Ernie picks up national volunteers in sport award

Mayo man Ernie Deacy has been named among the winners of the National Volunteers in Sport Awards at an awards ceremony in the Aviva Stadium.

A sporting official award was presented to Ernie for his huge contribution to athletics with Aughagower AC, Westport, coaching athletes to win All-Ireland gold medals.

Over the last 20 years Ernie has made a huge voluntary contribution to athletics. He has coached athletes to win All-Ireland gold medals in seven different disciplines, with athletes ranging in age from 8 to 18. 

Fifteen of the athletes Ernie has coached have between them won over 60 All-Ireland gold medals. One of the athletes won a silver medal in the Athens Paralympics Games and a bronze medal in the World Paralympics championship in the previous year.

The Volunteers in Sport Awards 2014 were presented by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, the Irish Sports Council, the Federation of Irish Sport and the Community Foundation of Ireland.

First held in 2007, the objective of the awards programme is to honour 10 individuals as representatives of the huge body of volunteers in sport who give of their time in various capacities through the structure of sports clubs and groups to sport in Ireland.

Speaking at the awards, Minister of State Michael Ring said: “The work of volunteers is the foundation on which sport in Ireland is built - without volunteers there would be no sport in Ireland.

“These awards allow us to honour some of the real heroes of Irish sport working behind the scenes.  Volunteers are a vital part of every club and sporting organisation around the country and are doing wonderful work for sport in their communities.”