Ronnie winning gold in 1956
HE WAS a legend and still is a legend – the inspirational Ronnie Delany will be back at the Donegal Sports Star Awards for its 40th birthday celebrations at the end of the month.
The wonderful annual celebration of sport in the county – supported by Donegal County Council – will once again be hosted in the superb surroundings of the Mount Errigal Hotel in Letterkenny.
More than 190 sports people and teams have been nominated and short-listed across 40 categories.
When Ron Delany earned a gold medal by finishing in first place in the 1500 metres event at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, it ended a 24 year Irish wait for gold.
And it was to be another 36 years before we saw gold again when Michael Carruth took first in boxing in Barcelona in 1992.
Retiring from competitive athletics in 1962, he has secured his status as Ireland’s most recognisable Olympian as well as one of the greatest sportsmen and international ambassadors in his country’s history.
The Wicklow man will certainly get a warm Donegal welcome at the awards night on Friday, January 29.
