Longford Leader Sports Star Awards 2024 gala presentation takes place on Saturday

The 2024 Longford Leader Sports Star Awards, in association with Longford Sports Partnership, will be presented at a gala presentation function in the Longford Arms Hotel on Saturday, November 30 at 8pm, with Tony Ghee as master of ceremonies for the occasion.

Longford people love their sport. The county is steeped in sporting tradition. Its sportspeople always relish a challenge and they derive enormous pride whenever they manage to box well above their weight on the national and international stage.

The prowess of Ray Flynn, Eddie Macken, the late John Donlon and Bobby Burns, Dessie Barry and Paul Barden will always be revered. And today we have many rising sports stars throughout the county establishing big reputations for themselves and rubbing shoulders with the best in their chosen discipline.

It is important that we celebrate sporting excellence and the Longford Leader Sports Star Awards, in association with Longford Sports Partnership, will recognise the cream of Longford sporting talent on November 30 in the Longford Arms Hotel.

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The Longford Leader Sports Star Awards scheme is a continuation of the very successful Longford Sports Awards, initiated by Longford Sports Partnership in 2012.

After four consecutive years, 2012 - 2015 inclusive, there was no awards ceremony in 2016, however, they returned in impressive style in 2017, with Ganly’s as the lead sponsor in association with Longford Sports Partnership and the Longford Leader.

The awards were also presented in 2018 and 2019, with Tokyo Olympic Games (2021) swimmer Darragh Greene selected as the Overall 2019 Longford Sports Star of the Year.

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As the world battled against the Covid-19 pandemic and restrictions put paid to social gatherings and numerous events, the awards didn’t take place in 2020 or 2021 and it was great to see them return in 2022.

The Overall 2022 Longford Sports Star of the Year Award winner was athlete Cian McPhillips and the Overall 2023 Longford Sports Star of the Year Award winner was another incredibly talented athlete Fiona Gettings.

Longford Leader Managing Editor Alan Walsh said, “We are looking forward with great excitement to Saturday’s function as the legendary Longford Town FC player and coach Pat ‘Zac’ Hackett will be inducted into the Hall of Fame.”

He added, “The Longford Leader has been connecting communities and covering Longford sporting achievements for 127 years and we’re committed to doing so in print and online on longfordlive.ie for many years to come.

“And we are looking forward to honouring the county’s dedicated sportspeople and volunteers from over the past twelve months on Saturday, November 30.”

Mr Walsh said the Longford Leader is delighted to be working alongside Longford Sports Partnership to present the 2024 Longford Sport Stars Awards. “A huge thanks to Longford Acting Sports Partnership Coordinator Donal Mulligan for his expertise, advice and guidance in relation to the awards scheme.

“Donal, his colleagues and the Board of Longford Sports Partnership, headed up by Chairperson Tony Headon, do an incredible amount of positive work promoting sport and physical activity to people of all ages and abilities across the county, and they deserve enormous credit for this. And the Longford Leader / Longford Live is delighted to be teaming up with Longford Sports Partnership on the awards scheme.”

As Longford Town FC celebrates its centenary year, the club’s charismatic Zac Hackett will be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

While Karen Lennon, the first Lady President of Longford RFC, will be honoured as the Volunteer of the Year. Longford minor footballers, following their heroic Leinster Final victory over Dublin, are the Team of the Year.

The Junior Sportsperson of the Year is rising snooker star Joe Shannon and Sports Ability Award winner is Derek Rutherford who was the Ireland goalkeeper at first ever Transplant World Cup in Italy that finished sixth. Derek had a liver transplant in 2022.

Ten category winners were also selected (in alphabetical order) - Jake Bermingham, Kayaking; Andrew Fitzpatrick, Athletics; Fiona Gettings, Athletics; Darragh Greene, Swimming; Michaela Hand, Soccer; Shane McGuigan, Rugby; Robin Og Murphy, Athletics; Goodness Ogbonna, Soccer; Grace Shannon, Ladies Football and Robbie Smyth, GAA Gaelic Football.

Each of the fifteen award recipients, and you can read about their fantastic achievements in this special supplement, will also be in the running for the coveted title of Overall 2024 Longford Leader Sports Star of the Year and this will be revealed on the night of the gala presentation.

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Tickets for the gala dinner and awards presentation on Sunday, November 30 in the Longford Arms Hotel costing €35 each can be purchased from the Longford Leader office at Market Square, Longford N39 KN82 ; telephone 043 33 45241.