Donegal’s All-Ireland winning heroes from 1992 presented the proceeds from their 25th anniversary functions to three local charities today.
The Donegal Hospice, Pieta House and the Inishowen Flood Relief Fund benefitted to the tune of €2,000 each from the events that marked the anniversary of Donegal’s capturing of Sam Maguire for the first time in 1992.
Members of the 1992 all Ireland winning team pictured as they make a presentation to members of the Donegal Hospice at a special presentation in the Mt Errigal Hotel. Photo Brian McDaid/Cristeph Studio
1992 captain Anthony Molloy and manager Brian McEniff were joined by team-mates Barry McGowan, Martin Shovlin, Matt Gallagher, Joyce McMullan, Tony Boyle, Manus Boyle, Declan Bonner, Paul Carr, Sylvester Maguire, Mark Crossan and Paul Callaghan at the handover ceremony today in Letterkenny’s Mount Errigal Hotel.
“We are delighted to have done something and to hand something back,” Molloy said.
“This was a fantastic year for us. We don’t meet up together as often as we should, but this year has been very enjoyable.”
Molloy paid tribute to Philip McGlynn and Noreen Doherty who helped to spearhead the organising committee.
McEniff hailed his history-makers as ‘great ambassadors’ for Donegal.
“What can I say about these lads, but they were and are a special group,” he said.
“We have had a lot of fun and great times and it has been a great year to celebrate it again.”
Dr James McDaid from the Donegal Hospice expressed his delighted at the amount of the 1992 players who turned up.
“We are the grateful ones,” he said. “It is a privilege to see so many of these players. To be receiving from such a wonderful memory from the past is fantastic.
“This will always remain one of the wonderful events of this county’s history.”
Christina McEleney from Pieta House said the GAA was an integral and vital part of communities.
“I came here in 1991 and thought it was an unbelievable place in ’92,” she said.
Tina Mc Elaney representing Pieta House pictured receiving a cheque form the 1992 All Ireland Winning Team proceeds from their recent banquet . Photo Brian McDaid
“I would like to thank these boys so much, considering we are a new facility to the county. This is a very tough time of year for a lot of people.”
Pieta House now has five clinicians in Donegal and is also open two evenings in the week as well as during the day.
“We want to see outreach centres in the northwest,” she said.
Aine Daly, the health and wellbeing officer of Buncrana GAA club, spoke on behalf of the Inishowen Flood Relief Fund.
“We are just overwhelmed,” she said.
Annie Daly from Buncrana GAA and representing the Innishowen Flood relief fund pictured receiving a presentation from the 1992 Donegal All Ireland Winning team . Photo Brian Mc Daid/ Cristeph
“To have witnessed the devastation we did was like being in a movie. You just didn’t know where to go or what to do.
“Then, the next day, it was just calm and you were going around seeing the devastation. We are so grateful for the help of the GAA.”
