Gallery: Finn Valley AC celebrates 50 golden years

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Finn Valley Athletics Club marked its golden jubilee at a special 50th Anniversary Gala Dinner on Saturday night.

The Cappry Suite in the Villa Rose Hotel was laden with icons of the past, aces of the present and stars of the future.

Finn Valley AC was founded in 1971 at a meeting in nearby Jackson's Hotel.

Patsy McGonagle, the club's founder and current chairperson, paid tribute to those who backed him in the early years and lasted the distance.

McGonagle managed the Irish athletics team over a 25-year period that included four Olympic Games and he remains the heartbeat and driving force for his club.

Before a packed audience, McGonagle was honoured for his contribution to Finn Valley AC, which has become an integral part of its local community.

From buying a disused tool shed to obtaining what was the old town dump on a site where now sits the Finn Valley Campus, a legacy has been created by the waters of the Finn.

His wife Rosaleen, who has also been involved from day one, was given a special token in recognition of her continued involvement.

Long-time Finn Valley AC athlete, coach and servant Neil Martin was honoured for his part in the story while club presidents Peadar McGranaghan and Patsy McGinley were given with mementos marking their lifetime of service.

Indeed, Peadar remains actively involved and was coach to a young juvenile team who toed the line at the recent National Cross Country Championships in Rosapenna.

Family members of Fr Paddy Kerr, Eugene Quinn, Manus O'Donnell, Mickey Houston and Hugh Gallen were present on the night. Rosaleen McGonagle, Bridgeen Doherty and Susan Doherty – all daughters of the late Mickey Houston – are still in the club.

Sean Carlin, whose dream of reaching the Olympic Games in 1984 were dashed by injury, was among the crowd, as were some of the famous Finn Valley AC women's teams who dominated the Irish Cross Country scene in the 1990s.

Finn Valley won ten titles from 1993, including eight-in-a-row. Kay Byrne scored on all ten teams and led the way as Finn Valley twice finished sixth in Europe during that historic run.

Six of the women who scored on those teams were in attendance with Byrne joined by Catriona McGranaghan, Noeleen Porter, Ita Boyle, Dawn Hargan and Rosaleen Campbell.

Tributes were also paid to Noreen Bonner, who recently stepped down after 21 years as club secretary, and good wishes extended to Finn Valley AC vice chairperson Dermot McGranaghan, who recently took up a new job as the National Club Development Manager with Athletics Ireland.

John Cronin, the Athletics Ireland President, was a special guest on Saturday night as were Councillor Patrick McGowan and former TD Pat The Cope Gallagher.

Finn Valley AC media officer Chris McNulty acted as MC and music was provided by the Pat Gallagher Band.

In its now 51 years in existence Finn Valley AC has won almost 450 national titles and McGonagle urged those who will carry the torch to ensure the next 50 years are as successful and memorable as the last.