17.
The Winner of the 2023 Donegal Sports Star Motorsport Award was Ryan MacHugh and Declan Boyle. 2023 was good for Frosses rally driver Ryan MacHugh who in November was listed as a nominee for the Billy Coleman. Ryan and his co-driver Declan Boyle had rounded off their season by being crowned the Class 2 National Rally Champions earlier that month. The MacHugh/Boyle crew were competing in a Ford Fiesta Rally4. They had a first at the West Coast Championship and were third at the Border Rally Championship. Ryan is a nephew of Joe and Dermott MacHugh who won the Motorsport award in 2005. It is Ryan and Declan’s first time to be with us. Brendan MacHugh picked up the award.
18.
The Winner of the 2023 Para-Athlete Award was Alan Patterson from Killygordon. Alan Patterson was paralysed in a life changing trampoline accident inJuly 2016.He had played Hockey for Raphoe before moving to Instonians and was part of the team that won the Kirk Cup in 2015 scoring two goals in the final. Alan had also represented Ulster at U16 and U18 Schoolboy level. After the accident, Alan had many setbacks but was determined to play sport again and has excelled at Wheelchair Rugby graduating to the Ulster Barbarians Club squad.He was then drafted into the Irish Wheelchair Rugby Team and competed recently at the European Qualifiers in Italy where the Wheels in Green won a bronze medal and secured promotion to Division B of the European Championships. Alan was named Irish Wheelchair Rugby Player of the Year in April 2023.
19.
The Winner of the 2023 Rowing Award was Michael O’Boyle from the Loughros Point Rowing Club in Ardara.Michael had several achievements throughout 2023 but the highlight of the year was winning a Bronze for Ireland at the Beach Sprints in Italy in the J19 single sculls. He also took silver in the Beach Sprint Qualifiers. Michael is the first Junior to take home a European medal to Donegal Despite facing incredibly challenging conditions, Michael showcased his exceptional skills to finish third etching his name into rowing history.The Beach Sprints, a groundbreaking addition to the rowing calendar, brought together the most talented rowers from various nations to compete on the picturesque Italian coastline.Representing Loughros Point Rowing Club and proudly donning the Irish colors, Michael’s unwavering commitment to training and pursuit of excellence paid off as he navigated through the heats and semifinals, securing a place in the B Final.
20.
The Winner of the 2023 Rugby Award was Sadhbh McGrath, with her father Mick picking up the award. The Burt woman had a big year making her senior international debut and also starring for Ireland in the Dubai Cup. In March the 18-year-old made her senior international Ireland debut in the Six Nations Championship against Wales at Cardiff Arms Park and by the end of the year had been capped seven times. At the end of October Saidbh McGrath was a member of the Irish women’s team who won the inaugural Dubai Cup. The Burt woman is continuing her impressive career having captained and scored a try for the Clovers earlier this month against Welsh opposition in the new senior Celtic Challenge competition Sadhbh is only the fourth woman to win the rugby award after Laura Feely, Larissa Muldoon and Nora Stapleton who has taken the category seven times.