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Aidan Crummy from Silverbridge has been selected as the 2025 Barney Bowl Foundation, Co Armagh Person of the Year at a prestigious awards ceremony in Armagh City Hotel on Saturday night 30 November. Aidan and his wife Karen founded Amazing Abilities, an organisation for children with additional needs and their families.
Twelve different finalists were in line for the award and they were all presented with a trophy to mark the occasion. Local nominees included Bobby Browne, Bessbrook; Lily Rose Doran Watters, Killean; Shea Griffin, Camlough; Karena McGahan, St. Oliver Plunkett's Youth Club, Crossmaglen and Armagh Manager, Kieran McGeeney.
Aidan Crummy believes the children involved in Amazing Abilities are the ones who really won the award. Speaking to Newry.ie he said "It's the kids. If the kids weren't there, I wouldn't have got this award. These kids are just truly amazing."
He believes that anyone who has a chance to work with kids with additional needs should do so because they will learn you so much. "We learn more from them. The issue is us as a society. They shouldn't be taught to fit in with us, we should be taught to fit in with them. These are amazing kids. These are God's children"
Losing his father to suicide in 1998 and finding out that his child had additional needs put Aidan in a very dark place but a conversation from his wife Karen set the wheels in motion for Amazing Abilities.
Aidan explained "It's all about my wee man Goa Crummy. My wife and six year old son has created me into this passion. I coached for 18 years for Silverbridge Football Club, I coached every child under the sun and she says why can't you coach your own boy?"
That got him thinking and Amazing Abilities was formed and is now based at Silverbridge GAC. It's not coaching, rather you just let them play and have fun. The parents go and have a cup of tea and a sandwich, and talk about their weeks woes while Aidan and volunteers play with the children and have fun. "We have amazing volunteers that help us. They come in, give their time, go home, and everybody goes home happy." he explained. Their two other children also volunteer.
Starting the group helped him to come out of his dark place and the children 'keep him alive'. "By starting this group I came out of that hole so if I can help anybody else that might be in that place in our wee group, which I know we have, that's my job done." he said.
Accepting the award Karen spoke of also being in a dark place. She added "This time last year, I probably wouldn't be standing here talking like this but It was about talking to other people and not shying away from it, not being ashamed, and as Aidan said, being their voice. Because, unfortunately, he [Goa] doesn't have words himself. But please God, that will come and if it doesn't we accept him for who he is."
Aidan concluded "Every child is different, you take your time with every child, approach every child different. If you see a kid having a meltdown, just don't go up and say something. Go up and understand or maybe comfort the parent. Don't judge, that's the worst thing you can do is judge. Don't ever judge anybody in life. You don't know what they're going through, what their kids are going through, just live in the moment."
The event was truly a celebration of life and was organised by the Barney Bowl Foundation with main sponsors Shabra Plastics and Recycling. Clint Aiken, Ulster Gazette and Columba O'Hare, Newry.ie were on the judging panel.
Brian Ruddin, Barney Bowl Foundation welcomed the finalists and thanked everyone for their support. Lily Rose Doran Watters was even persuaded to sing a song to great applause. 12 incredible people and organisations were represented on the night and indeed every one of them was a winner.
