Tir Conaill Harps Volunteers Dinner

The Glasgow based Tir Conaill Harps Community Volunteers Dinner dance, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel had a particularly Donegal flavour to it this year, with all three of the award winners having a connection to the county.  In addition to the winners the overwhelming majority of those in attendance were either from Donegal or had a close family link to the area.

Despite the recession almost 450 people supported the event , which this year had a theme of “let’s get the harps back on the road” This was in reference to the ongoing appeal to replace the club bus which was burnt out earlier this year.

Guest of honour was Ulster Council secretary, Danny Murphy, who was fulsome in his praise of the work the club does at community level with young people in the city.  Also in attendance were local SNP MSP Bob Doris, fellow nationalist councillor, Allison Thewliss who represents the East End of the city and well respected Labour councillor, Archie Graham, who has family links with Donegal.

The two group photographs are Donegal people who attended the dinner.  For the latest information on the club appeal visit the club web appeal page at http://www.tirconaill.org/index.asp?pageid=218788

Joe McAleer who has family connections in Carrigart won the Volunteer of the Year Award named in memory of John Porter.  John was a native of Carndonagh who was a former chairman of the club.  The family was represented by his son Kevin. Also in that photo is Bob Doris MSP.

Grace McBride whose father is from Glen won the Coach of the year award in respect of the work she does with the young hurlers and camogs in the city’s east end.  Also in the picture is local councillor Allison Thewliss and Ulster secretary Danny Murphy

Thomas Friel, who is the son of club chairman, Maurice and a native of Oughterlin, Rathmullan is involved with the Harps Youth Group. He presented a gift to Danny Murphy.

Young Person of the year went to Jessica Doherty.  Jessica won her award mainly for all the volunteering work she does in the club from fund-rasing to coaching. She even dressed up as Cleopatra on the night to promote the club draw for a holiday for two to Sharm El Sheik, in Egypt. Jessica’s father hails from Inishowen.  In keeping with the Donegal link the winner of the holiday is a native of Letterkenny, Philip Doherty.

Pictured is Joe McAleer, centre, who received the Volunteer of the Year Award from Kevin Porter, left. Also in the picture is local MSP, Bob Doris.