Irish songwriter Brendan Graham and RTÉ broadcaster Mary Kennedy to accept Cong Hands of Fame Award

Brendan Graham and Mary Kennedy will accept the Cong Hands of Fame Award this Sunday, November 14.

The prestigious award will be presented to the two recipients this weekend at a ceremony in the Mayo village. Sculptor Mark Rode cast the pair's hands in bronze, which will sit alongside those of previous winners like The Dubliners' John Sheahan, Big Tom, Daniel O'Donnell, Matt Molloy and The Late Late Show host Ryan Tubridy.

"The whole concept of the Cong Hands of Fame Award is that it goes to people who have touched the world in positive ways, and while doing so have shown Ireland in a positive way as well," explained Paddy Rock, a local of Cong who helped to create the event, according to the Connaught Telegraph.

"With both Brendan and Mary, their hands are symbols of what so much of their lives have been about," Rock continued. "Brendan as a writer has penned so many beautiful songs, while Mary, in her role as the presenter of Nationwide, has met and greeted countless numbers of men and women in towns, villages, and cities all over Ireland. So while the Freedom of Cong will go to both on November 14, the pleasure of having these mementos of two wonderful people will belong to Cong."

In addition to the bronze casting for the Cong Hands of Fame Award, 'Hands Around The World' will be another sculpture created in dedication for front-line workers.

"This piece is dedicated to all front-line workers who stood strong on our behalf here in Cong, in Connaught, in Ireland, and all around the world. To them we say thank you," said Rock.

The reception for the event will take place at Ashford Castle at 11am on Sunday, November 14. Graham and Kennedy will both speak at the ceremony, and Annette Griffin and John Staunton will perform. Nicola O'Haire will also perform Graham's 'You Raise Me Up' alongside the Cong Church Choir.

Earlier this month, Graham was also honoured by the Queensland Pops Orchestra and Choir. Six of his songs – including 'Orphan Girl,' 'The Fair, Fair Land,' 'The Sky and the Dawn and the Sun' and 'You Raise Me Up' – were included in the orchestra's annual Celtic Spectacular Concerts.

'You Raise Me Up,' the song that Graham wrote alongside Rolf Løvland, continues to make a global impact and has been included as part of several global commemorations for events like the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's '9/11 – Coming Together 20th Anniversary Special,' New York's 11th Annual Tibetan Fund Gala Dinner, and United Nations Day 2021.

The track was recently featured in two international television shows – Korean mini-series You Raise Me Up and Norwegian Netflix thriller Post Mortem: No One Dies in Skarnes.

'You Raise Me Up' is the title song for the Korean television mini-series of the same name. Performed by 15-year old violinist SoHyun Ko, the track is in the series' opening credits and multiple scenes throughout.

In Post Mortem, Josh Groban's version of 'You Raise Me Up' is included in the final episode, 'Rigor Mortis.'

Listen to SoHyun Ko's recording of 'You Raise Me Up' below: