By Eoin McGarvey
LAST Saturday night John McCarter was described as a most deserving recipient as he accepted the Donegal Person of the Year award for 2024.
He was joined by family, friends, colleagues and over 300 guests in the Bonnington Hotel, Dublin for the gala awards night.
Shortly after 8pm the assembled crowd of over 300 guests were welcomed to the gala ball by MC for the night Siobhan Shovlin, PRO of the Donegal Association. John was then led by a piper into the function room, accompanied by President of the Donegal Association, Elaine Caffrey.
Moya Brennan, outgoing Donegal Person of the Year, addressed the occasion and mentioned the various events which she attended during the year in her capacity as Donegal Person of the Year. She said she is honoured that she will always be a Donegal Person of the Year.
Liam McDermott (Glenties), Martin and Ann McGettigan at Saturday night’s event in Dublin.
The event was well attended by other former Persons of the Year including Noel Cunningham, Jason Black, Stephen Mc Cahill, Deirdre McGlone, John Carr and Bríd Rogers.
The charity recipient for the raffle on the night was the Lough Swilly RNLI, a charity very close to John McCarter’s heart. The association has expressed thanks to the generous sponsors for donating raffle prizes.
A quiet moment for Fr Michael Mc Cullagh and Moya Brennan in Dublin on Saturday night.
President of the Donegal Association, Elaine Caffrey told the crowd of how the original nomination for John Mc Carter came in from the board of Fort Dunree and that campaign was spearheaded by Brian O’Reilly, Declan O’Carroll and the late David Magee.
In a very tragic turn of events, David passed on suddenly just two months ago. Elaine extended the association’s deepest sympathies to David’s wife Monica, and his sisters Brenda and Carol who were present on the night.
Damien McKeever, Aine Ní Churrain, Bríd Rodgers, Noel Cunningham and Hugh McGroddy.
Marion Caffrey, Kevin McFadden, Chairman, and Elaine Caffrey, President, Donegal Association of Dublin.
Association Chairman, Kevin Mc Fadden told the Donegal News that they are thrilled to have John McCarter as the 2024 Donegal Person of the Year.
“John is maybe not someone a lot of people are familiar with, but this is what we love in the Donegal Association that when we ask for nominations, we get them from all over the county,” he said.
“John is the most deserving recipient that we’ve had for a long time, and we’re delighted the award is going to Inishowen.”
The Lord Mayor of Dublin, Emma Blain, who has close Donegal connections, said she was delighted to attend event.
“Donegal is a place very close to my heart as my father is from there,” she said.
“Tonight celebrates everything that’s great about Donegal including its people, culture, history and beauty. It is my pleasure to be here and celebrate with Donegal and its Dublin diaspora.”
John Mc Carter and his wife Breda with the committee of the Donegal Association of Dublin on Saturday night. Photos: Eoin Mc Garvey
John McCarter said it was a huge honour for him to accept the award.
He said there is something incredibly special about an award that comes from within the people you live, move and work with.
“This award is for the peninsula of Inishowen,” he said.
“We are all part of a team who had to work together on various projects together.
“There is a great ‘can do’ attitude in Donegal in working together, helping people out when we can and this is how I have felt about life in general.”
Jonathan Kennedy, Cllr Niamh Kennedy, Pat Connaghan, and Gavin Boyle at the Donegal Person of the Year function in Dublin.
Breda McCarter and Monica Magee at the Donegal Person of the Year celebrations on Saturday night.
The Donegal Association in Dublin is celebrating 90 years this year and it was extra special for the committee members to be joined by former award recipient Bríd Rogers who celebrated her 90th birthday recently.
They were also delighted to be joined by friends from the Mary from Dungloe committee again this year including the 2024 Dublin Mary, Molly Part. The search is now on for the 2025 Dublin Mary and anyone who’d like to enter is asked to contact the committee.
Chloe O’Riardon, Aoife McGarvey and Eimear Walsh at the Donegal Person of the Year event.
The formalities of the evening concluded with John giving the audience a treat to his party piece ‘Dear Old Donegal’ accompanied by Matt McGranaghan on fiddle.
The prize for the best dressed lady on the night was presented to Mairead McDaid, and the prize for the most dapper gentleman went to broadcaster Greg Hughes.
Broadcaster Greg Hughes, the most dapper gentleman at the Donegal Person of the Year event, is pictured accepting his prize from Peggy Stringer.
Best dressed lady at the Donegal Person of the Year event, Mairead McDaid (left) accepting her prize from Peggy Stringer.
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