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Donegal Person of the Year is Man from Ballybofey

Patsy McGonagal is his name, and he was announced as Donegal Person of the Year 2001 by the Donegal Association of Dublin on January 15th.

Mr. McGonagal was the Irish athletics team manager at the Sydney 2000 Olympics. A native of Ballybofey, aged 55, he was educated at Sessiaghoneill National School, St Columb's College, Derry and St Mary's Teacher Training College, Strawberry Hill, London. He graduated in 1969 and began teaching in Glenties where he was instrumental in establishing the Donegal Athletic Board of which he was first secretary. He organised the first primary school sports events in Donegal, and the organisation has grown ever since, with over 8,000 children participating in athletics in the county in 2001.

His wife Rosaleen and he have two daughters, Aine and Aoife, and three sons, Brendan, Conor and Niall.

The award is sponsored by Digifone, and will be presented at a dinner held in the Burlington Hotel, Dublin, on Friday, March 1, 2002.


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