Donegal Sports Star Awards to commemorate 40th and 50th winners at 2025 launch

The Donegal Sports Star Awards will celebrate the winners of the inaugural awards in 1976, as well as the 40th anniversary of the 1985 winners, at the launch for the 2025 awards on Monday, 5th January 2026.

The launch for the 2025 awards will take place at 6pm in the Mount Errigal Hotel, where the winners from 1985 will be remembered on the 40th anniversary of their successes, as has been done for the past decade at the launch.

But in a special year for the awards, the winners from 1976 will also be celebrated on the 50th anniversary of the inaugural awards, which was also held in the Milford Inn.

The first Donegal Sports Star Awards were held on Friday, 26th November 1976, where the special guest was the Olympic Gold Medalist Ronnie Delaney. MC for the evening was Fr. Michael Sweeney.

The event was organised and promoted by the Milford Inn Bingo Committee. The group included Harry Blaney, Brendan McDaid, Fr. Michael Sweeney, Seamus Durkan, John McHugh, Denis Martin, Eddie Doherty, Michael McFadden, Paddy Sweeney and Paul Blaney.

Special medallions were designed for the 18 winners in the seventeen categories in the inaugural year of the Awards.

The 1985 Donegal Sports Star Awards also took place in the Milford Inn and that was on Friday, 8th November, when athlete Danea Herron (Finn Valley AC) became the first female to win the Overall award. It was the 10th staging of the Awards, where the Special Guest was the Minister for Sport Donal Creed TD, while the Chairperson of the Donegal County Council, Pat The Cope Gallagher, presented the Schools Awards.

The 1976 winners are as follows

Pat Bonner, Letterkenny (Snooker)

James Doherty, Fanad (Soccer) RIP 

Robert Ward, Kerrykeel (Motorsport)

 Ed Moore, Letterkenny (Hockey)

Fr. Brendan McBride, Kincasslagh (Golf) 

Marie Kelly and Margaret Gallagher Falcarragh (Handball)

 Danny McDaid, Letterkenny (Athletics)

John McCrossan, Letterkenny (Clay Pigeon Shooting) RIP 

Tommy Burns, Lifford (Cycling)

Uel Blair, Carnone (Badminton) RIP

Andy Curran, Castlefin (Gaelic Football)

Veronica McAteer, Letterkenny (Camogie) 

Frank Harrigan, Burt (Hurling) 

John Gillespie, Letterkenny (Boxing) 

Michael Jamieson, Milford (Rugby)

 Ann McCafferty, Stranorlar (Tennis) 

Tom Eaton, Raphoe (Hall of Fame Hockey) RIP.

1985 winners

Athletics -  Danea Herron (Finn Valley AC)

Boxing - Seamus Hegarty, Carndonagh

Cycling - Joe Barr, Newtowncunnigham

Clay Pigeon Shooting - John Campbell, Ballybofey RIP

GAA - Martin McHugh, Kilcar

Hockey - Richard Eaton, Raphoe RIP

Special Athlete - Bridie Lynch, St. Johnston

Motorsport - Rory Kennedy, Letterkenny

Rugby - Eamonn Friel, Donegal Town

Soccer -  John Gerard McGettigan, Milford

Squash - Bryan Harkin, Letterkenny

Appreciation - Tadgh Culbert, Letterkenny

Team - South Donegal Harriers, Donegal Town

School Girl - Siobhan Gallagher, Sacred Heart Convent, Ballyshannon

School Boy - Barry Cunningham, Falcarragh Community School

Sports Teacher -  Louise Diver, Falcarragh Community School

Sports School - St. Eunan’s College, Letterkenny

Youth - Adrian Crawford, Finn Valley AC

Hall of Fame - Gerry Thompson (Hockey), Raphoe, RIP

Overall - Danea Herron

The launch takes place on the first Monday of the new year, the 5th of January, in the Mount Errigal Hotel at 6pm.