The Donegal Sports Star Awards Committee is set to honour the winners of 1980 and 1981 at an event on Monday, 17th October in the Mount Errigal.
Prior to Covid the Awards Committee had hosted an annual event bringing back winners of 40 years ago to recognise their achievements and make a presentation to mark the occasion.
Unfortunately, due to the pandemic that could not happen over the last two years so it is now catch up time and the committee is looking forward to welcoming the Donegal Sport Star Award winners of 1980 and 1981 to what is sure to be an evening of pure nostalgia in the Mount Errigal.
Awards Chairperson Grace Boyle said that the committee is in the process of extending invitations to all the winners. “We are working our way through the names at the moment and hopefully that should be completed shortly.
“Sadly there are small number of winners from those years that have passed away but we are hoping to have family members there to represent them on the 17th of October.
“We had been running these 40th anniversary winner events prior to Covid and they were very popular. They were lovely occasions where people who had achieved in sport came back to be honoured by the Donegal Sports Star Awards Committee. It is a unique opportunity for past winners to catch up with others from the same era.”
Once again Donegal County Council will be sponsors of the anniversary event. Anyone looking for more information can email donegalsportsstarawards@gmail.
Donegal Sports Star Award winners 1980
ATHLETICS Sean Carlin,Finn Valley A.C.
APPRECIATION Nancy Buchanan, Burt (Tennis)
BADMINTON Audrey MacBeth, Carnone
BOXING Hugh Doherty, Buncrana
CLAY PIGEON SHOOT John Campbell, Ballybofey
CYCLING Eamon Brown, Ramelton
GAA Michael Carr, Kilcar
HALL OF FAME Bernard Coyle, Gweedore (GAA)
HANDBALL Margaret McFadden, Falcarragh
HOCKEY David Vance, Raphoe
MOTO CROSS Ronnie Catterson, Letterkenny
MOTOR SPORT Eamon Harvey, Letterkenny
PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR Margaret McFadden, Falcarragh (Handball)
RUGBY Charlie McGinty, Donegal Town
SOCCER Denis Bonner, Keadue
SECONDARY SCHOOL Falcarragh C.S. Falcarragh
TABLE TENNIS Breid Carr, Fanad
TENNIS Ann McGrath, Letterkenny
Donegal Sports Star Award winners 1981
OVERALL SPORTS STAR 1981 Sean Carlin, Finn Valley A.C.
ATHLETICS Sean Carlin, Finn Valley
APPRECIATION Ian Smyth, Letterkenny (Rugby)
BADMINTON P.J. Patton, Ballyshannon
BOXING John Fitzgerald, Letterkenny
CLAY PIGEON SHOOT John Loughrey, Ramelton
CYCLING Ivan Wray, Donegal Wheelers
GAA Martin McHugh, Kilcar
GOLF Enda McMenamin, Ballybofey
HALL OF FAME L. Rankin (Badminton)
HANDBALL Michael McCallion, Falcarragh
MARTIAL ARTS Kathleen Gallagher, Carrigart
MOTO CROSS Paul Shields, Letterkenny
MOTOR SPORT James Cullen, Letterkenny
RUGBY Paddy Gallagher, Letterkenny
SOCCER Dessie Doherty, Carndonagh
SECONDARY SCHOOL P.C.C. Falcarragh & Royal and Prior Raphoe
TABLE TENNIS Paula Martin, Fanad
TENNIS Anne McCafferty, Ballybofey
