Kincasslagh man says winning GAA Volunteer of the Year was 'a complete surprise'
Eugene McGarvey, received the Volunteer of the Year (Culture and Irish Language) Award at the Abbey Hotel, Donegal Town
Eugene McGarvey received the Volunteer of the Year (Culture and Irish Language) award at the Donegal GAA Awards night.
Donegal GAA chairperson Mary Coughlan presented the award to the Kincasslagh-native at the event, which took place in the Abbey Hotel, Donegal Town.
Eugene has been volunteering with Dungloe GAA for the past 12/13 years, although “It was a complete surprise,” he tells DonegalLive. “I knew nothing about it until I landed there.
“It was only at the award before mine that I began to realise it was a personal award; it was very special.”
Eugene is the Oifigeach Cultúr agus Gaeilge (Culture and Irish Language officer) at CLG An Clochán Liath. The role involves promoting Irish and mainly involves the cultural dimension of the GAA - Scór.
Established in 1969, Scór is a competition aiming to promote Ireland’s traditional pastimes. Members have the opportunity to represent their club through the medium of Figure/Céilí Dancing, Solo Singing, Ballad Group, Recitation/Scéalaíocht, Nuachleas/Novelty Act, Instrumental Music, Set Dancing and Table Quiz. The competition is divided into two age levels, Scór na nÓg, for young people under 17 and Scór Sinsear, for those over 17.
The winners of the county final go on to the Provincial final and then on to the All-Ireland Final. Finally, All-Ireland Scór champions are presented with their medals by the President of the GAA, Jarlath Burns.
Through dramas written by Eugene, a spot was secured in the All-Ireland Final in Castlebar 2022 and Killarney 2023. Eugene had initially joined to revamp Scór, but his affiliation with Dungloe GAA was there because his three sons, Martin, Paul and Brendan, played for the club.
Although Eugene has been volunteering for quite a while. “My background on stage comes from my time with the Burtonport Variety Group,” he continues. “The big influence was Mary McGee and Margaret Reilly, who got me into stage work.”
Eugene has been involved with Burtonport Festival for over 20 years and has always volunteered at St Mary’s Church, Kincasslagh.