MY HERO is the singer Christy Moore, because he is a wonderful example of an ordinary man who has managed to do extraordinary things, and he has been a voice of hope for those of us struggling for a better world.

The first time I met Christy was back in 1979 at an anti-nuclear rally in Carnsore point in Wexford, when I was a naïve young thing. We were digging out the eco-friendly latrines, and I couldn't believe it when who did I spot but my favourite ballad singer, the bearded Christy Moore, with a shovel in his hands. Boy, was I impressed at the sight of this star getting his hands dirty and digging with such enthusiasm, and with absolutely no notions of grandeur.

Ironically, he did a concert in Clonakilty years later, and very kindly gave the proceeds to my charity, the Chernobyl Children's Project International. He dedicated the song, "Don't Forget Your Shovel?" to me, and I wondered whether it was because of that very first connection.

The world and its mother was at the 1979 rally, and Christy took to the stage, probably with blistered hands, and transfixed the audience with his singing.

He belted out some songs that got everybody going, and sang other more reflective ones in that honeyed voice, and we were all enraptured by his words of wisdom, all delivered with the directness that Christy is so well known for. There was no fancy philosophy, but he inspired in us such a fantastic sense of being proud to be Irish, as he told us just to "get out there and be it, and do it".

Christy has a wonderful, strong presence, and he's not a macho warrior, but he has the courage to lead people in the way of justice and right. He was there offering us a voice of hope throughout those years, singing, 'We Can Overcome, ' as he drove us on to fight against powerful governments, vested interests and twofaced homogenised parties. Christy was our darling, and he never let us down, and we really celebrated him! It was the time of the Cold War, and we were all genuinely terrified of the threat of nuclear annihilation, and despite the seriousness of it all, he kept our spirits up with his mad jokes and irreverence.

Born in Newbridge in 1945, Christy comes from a marvellous family, and his mother Nancy was amazing - he has the same generous heart as she had. The rest of the family are all fantastic people too. I admire that he is not afraid to admit to his personal vulnerability, and has shown us his own fragility. There was a stage where he burned the candle at both ends, but today he is in a very healthy place and embraces periods of quiet contemplation.

I remember when there was a protest over Ronald Reagan's visit to Ballyporeen in 1984 - it was a very tense and scary time to be a protestor. To be against Reagan and the American foreign policy meant that you were almost considered to be a Communist and a radical, and people were having their houses raided by Special Branch over it. Everyone at the protest was very stressed, including the gardaí, as people laid down their bodies. Christy was at the forefront of it all, and I remember how he had such a calming effect on the situation, strumming his guitar and deflecting the tension.

The fire in Christy's belly has never Mwavered, and he still comes out and supports worthwhile causes - 'The Unquiet Man' is what I call him. He has made such a difference and has been an integral part of shaping the world, and he always put his money where his mouth was - how many people would actually mortgage their house for a cause the way he did? When high-profile people like Christy lend themselves to a good cause, it gives the whole event such a boost. We had Jodie Kidd and Helena Christensen at the Brown Thomas fashion show in Cork, proceeds of which will go towards . . . the children of Belarus.

It was after seeing Christy and Moving Hearts perform at a rally in St. Anne's Park, and listening to the song, 'Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Russian Roulette' that I found the fire in my own belly. When I was looking for a mentor, Christy was my man, and I absorbed a bit of his energy and drive. He has been a real personal inspiration to me, and I will never forget that he was a great supporter of my presidential campaign.

I'm a huge fan of his music too. I always sing along with him from the tip of my head down right down to my toes. I think Christy is such a fine role model for young people today, and to me he's a true hero - he's Ireland's 'Unquiet Man' my champion, my Curragh of Kildare, and my Nancy Spain!