Boxing stalwart Peter O’Donnell last night launched the 2024 Donegal Sports Star Awards last night in the Mount Errigal Hotel.
O’Donnell, who has been a regular supporter of the event and has won awards on multiple occasions, was delighted to accept the honour.
A widely known boxing man in the county and throughout the country, he won the Team Manager of the Year in 2015 after a good medal haul from Irish Boxers at the European Elite Men’s Championship in Samokov, Bulgaria.
And for his constant work with the Boxing community he also won an appreciation award in 2012.
“It’s a great privilege for anybody to be asked to launch such a big event, it’s a real honour and I appreciate that,” O’Donnell said.
“I started Boxing in 1962 along with my brothers in Derry and it became like a drug when you got into it, you just couldn’t get away from it.”
Declan Kerr who was the compere at the Donegal Sportstar Awards launch. (North West Newspix)
Grace Boyle, Chairperson of the Donegal Sport Star Awards committee. (North West Newspix)
Peter O’Donnell receiving a presentation from Grace Boyle (Chairperson Donegal Sport Star Awards Committee) and Caorthlaith of Donegal, Cllr Niamh Kennedy. Also in photo os Donegal County Council Director Micheál McGarvey. (North West Newspix)
Cathoarleach Cllr Naimh Kennedy speaking at the launch of the Donegal Sports Star Awards. (North West Newspix)
Cathoarleach Cllr Naimh Kennedy speaking at the launch of the Donegal Sports Star Awards. (North West Newspix)
Donegal County Council Director Micheál McGarvey speaking at the launch of the Donegal Sports Stars Awards. (North West Newspix)
Kevin McBrearty receiving a momente of his achievement as a recipient of the Donegal Sports Star Award in 1984. Included in photo are Cathoarleach Cllr Niamh Kennedy, Micheál McGarvey (DCC), Peter O’Donnell (Special Guest) and Grace Boyle (Chairperson Donegal Sports Star Awards Committee. (North West Newspix)
JOsie Gallagher receiving a momente of his achievement as a recipient of the Donegal Sports Star Award in 1984. Included in photo are Cathoarleach Cllr Niamh Kennedy, Micheál McGarvey (DCC), Grace Boyle (Chairperson Donegal Sports Star Awards Committee and Peter O’Donnell (Special Guest). (North West Newspix)
Jimmy Patton receiving a momente of his late fahter Brian’s achievement as a recipient of the Donegal Sports Star Award in 1984. Included in photo are Cathoarleach Cllr Niamh Kennedy, Micheál McGarvey (DCC), Grace Boyle (Chairperson Donegal Sports Star Awards Committee and Peter O’Donnell (Special Guest). (North West Newspix)
Joyce McMullin receiving a momente of his achievement as a recipient of the Donegal Sports Star Award in 1984. Included in photo are Cathoarleach Cllr Niamh Kennedy, Micheál McGarvey (DCC), Grace Boyle (Chairperson Donegal Sports Star Awards Committee and Peter O’Donnell (Special Guest). (North West Newspix)
Charlie Lapsley receiving a momento of his achievement as a recipient of the Donegal Sports Star Award in 1984. Included in photo are Cathoarleach Cllr Niamh Kennedy, Micheál McGarvey (DCC), Grace Boyle (Chairperson Donegal Sports Star Awards Committee and Peter O’Donnell (Special Guest). (North West Newspix)
Members of the Gweedore CS from 1984 receiving a momento of their achievement as a recipients of the Donegal Sports Star Award in 1984. Included in photo are Grace Boyle (Chairperson Donegal Sports Star Awards Committee), Micheál McGarvey (DCC), Cathoarleach Cllr Niamh Kennedy and Peter O’Donnell (Special Guest). (North West Newspix)
Frank Rodgers receiving a momento of his achievement as a recipient of the Donegal Sports Star Award in 1984. Included in photo are Grace Boyle (Chairperson Donegal Sports Star Awards Committee), Micheál McGarvey (DCC), Cathoarleach Cllr Niamh Kennedy and Peter O’Donnell (Special Guest). (North West Newspix)
Seamus Doherty receiving a momente of his achievement as a recipient of the Donegal Sports Star Award in 1984. Included in photo are race Boyle (Chairperson Donegal Sports Star Awards Committee ), Micheál McGarvey (DCC), Cathoarleach Cllr Niamh Kennedy and Peter O’Donnell (Special Guest). (North West Newspix)
Danny McLaughlin eceiving a momente of his achievement as a recipient of the Donegal Sports Star Award in 1984. Included in photo are , Cathoarleach Cllr Niamh Kennedy, Micheál McGarvey (DCC), Grace Boyle (Chairperson Donegal Sports Star Awards Committee) and Peter O’Donnell (Special Guest). (North West Newspix)
Members of the Donegal VS team of 1984 receiving a momente of their achievement as a recipients of the Donegal Sports Star Award in 1984. Included in photo are Cathoarleach Cllr Niamh Kennedy, Micheál McGarvey (DCC), Grace Boyle (Chairperson Donegal Sports Star Awards Committee and Peter O’Donnell (Special Guest). (North West Newspix)
Joe Higgins receiving a momento of his achievement as a recipient of the Donegal Sports Star Award in 1984. Included in photo are Cathoarleach Cllr Niamh Kennedy, Grace Boyle (Chairperson Donegal Sports Star Awards Committee), Micheál McGarvey (DCC) and Peter O’Donnell (Special Guest). (North West Newspix)
Dorothy McGinley receiving a momento of her late uncle Anthony McGinley’s achievement as a recipient of the Donegal Sports Star Award in 1984. Included in photo are Peter O’Donnell (Special Guest), Grace Boyle (Chairperson Donegal Sports Star Awards Committee), Micheál McGarvey (DCC) and Cathoarleach Cllr Niamh Kennedy. (North West Newspix)
Joe Bar receiving a momento of his achievement as a recipient of the Donegal Sports Star Award in 1984. Included in photo are Peter O’Donnell (Special Guest), Grace Boyle (Chairperson Donegal Sports Star Awards Committee), Micheál McGarvey (DCC) and Cathoarleach Cllr Niamh Kennedy. (North West Newspix)
Recipients of the Donegal Sports Star Award in 1984 pictured at the launch of this years Awards. Included in photo are Grace Boyle (Chairperson Donegal Sports Star Awards Committee), Micheál McGarvey (DCC), Cathoarleach Cllr Niamh Kennedy and Peter O’Donnell (Special Guest). (North West Newspix)
Peter O’Donnell (Special Guest) and Cathaorleach Cllr Niamh Kennedy at the launch of the Donegal Sports Star Awards. (North West Newspix)
Doris Crawford, on behalf of her slate brother Noel McAuley, receiving a momento of her achievement as a recipient of the Donegal Sports Star Award in 1984. Included in photo are Cathoarleach Cllr Niamh Kennedy, Micheál McGarvey (DCC), Grace Boyle (Chairperson Donegal Sports Star Awards Committee and Peter O’Donnell (Special Guest). (North West Newspix)
Peter Campbell receiving a momento of his late fahter Brian’s achievement as a recipient of the Donegal Sports Star Award in 1984. Included in photo are Cathoarleach Cllr Niamh Kennedy, Micheál McGarvey (DCC), Grace Boyle (Chairperson Donegal Sports Star Awards Committee and Peter O’Donnell (Special Guest). (North West Newspix)
Caroline Smith, on belaf of her sister Berndatte Gallagher, receiving a momento of her achievement as a recipient of the Donegal Sports Star Award in 1984. Included in photo are Cathoarleach Cllr Niamh Kennedy, Micheál McGarvey (DCC), Grace Boyle (Chairperson Donegal Sports Star Awards Committee and Peter O’Donnell (Special Guest). (North West Newspix)
O’Donnell hung up the gloves for a while as he worked in the construction trade and he moved to Raphoe in 1972 with his wife Pauline.
There were a couple of years in between and it took a while then before himself, the late Brendan Ryan and Tommy Stewart set up the Boxing club in the Diamond town, but in 1987 they did just that.
And O’Donnell is still going strong, coaching the next generation of young boxers.
“Convoy had just started a club a year or two before and Gerry Daly asked me if I’d be wise to start a club when it’s so close to there.
“But we gave it a run and it took off and we’re going into our 37th year in January so it has gone well.
“There’s a good committee and volunteers there and we have a good clubhouse.
“I’m still working away at the club and I’ve been in as President of the County Board since 2012, I had previously spells in during the 80s and 90s but someone has to keep the show on the road.
“We have our 75th anniversary after being formed in St Conal’s Hospital in 1950 so we’ll have a big celebration in Jackson’s Hotel in September so we’ll look forward to that milestone next year.”
But celebrations will also take place at 6pm in the Mount Errigal Hotel on January 6 at the launch of the 49th anniversary of the Sports Star Awards.
As part of the launch the winners of 1984 will be honoured to mark the 40th anniversary of their successes when the presentations were made in the Milford Inn.
“It’s great to have the awards, they have been going for nearly 50 years and it’s a credit to the past and present members who have kept it going all those years.
“I feel it’s always a great reunion for the sports people of Donegal and it’s a big event in the sporting calendar up here, I enjoy it every year.
“There are standout stars in nearly every sport in Donegal and I don’t think that the volunteers get enough credit for the work they do, especially school teachers and the time they give year in, year out to get teenagers into sport, it’s great for them to be recognised.
Boxing was always well looked after and there were a few overall winners like Patrick O’Donnell of Gweedore, William McLaughlin from Illies and Jason Quigley in Finn Valley.”
