The nominations for the 36th Donegal Sports Star of the Year Awards have been announced.
A record number of 156 nominations having been received in 36 different categories. The committee is delighted with the huge response from the sporting public in terms of the number and quality of the nominations received. And as in previous years the judging panel will have very difficult decisions to make in naming winners in some categories.
RTE TV Sport’s chief soccer correspondent Tony O’Donoghue is the special guest at the 36 th Awards function in the Silver Tassie Hotel on Friday, January 27th .
The committee is delighted to have another high profile name to present the awards and he should prove a big draw for the awards functions as he will be the chief soccer reporter for the national broadcaster at next summer’s European Championships in Poland and the Ukraine.
O’Donoghue is succeeding Michael O’Muireartaigh who was special guest last year while other top names to have presented the Donegal Sports Star Awards in recent years include former President of the GAA Sean Kelly (now Fine Gael MEP); ex- Celtic and Republic of Ireland international Packie Bonner; RTE boxing analyst Mick Dowling and athletics legend John Treacy winner of an Olympic silver medal.
The full list of nominations reads as follows:
ATHLETICS
Brendan Boyce, Milford
Mark English, Letterkenny A.C.
Mary Mc Loone, Tir Chonaill A.C.
Teresa Mc Gloin, Finn Valley A.C.
APPRECIATION
Brian Harkin, Inishowen Rugby Club
Hughie Rua Gallagher, Gweedore (Soccer)
Shane Smith, Bundoran (Surfing)
Tony Gorman, Kilmacrennan (Soccer)
BADMINTON
Chloe Magee, Raphoe
Daniel Magee, Raphoe
BASKETBALL
Jason Carr, Donegal Town
Tara Khan, Donegal Town
BOWLING
Eddie Curran, Ballylennon Bowling Club
Jamie Glacken, Maghery Bowling Club
John Quinn, Ballylennon Bowling Club
PJ Gallagher, Burtonport Bowling Club
BOXING
Jason Quigley, Finn Valley A.B.C.
John Sweeney, Dungloe A.B.C.
William Mc Laughlin, Illies Golden Gloves A.B.C.
BRENDAN MCDAID MEMORIAL SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT
Martin Harley, Trentagh (UK Champion Apprentice Jockey)
CLAY PIGEON SHOOT
Frank Boyle, Letterkenny
Gordon Roulston, Kilmacrennan
Jim Doherty, Newtowncunningham
CRICKET
David Macbeth
Ryan Macbeth
Sachin Dixit
CYCLING
Aaron McBride, North Pole Cycling Club
Conor Mc Ilwaine, Errigal Cycling Club
Pauric McCafferty, Four Masters Cycling Club
EQUESTRIAN
Clodagh Barry, East Donegal Pony Club
Ian Smith
Kelda Morgan, Altraskin Stables, St Johnstone
Kenneth Graham, Muff
Simon Scott, Convoy
GAELIC FOOTBALL
Karl Lacey, Four Masters GAA Club
Michael Murphy, Glenswilly
Neil Gallagher, Glenswilly
Neil McGee, Gweedore
GYMNASTICS
Alannah Gallagher, Letterkenny Community Gymnastics Club
Gemma McCormick, Carndonagh
Micheala O Boyle, Letterkenny Community Gymnastics Club
Maria Gallagher, Letterkenny Community Gymnastics Club
HALL OF FAME
Danny McDaid, Letterkenny A.C.
Eamonn Coyle, Letterkenny Boxing Club
HOCKEY
Ian McGonigle
Matthew Lecky
William Kilpatrick
HURLING
Ciaran Mathewson, Sean McCumhnaills
Colm Breathnach, St. Eunan’s
Niall Campbell, Burt
MARTIAL ARTSs
Denise Donaghey, Aileach Karate Club
Michael McCay, Samurai Uladh Judo Club, Burnfoot
Natalie McCarron, PT’s Kickboxing Gym, Carrigans
MOTOR SPORT
Adrian McElhinney
Donagh Kelly
Oisín Sharkey, ( Karting) St Johnstone
Rory Kennedy, Letterkenny
Scott McElhinney, Donegal Town
Trevor Bustard
RUGBY
Laura Feeley, Ballybofey
Nora Stapleton, Fahan
Paul Cassidy, Inishowen Rugby Club
SEA ANGLING
Dylan Kearns, Killybegs
Bernie O’ Callaghan, Killybegs
Mary O’ Callaghan, Killybegs
SOCCER
Eamonn Cannon, Gweedore Celtic
Johnny Bonner, Buncrana Hearts & Genesse Community College, New York
Jordan Toland, Swilly Rovers
Kyle Mc Fadden, Swilly Rovers
Liam Martin, Sligo Rovers / Donegal Town
Patrick McDermott, Glengad F.C.
Ryan Toland, Fanad United / Swilly Rovers
Seamie Friel, Fanad United
Shaun McElwaine, Fanad United
SPECIAL ATHLETE
Daniel Cannon, Letterkenny
Hughie Sweeney, Gweedore
Mary Strain, Letterkenny
Shaun Bradley, Lettterkenny
SPECIAL RECOGNITION
Mark Scott, Letterkenny Rugby Football Club
SURFING
Conor Maguire, Bundoran
Easkey Britton, Rossnowlagh
Meadb Mc Closkey, Ballyshannon
Richard Fitzgerald, Bundoran
SWIMMING
Cian Rooney, Marlin Swimming Club, Ballyshannon
Emma Vaughan, Swilly Seals
Ian Gaynor, City of Derry Swimming Club
Kirsty Mc Ilwaine, Swilly Seals
Leon Vaughan, Swilly Seals
TEAM AWARD
C.L.G. Beart (Hurlers)
Donegal GAA Senior Football Team
Donegal Special Olympics Football Club
Fanad United Senior Soccer Team
Gweedore Celtic Senior Soccer Team
Letterkenny East Girls Under 13 Swimming Team
Letterkenny Gymnastics Display Team
Letterkenny Rugby Club Senior Men’s 1st XV Team
Letterkenny West Girls Under 16 Swimming Team
North West Special Olympics Ladies Basketball Team
North West Special Olympics Mens Basketball Team
St. Eunans U14 Gaelic Football Team
Ulster Karate Federation, Burnfoot
TRIATHLON
Adam Speer, Letterkenny 24-7 Triathlon Club
Alan Mitchell, Letterkenny 24-7 Triathlon Club
Gavin Crawford, Letterkenny 24-7 Triathlon Club
Margaret Kelly, Letterkenny 24-7 Triathlon Club
PRIMARY SCHOOL
Kilmacrennan N.S.
Scoil Mhuire, Glenties
St Brigid’s N.S., Glenmakee
St Eunans N.S., Laghey
St. Mura’s National School, Tooban, Burnfoot
St. Patrick’s Boys National School, Carndonagh
PRIMARY SCHOOL SPORTS BOY
Aaron McGlynn, Commeen N.S., Cloghan
Denver Kelly, St. Mura’s N.S., Tooban, Burnfoot
Dylan Kearns, Fintra N.S., Killybegs
Ike Objeamu, Ballyraine N.S., Letterkenny
Kieran Brady, St. Mura’s N.S., Tooban, Burnfoot
P.J. Duggan, Scoil Chnoc na Naomh, Gortachoirce
Oisin McLaughlin, Gaeilscoil, Bun Cranncha
Sam Todd, St. Patrick’s Boys National School, Carndonagh
PRIMARY SCHOOL SPORTS GIRL
Amy Boyle Carr, Scoil Mhuire, Glenties
Amy McGonigle, St. Mura’s National School, Tooban, Burnfoot
Ellen Russell, Ballyraine N.S., Letterkenny
Mary Flora Scott, Scoil Catriona, Ballyshannon
Naoimh Mc Granaghan, St. Mary’s, Castlefin
Sarah Jane Porter, St. Mura’s N.S., Tooban, Burnfoot
PRIMARY SCHOOL SPORTS TEACHER
John G McCann, Scoil Mhuire, Glenties
Manus O Donnell, St. Muras N.S., Tooban
Mel O’Donnell, Kilmacrennan N.S.
SECONDARY SCHOOL SPORTS
Abbey Vocational School, Donegal
Coláiste Ailigh, Leitir Ceanainn
Colaiste Cholmcille, Ballyshannon
Crana College, Buncrana
Loreto Secondary School, Letterkenny
St. Columba’s College, Stranorlar
SECONDARY SCHOOL SPORTS BOY
Conchúr Mac Iolbháin, Coláiste Ailigh Letterkenny
Jason Carr, Abbey Vocational School, Donegal
Karl Griffin Abbey Vocational School, Donegal
Mark English, St. Eunan’s College, Letterkenny
Martin O Reilly, St. Columba’s College, Stranorlar
Michael McCay, Crana College, Buncrana
Patrick McBrearty, Coláiste na Carraige
Ruairi Finnegan, St. Eunan’s College, Letterkenny
SECONDARY SCHOOL SPORTS GIRL
Blathnaid Patton, St. Columba’s College, Stranorlar
Catherine Boyle, Loreto Secondary School Letterkenny
Ciara Grant, Loreto Secondary School, Letterkenny
Clodagh Barry, Deele College
Emer Gallagher, Loreto Secondary School Letterkenny
Emily Greenan, Loreto Secondary School Letterkenny
Geraldine McLaughlin, Loreto Secondary School, Letterkenny
Kate Mc Gowan, Abbey Vocational School, Donegal
Kathleen Mc Naught, Moville Community College
Kisty Nic Iolbháin, Coláiste Ailigh, Letterkenny
SECONDARY SCHOOL SPORTS TEACHER
John Kennedy, Colaiste Cholmcille, Ballyshannon
Keith Ó Comhain, Coláiste Ailigh Letterkenny
Michelle Duffy & Brid Carr, Loreto Secondary School, Letterkenny
SCHOOLS APPRECIATION AWARD
John Campbell, St. Macartan’s N.S.,