Murphys of Mullaghbawn: STAND UP CATHERINE HEGARTY: MBE

Congratulations to our Cathy who has been awarded the MBE! The citation reads:

Queen's Birthday Honours List 2010
MBE
Ms Catherine HEGARTY Nursery Nurse, Knotty Ash Primary School,
Liverpool. For services to Special Needs
Education.
(Liverpool, Merseyside)

I spoke to Cathy on Saturday morning and the Liverpool Echo had rang her the night before to ask to take her picture as she'd won the MBE. She thought they had the wrong person, as she had received no official letter of notification.

This is a great achievement for all her work with special needs children. Here are some extracts from the Echo:

Liverpool Echo:

Catherine Hegarty’s day job involves working with hearing impaired children at Knotty Ash primary school.
But after hours she runs the Liverpool Signing Choir, which has performed for the Queen during the Capital of Culture celebrations and at Wembley since she set it up a decade ago.
The mum-of-three and gran-of-two, who was appointed MBE for services to special needs education, said: “I cannot believe I got this award.
“I am honoured, but it is not just for me – there are a lot of people involved in running the choir and my colleagues at school.”
Catherine’s journey working with the deaf began when she started learning sign language 16 years ago as a way to progress in her job as a nursery nurse.
The 50-year-old said: “Since then, I have not looked back in working with the deaf.
“It is great to see hearing-impaired children included socially and I am looking forward to continuing with the work for many years to come.”

REMINDER: Lets try and make it a double for Catherine! Keep on voting in the Liverpool Daily Post Woman of the Year. Voting finishes on 15th June.

Well done Cathy from all the family near and far. We're all proud of you!