Nominations now open for the Donegal Sports Star Awards

Committee members, back L-R: Bartley McGlynn, Nancy McNamee, Neil Martin and Paul McDaid, with front L-R: multiple-time Motorsport award winner James Cullen and Chairperson Grace Boyle | .

placeholder image — Committee members, back L-R: Bartley McGlynn, Nancy McNamee, Neil Martin and Paul McDaid, with front L-R: multiple-time Motorsport award winner James Cullen and Chairperson Grace Boyle | .

The deadline for nominations for the 51st Donegal Sports Star Awards is November 27

The Donegal Sports Star Committee is now taking nominations for the 2026 Awards. Chairperson Grace Boyle is asking sporting bodies across the County to submit their nominations as soon as possible.

1986 Motorsport winner James Cullen joined the Committee to promote nominations for this year’s Awards. Cullen was a six-time winner between 1981 and 1993. The deadline is Friday, November 27, and the email address for nominations is [email protected].

“It’s been another good year for Donegal sport with plenty of successes,” Chairperson Grace Boyle said.

“So the Committee is encouraging clubs to take the opportunity to have those achievements recognised with a Sports Star Award nomination.

“It’s the 51st year, and we've been back at work since September in terms of preparing for the 2026 Awards, which will take place on Friday, January 29, in the Mount Errigal Hotel. We will have the launch before that on Monday, January 4, when we will announce the Special Guest and honour the winners of 1986 to mark the 40th anniversary of their Awards.”

Last year there were 37 categories listed for the Awards Banquet. And just two people, Niamh McLaughlin (Brendan McDaid Memorial Special Achievement) and Catriona Jennings (International Recognition), knew that they would be receiving awards.

“The Awards night itself is really special for the nominees, their families and friends. So it’s important that nominations are made now in good time, with the deadline being Friday, November 27. Donegal County Council is the sponsor again, and I want to thank them for their ongoing support to host the Awards,” Ms Boyle continued.

James Cullen spoke about his memories of winning the Donegal Sports Star Motorsport Award category. He won the first of his awards in 1981, and the last was in 1999. The others were 1986,‘88,’91 and ‘93. “It’s a great event, and I have good memories of being honoured at the presentations. The important thing now is for sporting successes from this year to be recognised. So you have to help the Committee by putting in the nominations,” Cullen said.

Send nominations to [email protected] before the closing date of Friday, November 27.