Presenter Hugo Duncan recognised in New Year Honours

Radio presenter and singer Hugo Duncan has been recognised in the New Year Honours list.

Known to his listeners on BBC Radio Ulster as the "wee man from Strabane", the County Tyrone presenter has been made an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire).

He dedicated his award to his late mother Susie, who raised him as a single parent.

He is one of more than 70 people from Northern Ireland honoured as part of the new year list.

Others include Olympic gold medal winner Hannah Scott from Coleraine and former Northern Ireland women's football captain Marissa Callaghan from west Belfast.

Michael Bloomfield, the chief executive of the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service, has been made an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire).

County Londonderry charity fundraiser Ivan Black has been made an MBE, as has two-time Paralympian in the sport of boccia, Claire Taggart.

Also on the MBE list is Belfast chef and restaurant owner Niall McKenna, who featured in the BBC food programme Great British Menu.

Hugo Duncan's honour comes three months after he was added to the Radio Awards Hall of Fame by the Irish Music Rights Organisation (Imro).

In an emotional interview with BBC News NI, the 74-year-old presenter thanked his late mother Susie, who died when he was just 20.

Speaking about his MBE, he said: "I never, ever, ever thought I would get it but I said to myself if I ever got it I would take it for wee Susie.

"So I took it for her, and I'm doing it for her."

On the official list of honours, Hugo Duncan was recognised for "services to entertainment and and to the community in Northern Ireland".

He acknowledged that in Northern Ireland some people do not support the honours system.

Speaking about his own reasons for accepting the MBE, Duncan said it was not a political decision, adding: "I'm doing it for the music and for wee Susie."

He added: "I feel good I'm getting it for the music and I feel great that I'm getting it for my ma. I think my ma would be proud of me. I hope she is."

His mother brought him up on her own but died only two weeks after he got married.

Although he has become a household name in Northern Ireland due to his long-running afternoon show on BBC Radio Ulster and BBC Radio Foyle, he still regards himself as a singer first and foremost and still performs on stage.

Although now approaching his 75th birthday, he insists he has no plans to retire.

Hannah Scott, 25, was one of the youngest recipients of an MBE.

She was part of the crew that won the quadruple sculls race for Team GB in the Paris Olympics.

She was surprised but delighted with the new year honour.

She told BBC News NI: "To be recognised for just doing the job I love, that's really cool for me.

"When you do what you love, it's great to be recognised for it in the end."

The rise in women's sport is reflected in the honours list.

The MBE for Marissa Callaghan comes as the number of women and girls playing football in Northern Ireland has increased dramatically in the past three years.

"I work for the Irish FA and I've seen it on the ground that whenever Northern Ireland qualified for the Euros (in 2022) so many young girls wanted to start playing the game," she said.

"There's been a huge increase - we're talking probably 600% increase - in girls playing football and a massive part of that was us being so successful."

Like Hugo Duncan, Gabriel Dolan is also from Strabane, and also now an MBE, having been recognised for services to the economy and to the community.

"A man is nothing without the people around him," said the businessman, adding that he was "deeply humbled" by the honour.

Mr Dolan's 50-plus years in business started in scaffolding before he moved into construction, retail and hospitality.

Two MBEs and three King's Police Medals (KPM) were awarded to the PSNI.

The MBEs went to Det Ch Supt Anthony McNally and Insp Gary Craig.

The KPMs were awarded to Assistant Chief Constable Melanie Jones, Ch Supt Jeremy Lindsay and Ch Supt Sam Donaldson.

Commonly-awarded ranks:

• Companion of Honour - Limited to 65 people. Recipients wear the initials CH after their name
• Knight or Dame
• CBE - Commander of the Order of the British Empire
• OBE - Officer of the Order of the British Empire
• MBE - Member of the Order of the British Empire
• BEM - British Empire Medal

Read more: Your guide to the Honours

Commanders of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)

Sharon Philomena Smyth, chief executive of Construction and Procurement Delivery, Northern Ireland civil service - for services to procurement.

Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)

Michael Bloomfield, chief executive of the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service - for services to health and social care.

Deirdra Gabriella Conaghan - for services to theatre and education for adults with learning disabilities.

Prof Diana Sharman Mary Fitzsimons - for services to a shared future and to sustainable communities.

Julian John Halligan, senior scientific officer at Forensic Science Northern Ireland - for services to justice and to forensic science.

Prof Hugh Henry Patterson, professor emeritus of Politics at Ulster University - for services to education and to peacebuilding.

Deirdre Anne Webb, lately assistant director of nursing for healthcare - for services to women, children and families.

Roger Ian Wilson, chief executive of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council - for public service.

Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

Janice Louise Allen, principal of Fivemiletown College - for services to education.

Margaret Elizabeth Deirdre Amor - for services to the community.

Katherine Beggs, Northern Ireland director of the National Lottery Community Fund - for services to public and community services.

William Ivan Black - for services to charitable fundraising.

George Alan Craig Bradshaw - for services to education.

Eric James Alexander Brown, chair of the South East Fermanagh Foundation (SEFF) - for services to the community in County Fermanagh.

Marissa James Callaghan, footballer - for services to association football and the community.

Catherine Mary Clifford, director of Rural Community Network - for services to rural communities and to peace building in Northern Ireland.

Dr Gary Craig, inspector in Police Service of Northern Ireland - for public and charitable service.

Neil Doherty - for services to the community in County Londonderry.

Henry Gabriel Dolan - for services to the economy and to the community in Strabane.

Hugh Anthony Duncan - for services to entertainment and to the community.

Lorraine Finlay, principle officer and head of area planning at the Department of Education, Northern Ireland civil service - for services to education.

Joanne Marie Fitzpatrick, core programming and curriculum specialist at PeacePlayers - for services to peace, reconciliation and sport in the community.

Roisin Bernadette Flynn - for services to people affected by dementia in the Western Health and Social Care Trust area.

Susan Helen Gibson, vice-principal at Omagh High School - for services to Education.

Winston Glass, principal of Enniskillen Model Primary School - for services to education.

Gerard Gribbon - for services to the community in Armagh.

Dr Linley Patrick Hamilton - for services to the music industry.

Charles Han, lately international liaison manager at the Home Office - for services to border security.

Ashley Irwin Hayes, prison governor at Hydebank Wood Secure College and Women's prison - for public service.

Fiona Mary Patricia Kane, director of the vice-chancellor's office at Ulster University - for public service.

Prof Francis Paul Keenan, professor in the school of mathematics and physics at Queen's University Belfast - for services to higher education.

George John Lucas - for services to tennis and to sports management and administration.

David Martin, chair of the Friends of Brownlow House - for voluntary services to the community in Lurgan, County Armagh.

Thomas Seamus McCabe - for voluntary service to the community in Newry, Mourne and Down.

Jonathan William McDowell, founder of Indie Fude - for services to the food and drink Industry.

Robert James McKelvey - for services to Castlederg Credit Union and to the community in County Tyrone.

Niall McKenna, chef and owner of James St and Waterman House - for services to hospitality and to tourism, and to the local food and drink producers.

Patrick McLaughlin, coxswain at Red Bay Lifeboat Station and trustee of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution - for voluntary services to maritime safety.

Anthony John Adam McNally, detective chief superintendent at Police Service of Northern Ireland - for public service.

Arthur Hugh Anthony O'Hagan - for services to the community in Armagh.

William James Primrose - for services to small businesses.

Dr Stephen Eric Reaney, general practitioner - for voluntary service to the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service.

Gareth Sayers - for services to business and to the economy in County Tyrone.

Hannah Elizabeth Scott - for services to rowing.

Kerrie Jean Sweeney, chief executive of Maritime Belfast Trust - for services to maritime heritage and to tourism.

Claire Taggart - for services to boccia.

David Lorimer Thompson - for services to education and to the community in County Tyrone.

Medallists of the Order of the British Empire (BEM)

Arthur Alexander Stewart Barbour, volunteer fundraiser at Cancer Focus NI - for charitable services.

David John Brew - for services to older people and to disabled people.

Nathan William Chambers, emergency response volunteer at the British Red Cross - for voluntary service to the Red Cross.

Annie Dolores Elizabeth Crowe, founder and manager of First Steps Children Centre, Castlederg - for services to childcare in County Tyrone.

Robert James Elliot, lately school crossing patrol for the Education Authority for Northern Ireland - for services to the community in County Antrim.

Samuel David Ferguson, president and chair of the board of Abbey Credit Union - for services to the community of Newtownabbey, County Antrim.

Kathy Maureen Finlay, staff officer and claims manager in the roads claims unit of the Department of Infrastructure, Northern Ireland civil service - for public service.

Rachel Ann Forbes - for services to the NHS primary care.

Eileen Lorraine Gibson, nurse, social worker and area manager in the Northern Health and Social Care Trust - for services to older people with dementia and adults with learning disabilities in County Antrim.

Sarah (Sally) Elizabeth Johnston, lately principal's person assistant at Banbridge Academy - for services to education and to the community in County Down.

Sarah Kelly, unit catering supervisor at the Education Authority Northern Ireland - for services to education catering in the primary school sector.

Robert David Kirkland - for services to the music industry.

Paula Klein - for services to young people in classical music.

Alexander Gordon Lindsay - for services to education in Lisburn, County Antrim.

Kathy Loughridge, fundraiser at Maire Curie - for services to Marie Curie.

The Right Reverend Monsignor Bryan McCanny, parish priest - for services to the community in Limavady, County Londonderry.

Sandra McConnell - for services to mental health and to young people with learning disabilities.

Mary Catherine McCoy, clinical services manager in emergency medicine at Antrim Area Hospital, Northern Health and Social Services Trust - for voluntary services to tackling homelessness in Belfast.

Martin Carter McCullough - for services to junior and para archery.

Siobhan Marie McElnea, probation officer and victim liaison officer at the Probation Board for Northern Ireland - for services to victims of crime and the criminal justice system.

Thomas William Neill - for services to local rugby.

Roberta Violet Phillips, chair of Maghera Cancer Research Committee - for charitable services.

Doreen Edna Mary Courtney Pitts - for services to the Girls Brigade and to the community in County Antrim.

Roberta Ruth Quinn, catering manager at Youth Justice Agency - for services to the youth justice system.

Lesley Caron Rutherford, nurse consultant at Marie Curie, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust and Queen's University Belfast - for services to palliative care patients.

Colin Andrew Small - for services to the Duke of Edinburgh's Award in County Tyrone.

William John Norman Somerville - for services to the community of Limavady, County Londonderry.

Carol Ann Sproule - for services to nursing and to the community in County Tyrone.

Sarah-Louise Taggart, scout leader - for services to scouting and to the community in Downpatrick.

Mervyn Thompson, director of Parkrun Portrush - for services to the community in Portrush, County Antrim.