Unsung sporting heroes honoured

Unsung heroes of Irish sport were today rewarded for their efforts with special honours marking their years of volunteer work.

At a special ceremony at Farmleigh House, Dublin, eight sports fans who dedicate their spare time and skills to others, were given the inaugural National Volunteers in Irish Sports Awards.

Minister for Sport John O’Donoghue praised them for their work.

“Their boundless enthusiasm, commitment and dedication have been an inspiration to generations of people participating in sport and are an example for us all to follow,” he said.

The winners, aged between 33 and 80, are all volunteers and some have volunteered their services for over 50 years. They were chosen by Olympic gold medal winner Ronnie Delany, and other sports officials.

They include John Flynn from Moyne Athletic Club in Tipperary, Paddy O’Brien, GAA coach, from Meath, Harry Brooks from Clontarf Rugby Club and Eric Reilly from Erris United Soccer Club, Belmullet, Co Mayo.

The others are sailor Carmel Winkelmann, Michael Logue from the Cranford Athletic Club in Donegal, ski teacher Kathleen Sythes and Elizabeth Foley who volunteers with the Special Olympics.

The awards were set up to recognise, at national level, the role that 400,000 volunteers play each year in sustaining and developing sport in Ireland.