Over one hundred gaels gathered in Canavan’s on Friday night for the Annual Ulster Ladies Awards night and what a night it turned out to be. MC Grainne McElwaine kept the show on the road in what turned out to be an action-packed evening. On arrival guests were treated to a drinks reception and some wonderful music performed by three young ladies from the Fintona CCE group.
Gerry Doherty welcomed the guests and before dinner 18 different cups were paraded into the hall in a most colourful walk of champions. These cups included both Ulster and All Ireland winning silverware.
The first awards of the evening recognised our club championship and golden boot winners. Vice President Hugh Devenney presented awards to Carryduff, Cavan Gaels, Knockbride, Moneyglass, Katie O Meara, Abi Connors, Aoife Horisk and Clara Lynch. Grainne Mc Elwaine then conducted a number of live interviews on stage with the club representatives.
After dinner former Tyrone legend Eilish Gormley was given the opportunity to tell the audience about the GatherforMcGahan charity. This charity was set up to raise funds for Cathriona Mc Gahan who has been left paralysed after an accident in France. Eilish chatted with Grainne about the amazing character Cathriona is, her football career and her love of farming. The charity has organised a wheelchair tournament to raise money for Cathriona’s future but also to raise awareness of what it is like to be in a wheelchair. Guests were very generous on the night and a fantastic amount of money was raised through an envelope collection.
The second set of presentations then honoured the intercounty champions at Ulster and All Ireland. These were made by the current President Eileen Jones Hardy and afterwards Grainne chatted with players from Cavan, Tyrone, Armagh and Antrim.
No awards evening would be complete without a game of Heads and Tails. Congratulations to the winner, Neal Hardy who won a stay in the Clanree Hotel. Thanks to Michael Naughton for his kind sponsorship of the prize. Two other prizes sponsored by Canavan’s and Medicare were won by Fiona Mc Nally and Ciara Mc Gillon.
The final part of the evening was the presentation of the annual volunteer awards which were presented by Gerry Doherty. The winners on the night were:
Young Player of the Year – Gia McCabe (Knockbride)
Young ambassador of the Year – Cassie Henderson (Clann Eireann)
National Volunteer of the Year – Elaine Kelly (Moneyglass)
Social Media Award – Mullahoran
Coach of the Year – Ronan Barry (Tullylish)
President Award – Donal Clarke (Cavan)
Club of the Year – Moneyglass
County Volunteer of the Year – Marie Brady (Monaghan)
Volunteer of the Year – Marie Baxter (Ballymahugh)
Ulster President Eileen Jones-Hardy then concluded the evening by thanking everyone, wishing all a safe journey home and reminding all that Ulster Ladies will continue to be Bigger, Busier and Better.
