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Shay Given honoured at special
Donegal night
25.04.18
SOME 500 guests turned
out to honour Shay Given as he was inaugurated as
2017 Donegal Person of the Year in Dublin.
The weekend's event, which had originally been
planned for March, had been postponed due the
weather.
Shay was joined at the Ballsbridge Hotel by members
of his family, friends and many Donegal Association
members and supporters.
Outgoing honouree Stephen McCahill spoke of the
great work carried out by the association led by
Hugh Harkin and Elaine Caffrey. He said the former
Irish international goal-keeeper was a "truly an
international Donegal person of great significance".
He said he would be "an outstanding Donegal Person
of the Year". |
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Donegal Person of the Year Shay Given
with Hugh Harkin. |
The acclaimed soccer
player invited his son Shane on stage to read a poem
which his primary teacher in Murlog National School,
LIfford, had written about him.
He spoke passionately about his love for Donegal and
remembered his late mother who passed away when he
was a young boy and how his childhood "consisted of
very hard work while selling fruit and vegetables".
He dedicated the award to his late dear friend Pat
Shovelin who passed away in October 2017.
There were special prizes on the special Donegal
night for 'Best Dressed Lady’ and ‘The Most Dapper
Gentleman’. The winners were Francesca Heir and
Francis Houston, respectively. Fellow Lifford man
Mickey Joe Harte started off the band for what would
be a great night of music, dance and celebration.
Shay even entertained the crowds with his own
rendition of ‘Wild Rover’ and ‘The Hills of
Donegal’. "The night was a fitting tribute to Shay
and the Donegal Association in Dublin wish him well
for the year ahead," said a spokesperson. |
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