'Mick Murphy epitomises what the GAA is all about'

Retired Garda Mick Murphy was awarded with the Special Contribution to Sport at the National Garda Sports Awards on Friday night at the Mount Errigal Hotel in Letterkenny.

An Garda Síochána held their National Sports Stars Awards on Friday on a stylish night at The Mount Errigal Hotel in Letterkenny, where Donegal manager Jim McGuinness was the special guest. 

Locally there were awards for the Garda Golf Society Donegal, who won Team of the Year; Donegal and St Eunan's goalkeeper Shaun Patton from Carndonagh Garda Station was named as the GAA winner and Garda Robert McCallion RIP, of Letterkenny Garda Station, the Posthumous Award.

At the plush ceremony, the reasons for Mick's award were explained: "Mick, a native of Ballina, Co Mayo, joined An Garda Síochána on January 2, 1974. Mick developed a love of Gaelic Football having been inspired by the Mayo Minor Team who won the All-Ireland in 1966.

READ NEXT: In pictures: Donegal successes at stylish Garda National Sports Stars Awards night

"His first station was Burnfoot in the Inishowen area of Donegal. There was very little GAA in that area at that time. Mick was inspirational in setting up 3 Youth Clubs in the area in Burt, Inch Island and Fahan. He was then involved in setting up a GAA team which consisted of mainly Gardaí in Inishowen and teams were entered in festivals in Clonmany, Carndonagh and Buncrana, winning trophies in 1976 and 1977.

"Mick transferred to Letterkenny Garda Station in 1978 where he remained until he retired. He initially played Gaelic Football for Roger Casements, which was an amalgamation of the Milford and Fanad areas who had no GAA clubs in those areas at that time.

"Mick transferred his allegiances to the Glenswilly GAA Club outside Letterkenny in January 1985. He has played Senior Football for the club, coached at underage level and represented the club as a referee at underage and senior level for 10 years. He was also club delegate to the County Board from 1985 to 2000.

"Mick was appointed as Coaching Officer for Donegal GAA from January 2000 to January 2005. In this role he was responsible for coaching education, Schools of Excellence, Development Squads, Cúl Camps and the Promotion of GAA Supports within Clubs.

"In February 2005 Mick was appointed Games Development Manager for Donegal GAA with responsibility for Staff, Development Squads, Coaches’ Education, Camps and Club Coaching Structures. He remained in this role until December 2018.

"He returned as Club Delegate to the County Board and Coaching Officer for Glenswilly GAA Club from 2018 to 2024. Mick has also served as Chairman of Glenswilly GAA Club for 3 terms and a total of 9 years.

"He has coached many teams in the club and was manager when the club won U21 titles in 1994 and 2005. He was also part of the coaching backroom team when Glenswilly won their first ever Donegal Senior Football Championship in 2011. The club have since gone on to win two further Senior Championships.

"Many of the players on those teams would have been coached by Mick Murphy and his influence on those players and the Glenswilly GAA Club that exists today is immeasurable. One of those players on whom he had most influence is his own son Michael Murphy, who captained Donegal to the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship in 2012. Michael is widely regarded as one of the best footballers to ever play for Donegal.

"Mick continues to work tirelessly for his local club and recently co-ordinated a Club Development Draw in which the club raised a grand total of €380,000. Mick epitomises what the GAA is all about and An Garda Síochána are proud of people like Mick Murphy who have made such a contribution to the communities in which he was stationed. We congratulate Mick and wish long and continued success to Mick, his wife Mary and their family."