GAA President’s Awards for 11 inspirational recipients
The GAA is pleased to confirm the recipients for Gradaim an Uachtaráin 2021 – the President's Awards.
These prestigious annual awards, organised with the support of AIB and broadcast by TG4, afford Uachtarán CLG, John Horan, with an opportunity to acknowledge outstanding commitment and long service across the club and county network.
The 11 awards are a cross-section of people who have shared the common theme of making an inspirational impact on their code and also their club and community.
Said Mr. Horan: “The GAA stands on the shoulders of the people we are fortunate to be able to call our own. Ultimately, the strength of the association is down to the resilience, dedication and inspiration of the volunteers who make it happen, week after week, year after year.
“These awards give us an opportunity to single out a group who are not motivated by recognition but who have made an invaluable contribution to our association and are worthy of this acknowledgement, and are great ambassadors for the tens of thousands like them all across the GAA.
“I would like to acknowledge AIB for their ongoing support of these awards and of their wider commitment to Gaelic games.
“Míle buíochas also to TG4 for their assistance in helping us to bring these awards to the widest audience possible and for the work they do each year in showcasing Gaelic games.”
The GAA President's Awards (Gradaim an Uachtaráin 2021) will be broadcast on Sunday next, February 28, on TG4 at 5.10 p.m.
Outstanding
The Connacht recipient is Peter Joe Fitzmaurice of Kilmore GAA Club, Roscommon, who has given outstanding service to the association and to Kilmore GAA since the club was reformed in 1972. He has also given over 20 years of service to Roscommon GAA as a loyal gate collector on gates for club and county games.
The handball recipients also hail from Roscommon. Michael and Ann Naughton of St. Coman’s GAA Club have not alone served their club but also their county and province in a coaching and administrative capacity since 1980. Both have given a lifetime of invaluable service to the game.
The Education Award this year goes to Michael McMahon, who has been involved in AIT GAA since joining the staff as a lecturer in civil engineering in the early '90s. He has been a driving force in the hurling club ever since. A native of Kilfenora in the Burren, Clare, Mike is heavily involved in Clarinbridge GAA Club and Galway GAA, and a great role model for his selflessness and commitment.
Elsewhere, the Leinster recipient is Denis Carr of St. Oliver Plunketts/Eoghan Ruadh GAA Club, Dublin; the Ulster recipient is Fr. Seán Ó Gallchóir, Cloughaneely GAA Club, Donegal; and the Munster recipient is John Clifford of Laune Rangers GAA Club, Kerry.
This year's Camogie recipient is Linda Kenny of Burren Rangers Hurling and Camogie Carlow, while the Ladies Gaelic Football Award goes to Catherine Murphy of Mungret St. Paul's GAA Club, Limerick.
The International Award goes to Tony Bass of Maastricht Gaels, The Netherlands, the Gradam na Gaeile Award has been won by Fergus Mac Aoidh, CLG Naomh Adhamhnáin, Dún na nGall, and the Dermot Early Family Award winners are the Dempsey family (pictured), who have been steeped in the GAA and especially St. Joseph’s GAA Club, Milltown, Co. Laois, for many years.