Patsy McGonagle receives honorary degree from St Mary’s College, Twickenham

Patsy McGonagle was presented with an honorary degree by St Mary’s University, Twickenham.

The Ballybofey man was conferred at a ceremony held at the Strawberry Hill campus on Friday.

The former Irish athletics team manager and Finn Valley AC founder member attended St Mary’s College in the early 1970s.

In 1972, McGonagle graduated from St Mary’s College with a degree in Physical Education.

Upon his return, McGonagle was one of the early pioneers of full time PE teachers in Ireland.

He first took up a post at St Columba’s Comprehensive in Glenties before working at the Regional Technical College in Letterkenny, now ATU Donegal.

“St Mary’s was a great opportunity and a great experience,” McGonagle recalled in his 2019 memory, Relentless.

“The lecturers were interested in athletics and I was being introduced to all the sporting activities.”

McGonagle was accompanied by his wife Rosaleen to Friday’s ceremony.

World cross country champion David Bedford and World marathon champion Jim Hogan were among McGonagle’s training group in London.

He said: “It was probably the world’s elite group at the time. I was blessed to be in it.”

McGonagle founded Finn Valley AC in 1971 and managed Irish athletics teams for 25 years from 1992-2017.

His tenure included four Olympic Games, six World Championships and six European Championships and he was named a Freeman of Donegal in 2013.