Gina is latest Cork Person of the Month

The iconic voice of Gina & the Champions has been named Cork Person of the Month for June.

The award celebrates Gina’s 50-year career in the Irish music industry and her significant contributions to Ireland’s musical landscape.

Born Mary Hurley and raised in Friars Walk in Cork city, Gina’s journey to stardom began when her father, recognising her natural talent in school and church choirs, secretly replied to a newspaper ad looking for a female singer to join a new band. At 19 years old, and with the encouragement of her sister, Gina auditioned in Whitegate and soon after Gina, Dale Haze and the Champions were formed.

The band with Ballycotton roots went on to become a national favourite throughout the 1970s and ‘80s right up to now. Despite the passing in 2020 of her long-time co-vocalist Jerdi Mackey, better known as Dale Haze, Gina has continued to perform and entertain to this day as part of Gina & The Champions. The band recently celebrated over half a century in music with sell-out shows at Cork Opera House, and they are also set to perform shows at the INEC in Killarney over the summer. The legendary Joe McCarthy, better known as Joe Mac of The Dixies and Stage 2, was present to make the award presentation.

Gina said: “It’s a true honour to be recognised by my fellow Corkonians as a Cork Person of the Month and to join the esteemed list of past and future recipients. I accept this award also on behalf of the band, my husband Pat Walsh, Mossey Walsh, Eddie Fitzgerald, Tony Hornibrook and, of course, the late Jerdi Mackey.”

Gina’s name will now go forward alongside the other monthly winners for possible selection as Cork Person of the Year.