First Fingal Sports Awards Celebrate Local Heroes
The first Fingal Sports Awards took place on Monday 27 January at the Carlton Hotel Blanchardstown, honouring the exceptional contributions of sports volunteers and clubs across the county. Hosted by David Gillick, the event began with an opening address from Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Brian McDonagh.
The ceremony recognised 82 volunteers for their outstanding service to local sports clubs. In addition to individual awards, several clubs were acknowledged in various categories, with the following winners announced:
- Green Club of the Year: St. Finian’s GAA
- Sports for All Club of the Year: Balbriggan Rugby Club
- Club of the Year: Corduff FC
Mayor McDonagh delivered a bilingual welcome, stating, “Fáilte go dti an ocáid speisialta anocht. Mar Mhéara Fhine Gall, is mór an onóir dom a bheith i láthair anseo anocht ag an ocáid mór ceiliúradh. I am delighted to welcome you to the first-ever Fingal Sports Club Volunteer of the Year and Sports Club of the Year Awards. Tonight, we gather to celebrate and recognise the incredible value of sports volunteers in Fingal. Their work, often unseen and undertaken without fuss, provides vital sporting opportunities for thousands of people of all ages within our community.”
He paid special tribute to volunteers working with young people, highlighting their role in fostering athletic skills, friendships, and personal growth.
“It is my immense pleasure to congratulate all the award recipients here tonight. Your dedication and hard work in our communities deserve every bit of the recognition we are celebrating today. You are truly the driving force of sport in Fingal,” added AnnMarie Farrelly, Chief Executive of Fingal County Council.
Councillor Tom Kitt, Chairperson of the Fingal Sports Partnership, emphasised the importance of volunteers: “Every week, more than 450,000 people across Ireland volunteer in clubs, providing invaluable opportunities for participation in activities in every community. Here in Fingal, sport would not thrive without the unwavering dedication of volunteers.”
Upon receiving the Club of the Year award, Corduff FC’s founding member, Sammy Donnelly, expressed the club’s mission: “We do this to keep kids off the streets and give them something positive to do in their lives. Without the new volunteers bringing energy to the club, they would never survive and thrive.”
Dave Storey, Director of Environment, Climate Action, Active Travel and Sports concluded the evening by thanking the Mayor, Chief Executive, councillors, TDs, and all attendees for their support. He commended the Sports Department for organising the event and highlighted the vital role of the sporting community in Fingal.
The positive feedback from attendees suggests that next year’s awards will be a highlight of the 2026 calendar.
All 82 volunteers recognised for their outstanding service to local sports clubs are as follows:
|
Electoral Area of Fingal |
Name Of Sports Club |
Club Volunteer of Year |
|
Balbriggan |
Balbriggan and skerries fishing club |
Nathan Rogers |
|
Balbriggan |
Balbriggan FC |
Dave Byrne |
|
Balbriggan |
Balbriggan Golf Club |
Evelyn Tolan |
|
Balbriggan |
Balbriggan Roadrunners |
Colleen McKenzie |
|
Balbriggan |
Balbriggan Rugby Club |
Robert Cashell |
|
Balbriggan |
Ballyboughal Pitch & Putt Club |
Brian Delaney |
|
Balbriggan |
GLEBE NORTH FC |
ROBERTO BONELLO |
|
Balbriggan |
O'Dwyers GAA club |
Denise Corcoran |
|
Balbriggan |
Skerries Harps GAA & Camogie Club |
Gerard Dillon |
|
Balbriggan |
St. Marys Baton Twirlers |
Susan Mullen |
|
Balbriggan |
Takemusu Aikido Society |
Jan Toth |
|
Balbriggan |
Mako Triathlon Club |
David Flynn |
|
Balbriggan |
North County Cricket Club |
Joey Mooney |
|
Balbriggan |
Loughshinny United AFC |
John Spencer |
|
Balbriggan |
Skerries Bowling Club |
Mr John O Dowd |
|
Balbriggan |
Skerries RFC |
Johnny Tyndall |
|
Balbriggan |
Skerries Hockey Club |
Patrick Sherry |
|
Balbriggan |
Skerries Town FC |
Martin Tully |
|
Balbriggan |
Balrothery Tennis Cluib |
Jimmy Boylan |
|
Blanchardstown - Mulhuddart |
Dublin 15 Pickleball |
Ithala Rodrigues |
|
Blanchardstown - Mulhuddart |
Millennium Archers Archery Club |
Paul Kelly |
|
Blanchardstown - Mulhuddart |
Mountview Boys & Girls FC |
Jennifer Dawnay |
|
Blanchardstown - Mulhuddart |
Shamrock Diving Club |
Tawnie Farinez |
|
Blanchardstown - Mulhuddart |
St Margarets GAA |
Nessa Madigan |
|
Blanchardstown - Mulhuddart |
St Margarets LGFA Club |
Paul Woolsey |
|
Blanchardstown - Mulhuddart |
Verona fc |
Lisa Payne Shanley |
|
Blanchardstown - Mulhuddart |
Starlights GFC |
Matthew Cregan |
|
Blanchardstown - Mulhuddart |
Dublin North Hockey Club |
John Flannery |
|
Blanchardstown - Mulhuddart |
Hartstown Huntstown FC |
Aidan Cregg |
|
Blanchardstown - Mulhuddart |
D15 Runnning Club |
Gordan Hughes |
|
Blanchardstown - Mulhuddart |
Dublin Sonics Basketball Club |
Dave Lawrence |
|
Castleknock & Ongar |
Castleknock Cricket Club |
Afaaq Mateen |
|
Castleknock & Ongar |
Lucna BMX Club |
John O'Reilly |
|
Castleknock & Ongar |
St Brigids GAA - Handball Section |
James Leen |
|
Castleknock & Ongar |
Tridents Basketball Club |
Nick O'Brien |
|
Castleknock & Ongar |
Viking Sub Aqua Club |
John Dunne |
|
Castleknock & Ongar |
181st Castaheany Scout Group |
Keith D'Arcy |
|
Castleknock & Ongar |
Ongar Chasers Basketball Club |
Sladjan Kutijevac |
|
Castleknock & Ongar |
Ongar Cricket Club |
Nagendra Rao |
|
Castleknock & Ongar |
Castleknock Lawn Tennis Club |
John Naughton |
|
Howth - Malahide |
Baldoyle boxing club |
Ronan Kelly |
|
Howth - Malahide |
Howth Celtic Football club |
Robert Patton |
|
Howth - Malahide |
Malahide United |
Andrew Stenson |
|
Howth - Malahide |
Portmarnock Sub-Aqua Club |
Georgina Lawlor |
|
Howth - Malahide |
Portmarnock Tennis Club |
Peter La Comber |
|
Howth - Malahide |
Shelters Running Community AC |
Marcus Cowzer |
|
Howth - Malahide |
Naomh Mearnog GAA |
Frank Lynch |
|
Howth - Malahide |
Portmarnock Swim Club |
Sarah Bannan Keegan |
|
Howth - Malahide |
Portmarnock Tri Club |
Vinny Guedj |
|
Howth - Malahide |
Grove Lawn Tennis |
Nuala Burke |
|
Howth - Malahide |
Beann Eadair GAA Club |
Goretta Fitzpatrick |
|
Howth - Malahide |
Malahide Basketball Club |
Louise Young |
|
Howth - Malahide |
Portmarnock FC |
Martin Keating |
|
Howth - Malahide |
Red Socks Baseball |
Juan Lucas Galan |
|
Rush - Lusk |
Phoenix of Ballybougal |
Garry Fay |
|
Rush - Lusk |
Donabate Portrane Special Olymipics Club |
Maura Lovett |
|
Rush - Lusk |
Portrane Hockey Club |
Anita Patterson |
|
Rush - Lusk |
Cheval Riding Club |
Geraldine Dempsey |
|
Rush - Lusk |
Ballyboughal GFC |
Caroline Rooney |
|
Rush - Lusk |
Ballyboughal GFC |
Gerry Rooney |
|
Rush - Lusk |
Lambay Sports and Athletics |
Jennifer Tanner |
|
Rush - Lusk |
Lusk Athletic Club |
Aidan McKenna |
|
Rush - Lusk |
Lusk Ravens Basketball Club |
Gavin Oneill |
|
Rush - Lusk |
Rush Athletic FC |
Pat Roche |
|
Rush - Lusk |
St Maur's GAA |
Graham Kirk |
|
Rush - Lusk |
Donabate Portrane Tennis Club |
Carol Rankin |
|
Swords |
Aerlingus Bowling Club |
Sandra McCarthy |
|
Swords |
Fingal TriClub |
Catherine Walsh |
|
Swords |
Fingallians GAA |
Derek Mckittrick |
|
Swords |
Kinsealy United |
Garrett Nolan |
|
Swords |
River Valley Rangers AFC |
Arthur Ginny Browne |
|
Swords |
Rivervalley & Rathingle Community Centre |
Daria Pimonova |
|
Swords |
St Colmcilles GFC |
Cora Moran |
|
Swords |
Swords Basketball Club |
Stephen Hynes |
|
Swords |
Swords Basketball Special Olympics Club |
Catherine O'Connell |
|
Swords |
Swords Cricket Club |
Philip Jacob |
|
Swords |
Swords I.C.A. |
Anne O'Connor |
|
Swords |
Swords Manor FC |
Eoin Sherlock |
|
Swords |
Taekwon-Do IFT warriors Inclusion |
Aaron Goodson Finglas |
|
Swords |
Swords Tennis Club |
Suzanne Dromgoole |
|
Swords |
Aer Lingus Masters |
Mary Fitzpatrick |
|
Swords |
ALSAA Swim Club |
Paul Daly |
Captions:
- Image 1: David Storey, Director of Environment, Climate Action, Active Travel and Sports; AnnMarie Farrelly, Chief Executive of Fingal County Council; Members of Balbriggan Rugby Club; Mayor of Fingal Cllr Brian McDonagh; Cllr Tom Kitt
- Image 2: David Storey, Director of Environment, Climate Action, Active Travel and Sports; AnnMarie Farrelly, Chief Executive of Fingal County Council; Members of Corduff FC; Cllr Tom Kitt; Mayor of Fingal Cllr Brian McDonagh
- Image 3: Members of Corduff FC
- Image 4: Former Olympian David Gillick, host for the night