In pictures: Mayor's Reception celebrates North West 10k committee

Click on the arrows to go through the photos from Clive Wasson

The North West 10K Committee was accorded a Mayor's reception from the Mayor of Letterkenny-Milford Ciaran Brogan on Monday night, where members past and present were celebrated for their long-standing contribution to sport and charity in the county.

The North West 10K has been running since 1997 when it took up the mantle from the Rockhill 10K.

Since then, it has given 41 local charities the opportunity to raise an incredible €1,018,876.

Each May Bank Holiday, it also gives over 1,000 people of all ages and abilities an opportunity to be part of a feel-good community day.

At a reception in the Letterkenny Public Services Centre on Monday night, Mayor Brogan congratulated the committee on surpassing the €1million fundraising mark in 2025 and acknowledged the immense effort behind the achievement.

“It’s something very special that you have achieved as a committee,” Cllr Brogan said. “Knowing the amount of work that is involved in an event like this, it takes a lot of people and a lot of teamwork to come together.

“I have seen this event develop into one of the biggest events in our calendar in the north west and it’s important we as a council recognise the vast contribution that all of you have made over the years.

“It doesn’t just happen without an awful lot of hard work behind the scenes. It takes a lot of great people working together, and you have that in abundance.

“A lot of you have given so much to many events over the years and been involved in the success, the development and the shaping of many individuals in this area and the North West 10K has had a critical role in that.”

Cllr Brogan spoke about the unique sense of achievement that the North West 10K race brings, saying: “From signing on, getting the T-shirt and getting over the line, that feeling that people get from that, for their health and wellbeing, is really special.”

He also honoured the committee for their trojan work in giving local charities a platform to showcase what they do, calling on them to "take a bow and be very proud of the legacy that you have achieved here with this great community event".

The Mayor added that he hoped that the reception would show members how “appreciated and valued” they are for their volunteerism.

In accepting the honour on behalf of the committee, Chairperson Neil Martin thanked the Mayor and the Municipal District councillors for their ongoing support, particularly their contributions through the Members Development Fund, which helps reduce organisational costs so that more money goes directly to charity.

Mr Martin celebrated the people behind the 10K and paid special tribute to the three members who have served continuously since 1997, Gerard McGinley, Brendan McDaid and Norman Spratt. He paused to remember the late Michael Cullen, one of the original committee members, who passed away this year.

He also acknowledged the leadership that came before him. He is the fourth person to chair the event, following Charlie Kelly, Grace Boyle and James Boyle. Looking to the future, he added, “The committee is 13-strong but we are always searching for more like-minded persons to join us.”

Double Olympian Danny McDaid, a long-time supporter of the North West 10K, spoke about the significant boost that the race brings to local charities. As a member of the Diabetes Ireland Donegal branch, he noted that the organisation has gained “to the tune of up to €100,000” through its involvement.

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McDaid, who is marking 60 years in athletics and fired the starting gun of the 10K in 2023, encouraged the committee to continue its work.

“Keep going,” he said. “Long may it continue and long may the local support of the charities continue, because every penny raised by these charities is spent in Donegal.”