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14 Mar 2026
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14 Mar 2026
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1979 Donegal sports star awards overall winner Danny McDaid.
The Donegal Sports Star committee will honour the winners of 1979 at the launch of 2019 Awards in the Mount Errigal Hotel in early January.
On the 30th of November 1979 the function took place in the Milford Inn and the overall winner that year was Danny McDaid after captaining Ireland to a team silver medal at the World Cross-Country Championships in Limerick.
McDaid edged out Donegal GAA player Finian Ward (Glencolmcille) who was an All-Star that year and Colm McGonagle (Fanad) who won a remarkable four national medals (three soccer and a GAA title) on consecutive Sundays in May 1979.
Wolverhampton Youth team manager and former FAI National Director of Coaching John Jarman was the special guest to make the presentations. Donegal Sports Star Chairperson Grace Boyle says honouring the sporting stars of 40 years ago is a special part of the build-up to the 2019 awards, which take place at the end of January.
1979 Donegal Sports Star Awards
Overall:Danny McDaid
Athletics: Danny McDaid (Letterkenny)
Badminton: Bobby Finlay (Raphoe)
Boxing: Eamonn Coyle (Raphoe)
Clay Pigeon Shooting: John Campbell (Ballybofey)
Cycling: Tommy Burns (Newtowncunningham)
GAA: Finian Ward (Glencolmcille)
Golf: Fr. Brendan McBride (San Francisco)
Handball: Rosie Sharkey (Falcarragh)
Hockey: Cecil Jacob (Ramelton)
Motorsport: Vincent Bonner (Dungloe)
Rugby: Trevor Johnston (Birmingham)
Soccer: Colm McGonagle (Fanad)
Table Tennis: Brid Carr (Fanad)
Tennis: David Craig (Eglinton, Derry)
Appreciation: Patsy McGonagle
Hall of Fame: Eamonn McDaid (RIP)
Secondary Schools: St. Eunan’s College
Sports Teacher: Fr Sean Gallagher (Gortahork)
Sports Girl: Michelle Morrow (Chavornay, Switzerland)
Sports Boy: Gerard McGinley (Manorcunningham)
3D Visuals of the proposed school campus by Kennedy Fitzgerald Architects
Never forgotten; Ruth, Jodie, Mark, Sean and Evan all died in the Buncrana Pier Tragedy on the evening of Sunday, March 20, 2016.
Subject site of the planning application for Raphoe branch of the Lifford Credit Union
The 58-year-old was more than three times over the limit when he decided to drive home from a night out in Buncrana.
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