Former World Champion snooker player Ken Doherty has been announced as the special guest for the 2017 Donegal Sports Star Awards.
The Dubliner defeated Stephen Hendry to win the 1997 World Snooker Championship and lost out to John Higgins in the final in 1998.
His fanouws win in 1997 was one of six ranking tournament wins.
Doherty was back in the final in 2003 when he lost out to Mark Williams.
Doherty still plays, but also does some punditry work.
The 42nd Donegal Sports Star Awards were officially launched by Martin Carney this evening.
Ballyshannon native Carney was the Gaelic Football category winner in 1977, in only the second year of the Sports Star Awards.
He was a member of the Donegal senior football team at that time and had won two Ulster titles under the management of Brian McEniff before going on to win four Connacht finals as a member of the Mayo senior football squad.
A number of the award winners from 1977 were given special framed scrolls, 40 years on from those awards.
“The Donegal Sports Star Awards are all about the nominees and we also acknowledge volunteerism,” Neil Martin, the Chairperson of the Donegal Sports Star Awards, said.
“We have around 40 categories and about 180 nominees. To be nominated is an achievement in itself.”
Mr Martin paid tribute to the Donegal County Council, who are the main sponsors of these awards.
He said: “We are delighted that Donegal County Council are our exclusive sponsors.
“The Council has been a part of the awards since 1977 when they sponsored the secondary school awards. Without their support, we wouldn’t be able to host such a function which has been attracting over 600 guests.”
The Chairman of Donegal County Council, Councillor Gerry McMonagle said: “Looking through the list, you get a sense of the level of endeavour that each one has experienced.
“The names haven’t appeared here by accident. They are here because of hard work and to get on the list is an achievement in itself.
“Sport is the lifeblood of the county and the glue that holds communities together.”
Donegal Sports Star Awards PRO Declan Kerr paid tribute to the late Paddy Harte, who passed away yesterday.
The Donegal Sports Star Awards take place on Friday, January 26 at the Mount Errigal Hotel. Tickets are available from the Mount Errigal Hotel and are expected to sell rapidly.
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