Earley family’s dedication recognised in president’s awards

THE late Dermot Earley’s family were honoured at the GAA’s president’s awards last night with the creation of a new category, named after the former Roscommon footballer, which they won.

The night is usually dedicated to volunteers from all over the country but this year president Christy Cooney added a new category in recognition of families’ sacrifice to the GAA.

“This scheme is about honouring and acknowledging those who work so hard on our behalf for such longperiods of time to ensure that we have vibrant clubs and activity all over the country,” he said. “This commitment is not played out in the limelight and does not generate headlines but it is the sort of dedication that makes the GAA what it is.” Earley, who passed away last year, was the former Chief of Staff of the Irish Defence Forces and starred for Roscommon for 20 years. He won two All Stars in a distinguished career and his wife, Mary, and six children, including son Dermot, an All Star winner withKildare, accepted the award.

There were also 15 other recipients drawn from all codes, disciplines and provinces from the wider GAA family.

The camogie award went to Katie Forde. She joined Croydon camogie club from her native Turloughmore in Galway in 2002, became club secretary and, before stepping down, carried out huge development work.

Br Finbar Spring (St Augustines College) from Waterford took the handball honour.

He has been passing on his passion for handball in Dungarvan since the 1980s and helped Waterford’shandballers become a formidableunderage outfit while also beingresponsible for the funding andbuilding of several alleys.

The rounders award went to Joe O’Donoghue who brought the sport to Ballon in Carlow in the mid 1980s. Joe joined the National Rounders Council in 1996 and served in various positions since then, currently serving as president.

Cavan’s John Joe Brady’s(Mullahoran) association with ladies football went back to 1976 and he has held practically all the positions of administration and management in the game.

WIT’s Eugene McKenna took the third level accolade. He arrived from Monaghan in 1979 as an engineering lecturer and helped establish a GAA club at the college.

He has been a driving force behind the GAA development at WIT.

Micheál Mac Conmara won the Scór award. He was elected secretary of county Scór in 1972 and has been chairman since 1990. Brian Farmer, representing Canada GAA, won the overseas award. He emigrated to Toronto in 1975 and was elected as the chairman of Toronto GAA in 1980.

He was instrumental in bringingGaelic Games to the Skydome in Toronto in 1990 and ‘91.

Limerick’s Johnny Butler (Doon) and Michael Looney (Dr Crokes) won the Munster awards. Armagh’sMargaret McConville (Crossmaglen) and Paul Doris (Dungannon Clarkes) were the Ulster winners while Paddy Mulvey (Shannon Gaels) and Gerry Mahon (Seán Ó Heslins) took the Connacht honours. Meath’s Fiontan Mac Ginneártaí (Gaeil Colm Cille) and Wexford’s (John Curtis) were the Leinster winners.