Veteran broadcaster and voice of the nation Michéal Ó Muircheartaigh is  to receive the Fitzgerald  Bible Bruff Award 2016, it has been announced.  The 86-year-old will receive the award in recognition of his outstanding contri-bution as a broadcaster and also in recognition of his support and work for various charities throughout the country. The award will be presented on Tuesday 22nd November in the Thomas Fitzgerald Centre, Bruff, after the anniversary Mass for President John Fitzgerald Kennedy in Ss. Peter and Paul’s Church.
The Fitzgerald Bible Bruff Award is given to a person who makes a significant contribution to Ireland through a particular act or  service. The award was established in 2015 and promotes the link between Bruff and the Fitzgerald Family Bible. Last year Philomena Lee received the award: she travelled from America to receive it and on her return was congratulated by Congressman Patrick Kennedy, a grandson of Robert Kennedy.
When Thomas Fitzgerald   (JFK’s great-grandfather) left Bruff in 1852, the only item he took with him was the family Bible. Through generations, the Bible was used by the family to record births, marriages and deaths. It played an important role in the Fitzgerald family. When John Fitzgerald Kennedy was being sworn in as the 35th president of the United States of America he insisted on using the Fitzgerald Family Bible to swear the oath of office. The Bible is now on exhibition in the John Fitzgerald Kennedy Presidential Library in Boston.
The Thomas Fitzgerald Centre was formerly the courthouse in Bruff. Following the amal-gamation of Bruff District Court with Kilmallock, the building became vacant, and Bruff Heritage Group took it over and set about renovating it. In 2013 it was officially renamed the Thomas Fitzgerald Centre by Caroline Kennedy. Today the centre displays the ancestral links between the town of Bruff and the Fitzgerald Kennedy family. The centre is also used as a venue for adult learning and a number of com-munity events.
The presentation of the award will be held in conjunction with the 2016 John Fitzgerald Kennedy Address, which is held every year on the anniver-sary of his death. This year the address will be delivered by the grandson of Seán Lemass, Seán Haughey T.D. Seán Lemass and John F Kenn-edy had a special friend-ship.