Buncrana’s John Mc Carter has been named as the 2024 Donegal Person of the Year.
The announcement was made at a special event at Leo’s Bar in Crolly this evening.
John follows in the footsteps of 2023 winner Moya Brennan, of Clannad.
A successful businessman over a number of decades, John is also the Chairperson of the Board of Fort Dunree – helping to lead its multi-million euro redevelopment and transformation into a highly successful tourist attraction.
On the announcement of the award, John said that it came as a huge surprise, and it is a great honour as it is an award from his own people who he has worked with and lived with, and this makes it of special significance.
He said it is quite humbling, and he is delighted to be awarded Donegal Person of the Year having seen many of the people who have received the accolade over the years. He also said that out of all the things he has ever done his aim was to see the community grow and prosper in a way that would benefit the most people, and not for personal recognition. He told us that from his business involvement he developed an interest in the community and in turn to building a better Donegal for all. He spoke about the can-do attitude of Donegal people in all the organisations he has been a part of and the great people he has worked with down through the years.
He will now be inaugurated as The Donegal Person of the Year 2024 at the Donegal Association’s Annual ball which will take place on Saturday, 29th of March in Bonnington Hotel, Dublin.
Outgoing 2023 Donegal Person of the Year, Moya Brennan, said: “Being awarded ‘Donegal Person of the Year’ last April 2024 was amazing. The night itself was memorable with nearly 500 people there, family, extended family, many many friends from Donegal and lots of wonderful musicians. A night of fun music and craic was had and that was the beginning of my year. I’ve opened festivals all over Donegal, launched a wonderful art exhibition and a RNLI Lifeboat Station in Aranmore. I received lots of invitations to special events, particularly in Donegal. I always champion Donegal wherever I go but with being called Donegal Person of the Year made it special. It’s wonderful that Donegal honours people from the county in all walks of life. I have received many accolades around the world as a singer and musician in my lifetime, but I would say that being acknowledged in my own county is special and one of the nicest things that has happened in my career. Míle buíochas Dún na nGall.”
Meanwhile, the Chairperson of the Donegal Association in Dublin Kevin McFadden said that: “It is a privilege for the Donegal Association Dublin to announce John Mc Carter as our next Donegal Person of the Year. His contribution and commitment to the county is evident by his involvement with the many committees and boards he has given his time to. He has worked for many years for the economic development of the county as well as developing tourism in Donegal. Donegal is a very different place to live and work and visit today than what it was 40 years ago, and John is owed thanks and an acknowledgement for his part in that. We are a large county geographically and we are delighted the award is going to Inishowen this year. We look forward to officially inaugurating John as the 2024 Donegal Person of the Year on the 29th of March in the Bonnington Hotel Dublin.”
