Gallery: Letterkenny AC’s 50th anniversary celebrates past, present and future

The part played by Letterkenny Athletic Club in the lives of so many families, individuals and running enthusiasts over its 50 years was celebrated in style at its anniversary dinner dance in the Radisson Hotel on Saturday night.

Guests were brought back down a memory lane of wonderful stories, successes and brilliant nostalgia as the club, formed back in 1972, marked a special milestone.

It’s a club that has long been part of the fabric of the town, but the bond among its members, whether they are current athletes, or those who ran in the black and amber in years gone by, is something very special.
And that was very evident as the club paid tribute to all those who have played a part in its success story since its formation all those years ago.

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Saturday night’s event offered Letterkenny AC a chance to celebrate the year gone by with presentations made across a host of categories from juvenile to senior. But the event also allowed club members an opportunity to remember the early years.

Athletes who were household names within sport in Donegal back in the 1970s and 1980s were among the guests and in a lovely gesture, many of them were invited on stage to present some of the awards on the night. While on stage, they were given the chance to share some of their own memories when interviewed by club member Martin Gormley.

Gormley was able to offer some wonderful anecdotes of his own and he also took time to remember many club members and volunteers who are sadly no longer with us.

The night also saw Honorary Club Membership presentations made to 10 people -Danny McDaaid: Charlie Fox, Eddie McCarron, Noel McCarron, John B Doherty, Charlie Kelly, Mairead Hennessy, Neily McDaid, Kevin Toner, Fr Kieran McAteer, Michael Cullen - who were such an integral part of the club back in the early days prior to the opening of the track and clubhouse at the Letterkenny Community Centre.

Of the awards, the Performance of the Year was Caitriona Jennings, for her World 100k bronze medalist and European 50k champion, while Female Athlete of the Year was Ann Marie McGlynn and Male Athlete of the Year went to Donal Farren.
The joint-winners of the Juvenile Athletes of the Year were Emma Bonar and Daragh Naughton.

The club is now based at the Aura Leisure Centre where the track is named after Letterkenny AC’s greatest ambassador, Danny McDaid who was among those to speak on the night.

In typical humble fashion, McDaid was quick to play down the success he enjoyed on the international stage, but spoke of the important part that Letterkenny AC has played in his own life and that of his family.

In some ways, he was speaking for so many people who have benefited from being a part of a fantastic club, which, as Cllr Ciaran Brogan pointed out in the closing address of the night, has played such a vital part in the positive development of the town over a long number of years.

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Award winners
Female Athlete of the Year
Ann Marie McGlynn

Male Athlete of the Year
Donal Farren

Performance of the Year
Caitriona Jennings

Junior Athlete of the Year
Ryan Canning

Male Track and Field Athlete of the Year
Sheldon Romeo Nyoni

Female Male Track and Field Athlete of the Year
Kathryn McDevitt

Female Master of the Year
Natasha Adams

Male Master of the Year
Ciaran McGonagle

Male Cross-Country Athlete of the Year
Karl Duggan

Female Road Athlete of the Year
Noleen Scanlan

Male Road Athlete of the Year
Mark Grennan

Most Improved Female of the Year
Eimear Gormley

Most Improved Male of the Year
Philip McHugh

Team of the Year
Senior and Novice Women

Clubperson of the Year
Grit McGee

Honorary Lifetime Memberships
Charlie Fox, Eddie McCarron, Noel McCarron, John B Doherty, Charlie Kelly, Mairead Hennessy, Neily McDaid, Kevin Toner, Fr Kieran McAteer, Michael Cullen

All-Ireland medallists
Thaiji Al Daher, Emma Bonar, Oisin Cuskelly, Kathryn Davison, Eoghain Duffy, Kate Elliot, Erin Friel, Rohan McMenamin, Daragh Naughton, Brendan Ndambria, Jack O’Donnell, Jack Robinson, Harry Shields.

Juvenile Appreciation Award
Aidan Smith

Juvenile winners
Female indoors
Katie Elliot

Male indoors
Temple Akpo

Female Cross-Country
Anna Russell

Male Cross-Country
Philip McGee

Female Newcomer
Clodagh Gallagher

Male Newcomer
Rohan McMenamin

Female track and field
Erin Friel

Male track and field
Brendan Ndambira

Athlete of the Year (joint winners)
Emma Bonar and Daragh Naughton