Hall of Fame winner to be announced next week

The final piece in the jigsaw that is the Mullingar Park Hotel sponsored Westmeath Sports Stars of the Year Awards will fall into place next week with the announcement of the winner of the Hall of Fame Award for 2008.Twelve months ago, the inaugural honour was bestowed on former Westmeath GAA star and administrator par excellence, Paddy Flanagan and this year"s winner is a person who has also given a lifetime of service to sport.Preparations for the Awards night which will take place in the Mullingar Park Hotel on Friday fortnight, January 30 are well advanced and within the past week, there has been a growing demand for tickets.The twelve award winners are Martin Fagan, athletics, John Joe Nevin and Johnny Joyce, both boxing, Michael Ennis, Martin Flanagan and Des Dolan, all gaelic football, Michael O"Grady, golf, Ruth Robinson, eventing, Sean McMullin, athletics, John Keane, gaelic football, Brendan Murtagh, hurling and Mullingar Harriers AC, athletics.The Awards Night will be compered by RTE sports presenter, Colm Murray, who did a superb job at last year"s groundbreaking event and guests are assured of another sparkling night of entertainment, with the added bonus of rubbing shoulders with some of the elite of the sporting life of Westmeath.As has already been announced, tickets for the Awards Night can only be purchased through the Westmeath Examiner offices and people requiring same are asked to contact Sandra McCann at 044 9346701 or 086 8537983 during office hours.The tickets are priced at €50 with discounted offers available to groups.