As the end of the school academic year approaches the Donegal Sports Star Committee is seeking nominations for the 2025 Awards.
Only achievements and participation levels in sport will be considered for the school year from September 2024 to June 2025, and judging will only be done for school-specific competitions.
The winners of the 2024 teacher awards, John McFeely (Scoil Naomh Pádraig Carndonagh) and Paddy Carr (Scoil Mhuire Buncrana) were invited guests to promote schools nominations on Thursday in the Mount Errigal Hotel.
John McFeely spoke about the important work that goes on in primary schools to promote sport and that deserves to be recognised on an annual basis through the Donegal Sports Star Awards. On a personal level he added that he wasn’t aware of his nomination for the 2024 Awards until the names were published and to be then named Best Primary School Sports Teacher was a big honour.
The 2024 Best Secondary School Sports Teacher was Paddy Carr, Scoil Mhuire Buncrana. Paddy had previously been a nominee so it was extra special to get the nod in recognition of his success as a manager of soccer teams at the school. On Thursday he spoke of the importance of the Donegal Sports Star Awards as an annual event that acknowledges achievements in every corner of the county.
There are nine schools categories:
- Best Sports Boy and Girl Primary School
- Best Sports Boy and Girl Secondary School
- Best Primary School Small (<100 pupils)
- Best Primary School Large (>100 pupils)
- Best Secondary School
- Best Sports Teacher Primary
- Best Sports Teacher Secondary
Please send nominations to info@donegalsportsstarawards.ie. and attach any relevant images and video footage.
Please note that in regard to nominations shortlisting may apply.
Donegal Sports Star Awards Chairperson Grace Boyle said the Committee has been back to work over the last few months as they prepare for the big 50th celebrations. The first Awards were held in the Milford Inn in November 1976. Along with that the focus is now also on encouraging schools to start thinking about nominations as the academic year draws to a close next month.
“We had a promotional event for Primary and Second Schools on Thursday. I want to thank John McFeely and Paddy Carr for coming in as our invited guests to launch the schools nominations. John and Paddy were worthy recipients of the teachers awards in 2024. They both emphasised the importance of getting nominations in now as the school year comes to an end in June before the summer break. I would concur with that. Do it now when it is fresh in the minds before the holidays,” Ms Boyle said.
The Chairperson also stressed that it is not just about the achievements as a significant weighting is also given to the level of participation in sport generally in schools.
“It is not all about achievements as our committee also looks at participation levels and the variety of sports that are going on in schools. But for now we want to focus on schools only.”
“So we would ask Principals and those involved in sport in schools to look what has happened from September 2024 to June 2025. Please send your nominations to info@donegalsportsstarawards.ie. We are also asking that they attach any relevant images and video footage,” Ms Boyle said.
The Donegal Sports Star Awards Chairperson also emphasised the crucial role that teachers like John McFeely and Paddy Carr play in promoting sport in schools.
“There are nine school categories in total. Again this year there are the Small and Large Primary School categories. In all of this teachers are key people in ensuring that sport is made a priority so to recognise that there is a category there for them every year for both Secondary and Primary. Paddy and John were 2024 winners and deservedly so. There are many other teachers across Donegal doing trojan work so it’s important that they are now recognised by being nominees for the 2025 Awards,” Ms Boyle concluded.
