A LOCAL reporter and photographer with a career spanning four decades was the recipient of a surprise special award this week.
Tommy Curran was present in Amharclann Ghaoth Dobhair on Wednesday night for the adjudication and presentation of prizes at Féile Scoildrámaíochta Ghaoth Dobhair.
Mr Curran thought that he was there to take photographs for local newspapers of the prize winners, as he has been doing for over 35 years.
But he was taken by surprise just before the adjudication, when it was announced that he himself was to be the recipient of a special award for his outstanding contribution as a local reporter and photographer for the local newspapers, the Donegal News and The Donegal Democrat, for the past 40 years.
He was presented with a special award, a Druid Craft Achievement Award, with the engraving; Tomás Ó Cuireáin, As do shaothar iriseoireachta sna páipéir áitiúla, Féile Ghaoth Dobhair 2024.
Noel Ó Gallchóir, the Festival secretary, presented the award to a shocked Tommy and referred to his excellent, comprehensive, accurate and consistent reporting of local matters in the weekly Gaoth Dobhair Notes in the local papers since 1984.
He spoke of the thousands of Tommy’s photographs published in the papers down the years.
He made particular mention of the special full page or two page features covered by Tommy on a regular basis – local festivals, special birthdays, anniversaries or family celebrations, important milestones in the parishes of Gaoth Dobhair and Gort a’ Choirce, and interesting and notable stories of local importance.
He also spoke of the many personal, well researched and moving obituaries that Tommy has written in the papers each week which have been a great source of comfort to the family and relatives of the bereaved.
He praised his style of reporting and writing and his contribution to the life of the parishes of Gaoth Dobhair and Cloich Cheann Fhaola.
He also spoke of Tommy as an obliging, charitable, and pleasant person.
The public response to Tommy being the recipient of the award was extremely positive, as the comments on social media indicate.
People from all over the country commented that he was more than a worthy recipient of the special award for his consistent, accurate and well researched reporting of local events for the last 40 years in Gaoth Dobhair and Cloich Cheann Fhaola.
Well done Tommy and we hope that he has no intention of putting his camera or pen aside anytime soon.
Comhghairdeas leat, a Tommy.
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