The judges have decided! The finalists have been confirmed
WESTMEATH EXAMINER COMMUNITY AND SPORTS AWARDS 2024
The judges have made their decisions and the finalists have been announced for the 2024 Westmeath Examiner Community and Sports Awards.
The winners will be announced at an event on September 5 at the Mullingar Park Hotel, which will shine the spotlight on exceptional sporting talent and community dedication across north Westmeath.
Community Awards Finalists
Carers, the people who do so much for so little reward, are being recognised in these awards, and representing them are finalists, Eileen Lonican, who cares for her father, and cared for her mother before she passed away; Carla Thompson, a full time carer to her daughter Lucy; and Eugene Murray, who works full-time, and also cares for his parents (both in their late 80s) and his wife, who is recovering from cancer.
The Club of the Year category acknowledges the contributions of Bunbrosna GAA, the 9th Westmeath Scouts, based in Milltownpass, and the Mullingar Community First Responders.
Social enterprises are an increasingly important part of the modern world, and in that category, the finalists are Mullingar Arch Club, the Irish Road Victims Association, and Milltownpass Tidy Towns.
Then there are unsung heroes, the type of people in every community who just get on with it, and don’t need or seek recognition; however, others in their communities have seen fit to nominate Andy McEoin (athletics) and Martin Doyle, described as “a one-man residents association”.
Sports Awards Finalists
The Hall of Fame category will recognise Terry O’Dowd (Mullingar Shamrocks GAA Club) and Mick Lambe (Mullingar Rugby Club) for their lifelong contributions to sport.
The Team of the Year award will go to one of the following – the Mullingar RFC U16 girls team, Mullingar Athletic U19 team, and Mullingar Handball Club Youth Féile team, each having demonstrated remarkable teamwork and success.
In the Young Sportsperson of the Year category, John Donoghue, a World and European Boxing Champion, faces competition from Oisín Lane of Mullingar Harriers Athletic Club and Eoghan Conlan, a rising star in rugby with Mullingar and Irish 7s.
The Outstanding Achievement of the Year award will celebrate milestones such as St Munna’s historic All-Ireland club camogie title, Coláiste Mhuire’s Leinster ‘A’ Junior football triumph, and Castlepollard Community College’s success in Pitch and Putt.
Special Recognition Awards will also honour the 2004 Westmeath senior football team, Leinster SFC winners, and the 1999 U21 football team that clinched the All-Ireland title.
The Westmeath Examiner team thank everyone who took the time to submit nominations for the awards, and we look forward to the event on Thursday September 5, in the Mullingar Park Hotel, when the winners will be announced.
Lakepoint Retail Park Mullingar
In Association with Westmeath County Council