President’s Award Recipients

 

 

Gradaim an Uachtarßin 2011

 

 

The GAA has confirmed the 16 winners of the Gradaim an Uachtarßin 2011 / 2011 President’s Awards ahead of a special Croke Park banquet this evening.

 

 

The annual winners are honoured as long standing GAA volunteers who have served the Association with distinction in their chosen field over a prolonged period

 

 

The recipients who have been chosen by Uachtarßn Chumann L·thchleas Gael Criost¾ir Ë Cuana have been drawn from across all strands of the Association and represent all codes and disciplines from the wider GAA family.

 

 

The GAA President paid tribute to those honoured by this year’s scheme.

 

 

He said: “”This scheme is about honouring and acknowledging those who work so hard on our behalf for such long periods of time to ensure that we have vibrant clubs and activity all over the country.

 

 

“”This commitment is not played out in the limelight and does not generate headlines but it is the sort of dedication that makes the GAA what it is.

 

 

“”I congratulate all of our 2011 winners and laud their efforts over so many years. These awards acknowledge the unstintingly loyalty of a group of exemplary volunteers that I hope will remain active in Cumann L·thchleas Gael for many years to come. Congratulations one and all.””

 

 

In addition to those involved in the promotion of football, hurling and general administration, representatives from Camogie, Ladies football, GAA Handball and GAA Rounders were also selected.

 

 

Third Level Education and Overseas also had winners nominated and for the first time ever a special Family Acknowledgement Award, to be known as the Dermot Earley Family Award was presented in acknowledgement of outstanding family contribution to the GAA.

 

The inaugural award will be made to the Earley Family.

 

 

This evening’s banquet, supported by AIB, will be broadcast on TG4 tonight at 10:15pm.

 

 

The winners will also be introduced to the crowd at Croke Park tomorrow at half time in the AIB GAA All-Ireland Club football final.

 

Information on the 2011 winners is provided below.

 

Munster

 

 

Johnny Butler, Doon, Limerick

 

 

Johnny’s career began when he played Minor hurling with Doon in 1956 and had his first competitive Junior match in æ58. Through three decades he coached and trained Minor teams to four county titles and has been selector on numerous Senior teams. He has served in all administrative capacities including Club chairperson on two occasions.

 

Michael Looney, Dr. Crokes, Kerry

 

 

A member of the Dr. Crokes Club for more than six decades, Michael enjoyed a successful underage career in both hurling and football. After emigrating to New York in 1954, he continued to play both codes for Kerry. On his return Michael joined the Fitzgerald Stadium committee where he spent more than four decades, in which period millions were spent on its development.

 

Ulster

 

 

Margaret McConville, Crossmaglen, Armagh

 

 

Margaret McConville has held many roles within Crossmaglen Rangers that she has performed with distinction. Margaret’s involvement with Crossmaglen Rangers spans six decades as a player, a supporter and an administrator. Margaret is best known for her role as Club secretary. Margaret was secretary from 1992–2003 and assistant secretary from 2003 to the present day.

 

 

 

Paul Doris, Dungannon Clarkes, Tyrone

 

 

Paul served as Club chairman for a couple of years at the start of the 1980s. After a stint as treasurer to the Tyrone County Board he took over the County Chairman role for an extended period. He played a key role in the development of O’Neill Park in Dungannon and is also groundsman there.

 

Connacht

 

 

Paddy Mulvey, Shannon Gaels, Roscommon

Having completed 63 years on the Shannon Gaels Board, Paddy Mulvey stepped down from that role earlier this year. He was handed his first role back in 1947 as Club Secretary, which he held for more than two decades and had been PRO until his recent retirement.

 

 

 

Gerry Mahon, Seßn Ë Heslins, Leitrim

 

 

Gerry’s outstanding capabilities and leadership qualities saw him play key roles within Leitrim County Board as Oifigeach Gaeilge, delegate to Connacht Council, Hurling Board Chairman and Cathaoirleach of the Board itself, before being elected as Central Council Delegate.

 

 

 

Leinster

 

 

Fiontan Mac GinneßrtaÝ, Gaeil Colm Cille, Meath

 

 

Fintan was chairman of Coiste na MÝ for 20 years, from 1986 to 2005. His first undertaking was the redevelopment of Pßirc Tailteann. He has had a lifetime of involvement with the Association and apart from his lengthy spell as chairman, he has also served as Secretary of the Minor Board and Central Council representative.

 

John Curtis, Ballyhogue, Wexford

 

 

John Curtis has worked diligently at committee level for Club, district and county. He had a distinguished Club playing career, was heavily involved in developing his Club’s playing facilities and currently acts as secretary to the Wexford Sean Gael committee.

 

Camogie

 

 

Katie Forde, Croydon Camogie Club, London

 

 

Katie Forde joined Croydon Camogie Club from her native Turloughmore Club in Galway in 2002 and immediately took on the role of Club secretary. Katie carried out her role as County Secretary with great commitment and professionalism. Katie stepped down from the role of secretary for a couple of years but during that time she was still doing huge work on the development of Camogie.

 

GAA Handball

 

 

Br. Finbar Spring, St Augustines College, Waterford

 

 

Since the late 1980s Brother Spring has been passing on his passion for GAA Handball in Dungarvan through St. Augustines College and the Friary Abbeyside Ballinacourty Club he founded. He has helped Waterford’s Handballers become a formidable underage outfit who have won All-Irelands across almost every age group. Br. Spring has been responsible for the funding and building of several alleys in Waterford. 

 

GAA Rounders

 

 

 

 

Joe O’Donoghue, President, Rounders Council of Ireland

 

 

Joe O’Donoghue brought Rounders to Ballon, Co. Carlow in the mid 1980s, and in the late æ90s went on to co-found C·chulainn Rounders Club, Ballon. Joe joined the National Rounders Council in 1996 and has served in various positions since then, currently serving as President. He is also the Leinster Development Officer.

Ladies Football

 

 

John Joe Brady, Mullahoran, Cavan

 

 

John Joe Brady’s association with Ladies Football goes back to 1976 and he has held practically all the positions of administration and management of football teams.  John Joe was the first Chairman of the Mullahoran Club in the years 1975 and 1982 and from 1995 to æ99. He helped bring the Mullahoran Ladies to the top of the ladder in 1977 when they won the first ever All-Ireland Club final. 

 

 

Third Level

 

 

Eugene McKenna, WIT GAA Club, Waterford

 

 

Eugene arrived from Monaghan to Waterford RTC in 1979 as an engineering lecturer and helped establish a GAA Club at the college. He has been a driving force behind the development of the GAA in WIT and brought the current Wexford manager to the Club as a full-time development officer in 1987. 

Sc¾r

 

 

Micheßl Mac Conmara, R·naÝ Sc¾r Na Mumhan

 

 

Micheßl was elected as RunaÝ of County Sc¾r in 1972 and has been Cathaoirleach since 1990. He chaired Sc¾r na Mumhan from 1998-2000 and for the last 10 years has served as R·naÝ Coiste Sc¾r na Mumhan. He has been on Lßr Choiste Sc¾r since 2005. 

Overseas

 

 

Brian Farmer, Canada GAA

 

 

Brian emigrated to Toronto in 1975 and was elected as the chairman of Toronto GAA in 1980. He was instrumental in bringing Gaelic Games to the Skydome in Toronto in 1990 and ’91 and worked with Toronto GAA in the organisation of national teams for the International World Cups of 1998, 2000 and æ02 in Ireland.

Family Award

 

 

The Earley Family

 

 

Dermot Earley passed away aged 62 in June of 2010. Dermot was the former Chief of Staff of the Irish Defence Forces and starred for Roscommon for 20 years. He won two GAA All Stars in a distinguished career. His wife, Mary, and six children, including his son, Dermot, a GAA All Star winner with Kildare will accept the Family Award from the Uachtarßn tonight.

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