Patsy gets his award from Mayor McBrearty
DONEGAL’S Mr Sport has been honoured with the Freedom of Donegal this afternoon.
Patsy McGonagle, the Ireland Olympic team manager, said he was ‘humbled’ by the honour, only the sixth person to be given the award.
The Donegal native, the son of Inishowen parents, has become synonymous with sport in Donegal, running the successful Finn Valley Sports Centre.
Mayor Frank McBrearty led to tributes to Patsy in front of close family and friends.
The Voice of Sport, former Highland radio man, Charlie Collins was also there with All-Ireland winner Martin McHugh.
European Boxing Champion Jason Quigley was also at the event.
Mayor McBrearty said it was fitting that Patsy received the honour.
“We are very lucky to have someone of Patsy’s stature and nature here in Co Donegal,” he said.
“The fact he managed the Ireland team for the past three Olympics speaks for itself.
“Ballybofey and Stranorlar are the capitals of sport in Donegal.”
County manager Seamus Neely also acknowledged Patsy’s role in managing GAA teams as well as Mac Cumhaills and Glenfin.
He said the county schools athletics championships were a testament to his work at grassroots level by a man who had given so much to sport at a national level.
Councillors paid glowing tributes to Patsy for his work over the years.
“When he hung up his own spikes, he put on the boots to bring other people forward,” said Cllr Cora Harvey.
She said that the Twin Towns man and former St Columb’s College student had helped raised untolled thousands for charity by helping to organise and run road races.
Charlie Collins said it had been a privilege to work with Patsy on Donegal Community Radio and Highland Radio.
Lifelong friend Neil Martin from Finn Valley AC paid a glowing tribute to his friend of 45 years.
“He first set his eyes on me in 1968 and he hasn’t left me alone since,” he laughed.
“The day always starts with a phone call, an email or a text from Patsy with something to do.”
Cllr Patrick McGowan paid tribute to the entire McGonagle family for their dedication and service to the local community.
Earlier Patsy confirmed Donegal Daily’s story from three months ago that Usain Bolt will visit Stranorlar early next year.
Patsy joins an elite group of recipients of the award – Shay Given, Phil Coulter, Daniel O’Donnell and Clannad being the other five to have been honoured in a similar way.
In his address to the chamber Patsy thanked the county council for the honour.
“My life has been a treadmill all my life and I was thinking how did I end up sitting here on a Friday afternoon,” he said.
“My parents would have been very proud.”
He recalled fond memories working on his grandmother’s farm in Inishowen and the encouragement he received at St Columb’s College.
He said Cranford AC was key to his life as a young man after leaving the boarding school.
Patsy paid tribute to Highland Radio because “they allowed me to tell my story” over the years.
“We built athletics through all the media,” he said.
He paid tribute to athletes like Danny McDaid and Patsy Hegarty – great friends who had enthused him.
And he said he wouldn’t have been able to all he had done without the support of his wife and his family.
He was given a standing ovation for his speech.
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