal in Belfast where young Catholic and Protestant students are brought together; the Northern Ireland Council for the handicapped; the Glenvaegh special school in Harbton Park, Belfast, the Queen Fabolia school in Soignes, Belgium where he organises exchange holidays for physically and mentally people; the Birmingham Catholic Handicapped fellowship; the Queen Alexandra School for the Blind, Birmingham; the Ballyvary/Birmingham Peace and Friendship project as well as a dozen other organisations.

Ironically Kevin Bourke is secretary of the Mayo People of the Year Awards which are organised annually by Rehab in conjunction with AIB Bank and the Connaught Telegraph.

The Mayo Meitheal of the Year Award 1997 has been given to the St. Brid's - Wheatfiled Community Assist Project. This involved prisoners at Wheatfield Prison who transformed St. Brid's special school in Castlebar. In a joint community project.

One hundred prisoners became engaged in a labour of love to enhance the quality of life of the group of mentally handicapped children in Castlebar. School principal Paul Murphy conceived the idea when he saw a hand carved rocking horse on the Late Late Show which had been made by a prisoner at Wheatfield and he contacted the prison governor who agreed to the project.

According to the citation: "Two years later a treasure trove was delivered to the school. It contained picnic tables, basketball equipment, a slide, a Thomas the Tank train, Wendy House, even 1,300 paving slabs and a rocking horse.

"Then another hundred volunteers, drawn from every club and organisation around Castlebar, took over to lay the paving stones, paint the walls and put the equipment in place.

"There was more than a little panic as the day approached when the Minister for Justice Nora Owen, would come to officially open the playground. However, hard work, goodwill and generosity won the day and everything was perfect when she arrived.

The prestigious award which will be bestowed on Kevin and the St. Brid's - Wheatfield organisers at a Banquet in the Burlington Hotel, Dublin on Friday February 12, is organised by Muintir Mhaigh Eo, The Mayo Association in Dublin.

Tickets for the function are available from Michael Cannon 01-8735655; Padraic Jordan 01-4514099 or Peter Devine 01-4755555 ext. 3305.