GAA Site
The UGAAWA Annual Banquet 24th November 2007
ULSTER GAA WRITERS' TENNENT'S ANNUAL AWARDS BANQUET
It was another night of celebration
at the Great Northern Hotel when close on 600 people enjoyed the 20th staging
of the Writers' annual awards function. Among the guests were Uachtarán
Nioclás Ó Braonián agus Bean and the newly-elected
Ard Stiúrthóir Paraic Ó Dufaigh who was attending his
first social occasion since being elected.
Also enjoying the night
were Ulster vice-President Aoghan Farrell, PRO Michael Hasson and treasurer
Martin McAviney. The Ulster President Tom Daly missed the function because
of being in Rome for elevation of Archbishop Sean Brady to Cardinal.
A variety of trophies won
by Ulster counties and clubs were paraded in to begin the event and after
dinner the annual awards were presented as follows:
Male Footballer of the Year - Thomas Freeman (Monaghan)
Female Footballer of the Year - Gemma Begley (Tyrone).
Hurler of the Year - Declan Coulter (Armagh).
Handball Award - Seamus Graham (Antrim).
Camogie Award - Jane Adams (Antrim)
Communications Award - Terry Cormican (Antrim)
Cormac McAnallen Young Achiever - Aisling Reilly (Antrim)
Personality of the Year - Seamus McEneaney (Monaghan)
Services to the GAA - Declan O'Neill (Tyrone).
The specially designed
awards were provided by Belleek Pottery while each recipient also received
a silver picture frame with the UGAAWA motif in the corner, compliments
of Omeath jeweller Garret Mallon, a two-day break in one of the Brian McEniff
Hotels provided by Bank of Ireland and a polo shirt from Pro*Star Sport.
Ladies' gifts - Santa china decorations
- came compliments of Belleek Pottery while Galway Crystal provided gifts
for the VIPs. The gents' gift was a black bow-tie with the UGAAWA logo on
it. These were provided by the writers.
The Chairman's
Award went to
former Crossmaglen Rangers' secretary Margaret McConville while Oisin McConville,
Claire Doherty (Derry Camogie), Neil Gallagher (Donegal) and Gareth Haughey
(Omagh CBS) received bronze statues, compliments of Portadown Sports Goods
shop owner Nigel McBride, in recognition of leading their teams to All-Ireland
success.
Fear a Ti for the evening was Adrian Logan, a former chairman of the UGAAWA and still an active member while music for dancing was provided by Gary Gamble and his band from Strabane. A highlights video of the year's activity was compiled by Jerome Quinn (BBC) and shown on the night.
