Cumann Thír Chonaill - Baile Átha Cliath

Donegal Association - Dublin

Donegal Persons of The Year 2011

Press Release Donegal Persons of the Year 2011 announced:

 

 

 

DONEGAL ASSOCIATION SELECT  JOINT  DONEGAL  PERSONS OF  THE YEAR  2011

 

For the first time in its history, The Donegal Association has named Joint Donegal Persons of the Year.  The formal announcement was made at a special function  in The Harcourt Hotel, Dublin. 

The 2010 World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year, Ann Marie Ward has shared the prestigious Award of Donegal Person of the Year with New Zealand-based Donegal businessman Hugh Green.

 

As the proceedings began one could feel the tension and the excitement amongst those present in anticipation of the official announcement.  A total of 19 nominations for the Award

were received by the Association and such was the competition that the committee decided that a Joint Award should be made.

The evening started with the MC of the evening, Liam Mc Dermott welcoming everyone to the event. At first he paid tribute to one of Donegal's most famous entertainers, Bridie Gallagher who recently passed away. Describing her as the first entertainer to introduce Country and Irish Music to the Irish entertainment scene, he named the many stars who have since made their names and careers in that category, none greater than Daniel O' Donnell himself.

 

Liam then introduced President of The Donegal Association Tony Dunlevy to the rostrum and he announced the Joint Donegal Persons of the Year which was greeted with a massive applause from the huge crowd present.

 

 

There was a massive applause from the crowd when Tony Dunlevy announced the Joint Donegal Persons of The Year 2011 -  Ann Marie Ward and Hugh Green. . Ann Marie Ward then spoke and the audience showed their appreciation for her wonderful and humble acceptance speech. She said that not only was she delighted to be named Donegal Person of the Year but was greatly honoured to be a joint recipient with such a wonderful man as Hugh Green.                                                 Mary Harte, daughter of retired TD, Paddy Harte spoke on behalf of Hugh Green. She told everybody of the wonderful character her friend  Hugh Green is and how he would have loved to be present at the function. She said that she dearly hoped and prayed that he would be well enough to attend the Award Night on the 3rd March next.

 

The MC then introduced Cathaoirleach of the Association, Sorcha Ni Dhomhnaill to the stage and she gave a very warm and wonderful speech stating how wonderful it was that this year we have Joint Donegal Persons of the Year. 'Both Hugh Green and Ann Marie Ward are so deserving of being chosen ', she said and she was so looking forward to the Award Night in The Regency Hotel. She then thanked the hard working committee and reminded everybody that tickets for the Dinner Dance are now on sale and priced at €60 each.

 

Liam Mc Dermott concluded the formalities and thanked our public representatives who attended – Minister for Sport, Michael Ring, Minister for the Gaeltacht, Dinny Mc Ginley, Deputy Joe Mc Hugh, Senator Jimmy Harte, Senator John Kelly from Roscommon and Cllr. Michael Mc Bride from Kilmacrennan. Also present were members of the media, Gabrielle from The Donegal Democrat, Aine Ni Churrain from Raidio na Gaeltachta and Garret Harte, station manager Newstalk radio. Past recipients of The Donegal Person of the Year, Jim Mc Gettigan, John Carr and Dermot Walsh also attended.

 

Remember, The Award Night is on Saturday 3rd March in the Regency Hotel. Tickets are €60 each and are available from any committee member.  All details are also on the website : www.donegalassociation.ie   There is a special overnight rate available in the Regency Hotel at €75 for 2 people including breakfast. Early booking is advisable.

 

Ann Marie Ward

 

Ann Marie was born in Port na Blagh but now resides in Creeslough.

One of seven children, she has four brothers and two sisters.

Her father Paddy taught her how to swim in Port na Blagh where he still lives with his wife , Marguerite.

Ann Marie is a nurse by profession and is presently employed with the HSE in Letterkenny as a Disability Service Manager.

She trained as a nurse in Whittington Hospital, London.

2003   Swam from Tory island to Maheraroarty and raised €20,000 for charity.

2006    Took part with a team of swimmers and swam around the Irish coast. (Known as 'The Round         

            Ireland Swim'.)

2007.  Swam the English Channel in 20 hours.

2010    In August 2010 she was the first woman ever to swim the North Channel (a world record)

            The North Channel is between Ireland and Scotland. Anne Marie swam from north of

            Belfast Lough to the Mull of Galloway. She achieved this gruelling swim on her 4th attempt         

            and completed it in 19 hours. That is 19 hours in the water without any aid.

2011    Named as World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year 2010

Ann Marie has been chosen to be a member of a relay team of 30  international swimmers to swim The Bering Strait.  That is the strip of 86 km of water between Siberia and Alaska. This swim will take place next July/August. To get there, Ann Marie will fly from London to Seattle, USA. From there a flight to Prince of Wales in Alaska where she meets up with the other 29 swimmers. Boarding a ship there all swimmers will sail to Siberia . Two days later they will swim the 86 km back to Alaska! What an achiever and what a brave and determined sportsperson.

 

Ann Marie has already raised over €100,000 for charity – mainly for Letterkenny hospital and Letterkenny Hospice.                                                                                                                         She is indeed a very worthy Joint Donegal Person of the Year 2011.

 

 

Hugh Green

 

Born in 1932 in the town of Raphoe in Co. Donegal. He was one of eight children and his father was both a publican and a cattle dealer. Although Hugh was a bright, intelligent pupil he left school at the age of twelve. In his early teens he worked as a cattle drover but the wages of three shillings a day did not appeal to him too much. Emigrating to Scotland at the age of seventeen, he found work as a labourer. A bout of homesickness one year later resulted in him returning home. Spending a year at home with very little work on offer, he quickly realised that he would have to emigrate again. He worked in London for a spell but later moved to Australia and found work there.  At the age of twenty he left Australia and headed for New Zealand. Accompanying him was his friend Barney Mc Cahill. Soon they set up Green and Mc Cahill (Contractors) and they were partners until the 1980's when they went their separate ways..

In 1955 Hugh married Moira whose mother was Irish. Getting married and having a family ensured that New Zealand was going to be their home for the rest of their lives. They return home to Donegal on frequent occasions and Hugh always said that he would loved to have lived in Donegal.

To-day Hugh has one of the largest construction companies in New Zealand. Because of the fact that he received little education Hugh had to use his intelligence to build his empire.

His many business interests includes land and property development, farming and trading

in livestock ( he owns the largest cattle ranch in New Zealand.). He is a shrewd investor

in the stockmarket and is involved in oil and gas exploration.

His Charity Foundation has given away millions of dollars to differents causes, including

€200,000 to Letterkenny hospital. He has also donated to other Donegal charities and of

course to many charities in New Zealand.

But with all his wealth and success he still says that he is homesick and wished that he

never had to leave Donegal.

In 2006  The National University of Ireland in Galway (NUIG) honoured  his lifetime 

achievements with a doctorate of laws.

 

Hugh Green is indeed a very worthy Joint Donegal Person of the Year 2011.

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