Ballinamore’s Patricia Griffin named Leitrim Sports Star Awards Hall of Fame recipient

Ballinamore’s famed international athlete and two time winner of the Women’s Mini-Marathon Patricia Griffin has been named as the 2022 Hall of Fame winner for this year’s Leitrim Sports Star Awards, as organised by the Leitrim Sports Partnership.

Patricia, who joins her husband Padraig as a winner of the Hall of Fame award, will receive her Award at the 2022 Leitrim Sports Star Awards evening in The Landmark Hotel, Carrick-on-Shannon on Saturday, February 4.

Patricia represented her country from events as diverse as the 400m to the marathon, captaining Irish teams in international events, most notably the World 15 Km championships held in Dublin 1990 but for many, it was her back to back victories in the 1987 & 1988 Evening Press Women’s Mini Marathon that gained her national fame.

Since retiring, Patricia has worked tirelessly for athletics at county, provincial and national level and has been a member of various Athletics Ireland national communities

The Ballinamore woman is definitely ranked among the best ever to represent the county and is a worthy addition to the Hall of Fame winners.

Previous winners of the Hall of Fame Award include:

2019: Michael Martin (Gaelic Football)
2018: Tommy Moran (Gaelic Football)
2017: Maeve Quinn (Ladies Football)
2016: Joe Flynn (Gaelic Football)
2015: Packie McGarty (Gaelic Football)
2014: John King (Volleyball)
2013: Padraig Griffin (Athletics)
2012: Mary Keenan (Community Games)
2011: Eamonn McGowan (Gaelic Football & Ladies Football)
2010: Frances Cryan (Rowing)

The nominees for the Special Achievements Awards for 2022 have been announced with Ricki Wynne, Michael Cornyn and Martin McHugh on the final shortlist.

Also receiving Special Achievements presentations on the night will be several recipients who missed out on awards over the previous two years due to the Awards being postponed due to Covid but deserve recognition for some amazing achievements over the last three years.

Isobel Oakes - first female overall winner of a Skyline Mountain Ultra marathon event when she won the Seven Sisters Skyline 55 km race in Donegal in 2021

Dearbhaile Beirne - member of Peamount Utd team who won FAI Women's National League in 2021

Glencar Manorhamilton Ladies team - Connacht Intermediate Club champions 2020 ; Connacht Senior Club Finalists in 2021

Muireann Devaney - U19 Irish Soccer International 2020/2021, Athlone Town star and Leitrim Ladies & Glencar Manorhamilton Ladies star 2020, 2021 & 2022

Based on nominations received from the Leitrim public, the final short-list has been revealed with nominees from the gaelic games world, soccer, rowing, athletics, rugby, pool and martial arts for the prestigious event organised by the Leitrim Sports Partnership.

The winners in each of the categories, who will receive a specially handcrafted award, will be announced on the night along with the Overall title of Leitrim Sports Person of the Year who will be chosen from among the shortlisted nominees.

Congratulations to each and every one on being nominated for a Leitrim Sports Star Award, your dedication and hard work in sport is being recognised. All nominees are asked to contact the Leitrim Sports Partnership to arrange details for the event.

MC John Lynch will guide the audience through the proceedings with a special guest yet to be announced for the evening.

Should anyone wish to come along to support the nominees and enjoy what promises to be an excellent night of celebration you can purchase a ticket for €45 by calling Leitrim Sports Partnership on 071 9650498 or emailing us on sports@leitrimcoco.ie.

Tickets can also be purchased on eventbrite – a link will be posted on www.leitrimsports.ie

We would like to take this opportunity to thank our sponsors for their generous support: Leitrim County Council, The Landmark Hotel, Aura Leitrim Leisure, Leitrim County Enterprise Fund, Lough Rynn Castle Estate & Gardens, First Response Safety Training, Leitrim Observer, Avant Money, and DPS Design and Print Service.

Special Achievement Award
Ricki Wynne (Ultra Marathon)
Martin McHugh (Gaelic Football)
Michael Cornyn (Athletics)

Sports Individual - Senior
Thomas Earley (Rowing)
Shauna Murtagh (Rowing)
Michelle Guckian (LGFA)
Shane Mallon (Rugby)
Keith Beirne (GAA)

Sports Individual – Junior
Sarah Mulvaney-Kelly (Athletics / Race Walking)
Karen Mulvaney-Kelly (Athletics / Race Walking)
Ben Guckian (GAA)
Charlie Richards (Angling)
Eanna Glancy (Soccer)

Juvenile Team of the Year
Ballinamore Under 10 Community Games Team - National & Connacht Champions
Carrick Town Under 13 Girls Soccer Team - Sligo Leitrim champions
Annaduff Under 13 Boys GAA Team - Leitrim Division 1 League winners

Team of the Year
Leitrim Pool Senior Men’s team - All-Ireland Inter-county champions
Aughnasheelin Men’s GAA team - Leitrim Intermediate champions
St Mary’s LGFA team - Leitrim Intermediate champions
Kiltubrid LGFA - Connacht Intermediate Club Finalists & Leitrim Senior B champions
Leitrim Men’s Senior Hurling Team - Connacht League Shield winners

School Sports Teacher of the Year
Damien Butler (Lough Allen College Drumkeerin)
Aiden Shannon (Drumshanbo Vocational School)
Thomas Nolan (Ballinamore Community School)

Club of the Year
St Mary’s Kiltoghert GAA & LGFA Club
Carrick-on-Shannon Rugby Club
North Leitrim Athletic Club
Morris Martial Arts Club

Volunteer of the Year
Brendan Doyle (Leitrim County GAA Board)
Maureen Diffley (St Mary’s Kiltoghert GAA Club)
Eimear Doonan (Fenagh LGFA / GAA)

Coach of the Year
Tom Kelly (North Leitrim Athletics Club)
Gary Morris (Morris Martial Arts)
Adrian Dockery (Leitrim GAA Minor Men’s team)
Sean McKeon & Tom McGuinness (Carrick RFC Senior Men)
Gerry Hickey & James Glancy (Glencar Manorhamilton LGFA Senior Ladies)
Terence Reynolds (Aughnasheelin GAA Intermediate Men)