Katie-George Dunlevy was recently honoured at a Donegal Municipal District reception for her para-cycling achievements.
The event drew a large number of guests, including family, friends, local sporting clubs, political representatives, and senior Council officials to the Peter Kennedy Chamber in Donegal Public Service Centre.
Katie-George Dunlevy, whose father John is from Mountcharles, is Ireland’s most successful female Paralympic athlete after taking home gold and silver medals at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. Dunlevy clinched two more gold medals at the World Championships in Zurich.
At the start of proceedings, the gathered crowd were entertained by a talented musician and singer from the Mountcharles area, Aisling Meehan who performed a moving rendition of Back Home to my Donegal which was a fitting song for the occasion and certainly resonated with Katie-George and the Dunlevy family in particular.
Mr Pauric Sheerin, Area Manager for Corporate Services compered the event and welcomed Katie-George and her guests and introduced the speakers.
Katie George Dunlevy pictured with members of the Donegal Municipal District. Pictured (l-r) Clr Michael Naughton, Clr. Jimmy Brogan, Clr Niamh Kennedy Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, Clr Noel Jordan Cathaoirleach Donegal Municipal District, Clr. Michael McMahon, and Clr. Michael Boyle.Photo by Gerard McHugh Photography
The Municipal District Cathaoirleach, Cllr Noel Jordan welcomed guests and spoke of Katie–George’s achievements, her links to the Mountcharles area and her humility and unassuming nature, despite her elite athlete status. Cllr Jordan also mentioned Katie-George’s generosity of spirit and referenced her visits to local schools where she has spoken to young children and shared her experiences, which is an inspiration to young children.
Cllr Jordan thanked his colleague members of the Donegal Municipal District who were also present and who had supported his request for this event. Cllr Jordan also thanked Katie George’s family, most notably John and Alana Dunlevy (Katie-George’s parents) and all those who had helped in arranging the event including those who were in attendance on what was a very special day for the Donegal Municipal District and the parish of Inver. Cllr Jordan also thanked those business sponsors and others who had helped Katie-George to reach the pinnacle of her career.
Clr Noel Jordan Cathaoirleach Donegal Municipal District makes a special presentation to Katie George Dunlevy at the reception held in her honour by the Donegal Municipal District .Photo by Gerard McHugh Photography
Following Cllr Jordan’s address, a well known sports journalist from the area, Mr Peter Campbell held a live interview with Katie-George covering a wide area such as her family, the origin of her name, her early years in sport and her career to date. Peter Campbell is acknowledged as being one of the most knowledgeable journalists in relation to Katie-George’s career to date having followed her progress since her start in the sport.
Peter also “gently” enquired regarding her plans for the paralympics in Los Angeles 2028, however Katie-George showed her experience and her professionalism and gave nothing away!
In what was an informative and entertaining interview, it was clear that Katie-George was a very grounded and unassuming individual, but with a real sense of drive and focus as she fully accepted that, the greater the challenge, the greater her will and determination would be, to overcome it.
Clr Niamh Kennedy Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council makes a special presentation to Katie George Dunlevy at the reception held in her honour by the Donegal Municipal District .Photo by Gerard McHugh Photography
Cathaoirleach of Donegal Co Co, Cllr Niamh Kennedy also attended and in her address to guests, Cllr Kennedy referenced the exceptional contribution that Katie-George had made to her sport and for these reasons a Municipal District reception was both appropriate and fitting.
Cllr Kennedy spoke of the role model that Katie-George is for young females in particular, given the decline in participation rates in sports by girls of this age. Cllr Kennedy also used a different sporting analogy describing the challenges that Katie-George had overcome to “scale the heights of her sport and reach the summit of her sport”. Cllr Kennedy outlined the pride that Katie-George has brought to our county and assured her that there will always be a warm welcome for her in Co Donegal.
In his address to guests, Mr Garry Martin, Director Designate for the Donegal MD, mentioned the links that Katie-George’s family have with the county and the Donegal Municipal District and Katie-George’s consistent acknowledgement of her family roots in the area, which has been a great source of pride for people of Co Donegal.
Mr Martin also referenced the courage and resilience of Donegal people in all walks of life and stated that Katie-George had shown the same attributes in her career to date.
Mr Martin concluded his remarks by wishing Katie-George and her family well and he expressed his hope that she would continue to wear the “Donegal Jersey” with pride all over the world.
Ted McCafferty from Donegal Bay Cycling pictured speaking at the Reception for Katie-George Dunleavy (Special Olympics Para-cyclist) held in in the Donegal Town Public Services Centre.Photo by Gerard McHugh.
Mr Ted McCaffrey spoke on behalf of the Donegal Bay Cycling Club which has had a very close association with Katie-George and her family over the years. Mr McCaffrey referenced training with Katie-George and the insight that he had received from that experience into the life and training regime of an elite athlete.
At the conclusion of Mr McCaffrey’s address, he presented Katie-George with a financial contribution from the Donegal Bay Cycling Club towards her ongoing training costs.
On behalf of the Dunlevy family, Mr John Dunlevy, Katie George’s father, gave a heartfelt address which covered Katie-George’s childhood, her diagnosis with a serious visual impairment, her school life and her constant passion for all sports and activities from a very young age. Mr Dunlevy expressed his gratitude to Cllr Jordan and all of those who had supported the event and those who had assisted in arranging this function for Katie-George.
John Dunlevy pictured speaking at the reception held for his daughter Katie-George Dunlevy Photo by Gerard McHugh.
As the formalities of the event concluded, Cllr Noel Jordan Cathaoirleach of the Donegal MD presented Katie-George with a specially commissioned piece of glass from the Donegal Municipal District and Cllr Niamh Kennedy, Cathaoirleach for Donegal Co Council presented Katie-George with a framed commemorative scroll.
Katie George Dunleavy pictured with friends and neighbours from Mountcharles at reception held in her honour by the Donegal Municipal District held in Donegal Town.Photo by Gerard McHugh Photography
A section of the crowd who attended the reception held for Katie-George Dunleavy (Special Olympics Para-cyclist) in Donegal Town.Photo by Gerard McHugh Photography
A section of the crowd who attended the reception held for Katie-George Dunleavy (Special Olympics Para-cyclist) in Donegal Town.Photo by Gerard McHugh Photography
A section of the crowd who attended the reception held for Katie-George Dunleavy (Special Olympics Para-cyclist) in Donegal Town.Photo by Gerard McHugh Photography
