Dublin’s Donegal Association hosted a lavish ceremony in Harcourt Street’s Black Door Piano Bar to announce the 2016 Donegal Person of the Year.
Ardara community activist and businessman Stephen McCahill was titled 2016’s Donegal Person of the Year!
Stephen is Chairman of the Ardara Heritage Centre and the Ardara Community Centre and is a former Chairperson, Secretary and PRO of the Ardara Parish Council.
Stephen McCahill and Hugh Harkin
“It is evident from Stephen’s involvement in the many committees and projects that he has spent much of his adult life giving freely of his personal time to keeping his local area alive and vibrant,” said the Donegal Association in making the announcement.
“He has helped develop and sustain tourism, heritage, culture and rural life through numerous projects, festivals, initiatives and enterprises. He has helped to highlight and promote all that is good in our county.”
Former Past Persons of the Year Liam O Cuinneagain, John Carr, Deirdre McGlone with Stephen
Stephen is married to Marietta and they have two children, Steven and Gemma.
Stephen has endeavoured through various roles and initiatives to positively promote Donegal and in particular Glenties, Ardara, Portnoo and Killybegs as an area in which to visit, work and live.
Stephen McCahill with his brother Peter
The Donegal Association said: “Ardara was voted The Irish Times Best Village to Live in Ireland in 2012, it is volunteers like Stephen who work so hard in promoting Ardara that the town was awarded such an accolade.
“Stephen was one of the founding members of the Cup O’ Tae Festival and is currently Chairman of the Cup O’Tae Festival Committee. It was a new festival for new May Bank Holiday in 2001 and 15 years later it is still going stronger than ever.”
“Stephen is very honoured to be chosen as the recipient of the Donegal Person of the Year and feels extremely privileged that he has been chosen as the 2016 Donegal Person of the Year and acknowledges the quality of the Past Persons of the Year and spoke of the high respect that he holds Deirdre McGlone (Outgoing Person of the Year) in.
Deirdre McGlone reflects on the Year
“He remembers fondly attending the Donegal Person of the Year functions in the past and is very excited about the year ahead.
“Stephen is very passionate about the promotion of our county and is very passionate about community involvement and the importance of keeping the community alive and vibrant. He believes a community needs to be kept alive and there is no place better than your own people and your own community.”
Dedicated committee members
Stephen McCahill will be inaugurated as The Donegal Person of the Year 2016 at the Annual Gala Ball on Saturday, 4th March in the Regency Hotel, Drumcondra, Dublin 9.
Tickets are limited so please contact 087 1367061 to reserve your tickets or they are also available online at www.donegalassociation.ie.
