Front row: Tadhg Carey Editor, Cllr Liam McDaniel, Cathaoirleach Westmeath County Council, Helen Conneely from Ballinahown Development and Tidy Towns overall community award winners, Chloe Singleton from Athlone Town Ladies FC overall sports award winner and Cllr Frankie Keena Mayor Athlone and Moate Municipal District. Back row, from left: Fiona McHugh, Kelly Kavanagh (both Ballinahown Community Development) Cllr Paul Hogan, Cliona Rohan and Cllr John Dolan (both Ballinahown Community Development), Cllr Tom Farrell and Barry Kehoe, Chief Executife of Westmeath County Council. Photo: Paul Molloy.

Winners of Westmeath Independent Community & Sports Awards announced

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The Westmeath Independent Community & Sports Awards 2024 took place at the Shamrock Lodge on Thursday, September last.

A crowd of just under 200, made up of nominees, their friends and families, and representatives from the event sponsors, gathered for the awards.

SEE THIS WEEK'S PRINT EDITION FOR PULL-OUT SUPPLEMENT ON THE AWARDS NIGHT

The ceremony was kicked off by Westmeath Independent Editor Tadhg Carey, who noted that the paper was established in 1846.

He said, during that time, “We have covered local community and sports events down through two world wars. We had our Athlone printing press burnt down by the Black and Tans over a hundred years.

“We have covered all that matters through the War of Independence, possibly a dozen recessions, numerous booms and throughout all of that, it's been a pleasure for us to catalogue all that is good in the greater Athlone area.”

He paid tribute to the event partners, Westmeath County Council, saying it was a privilege to have the premier body in the county supporting the awards.

WATCH THE HIGHLIGHTS HERE

He also expressed appreciation to the sponsors of the event, Athlone & Castlerea Credit Union, Actionphysio, Byrne Carolan Cunningham LLP, DPD Ireland, and Specsavers Athlone, in addition to host sponsor, the Shamrock Lodge

The awards took place in partnership with Westmeath County Council, the opening address was given by Cathaoirleach Cllr Liam McDaniel, who said it was important to “recognise those who make a special contribution to our county in the service of others”.

“The people that we honour today inspire the whole community to get involved, to keep going and to follow their dream.”

General Manager of the Shamrock Lodge, Alan McCaul, also addressed the audience, wishing all candidates and winners every success for the future.

“We here at the Shamrock Lodge have partnered with Westmeath Independent for a number of years, and always admired their relationship with the local community., he added.

On the night, Sports Editor Kieran Galvin announced that former Athlone and Westmeath football star Rory O'Connell, who became Westmeath's first All Star in 2001, has been inducted into the Westmeath Independent sporting Hall of Fame.

Kieran said that Rory was selected due to also being part of “Westmeath's first, and indeed only so far, Senior Football Championship. At club level, he was captain of Athlone's last team to win the Flanagan Cup, Westmeath's Senior Football Championship, back in 1998.”

The winners of the eight categories and two overall winners are as follows:

Community Awards

*Carer of the Year Winner: Laura Egan

*Club of the Year Winner: Ballinahown Community Development

*Social Enterprise of the Year Winner: Athlone Community Services Council

* Unsung Hero Winner: Olive Quinn

Overall Winner: Ballinahown Community Development

Sports Awards

*Hall of Fame Winner: Rory O'Connell

*Outstanding Achievement of the Year Winner: Chloe Singleton

* Team of the Year Winner: St Joseph's FC U16 team

*Young Sportsperson of the Year Winner: Francis Derwin

Overall Winner: Chloe Singleton

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