The Donegal Football Club NY's 60th Anniversary Banquet will honor Gaoth Dobhair native Donal Breslin with their Damian Meehan Memorial Award and NY GAA immediate Past Chairman Seamus Dooley with the Campbell-Houlihan Award on Saturday 10th May 2008 at the Polish Center, 239 Nepperhan Avenue, Yonkers NY. In 2002 the Donegal Football Club created the Damian Meehan Memorial Award to honor the life of a young family man of compassion, humor, and wisdom, a great friend and football player lost in the tragedy of September 11th. Through this annual award the Club are privileged to play a part in keeping the memory of his life alive and growing. The Campbell-Houlihan Award is given annually to a person who has made a major contribution to the preservation and enhancement of Gaelic sports in New York. The gala banquet will begin at 8 pm with a cocktail hour, followed by diner at 9 pm and dancing to the music of the Kitty Kelly Band. The Donegal Club will also be honoring their Senior Player of the Year, C.J. Molloy; Junior Player of the Year, Michael ìMogoî Flood; Young Player of the Year, Michael Miro; and Ladies Player of the Year, Aiofe Gibson. The decline in immigration has led Donegal to rely heavily on players coming up through the Minor Board. Thanks to the efforts of former Donegal player and manager Connie Molloy, the club is in the forefront of coaching and developing young players. In aid of this program, Donegal NY provides education scholarships to dedicated young players. The grants to be presented at the banquet this year go to Sean Twomey, Justin Friel, Chris Novelli, and Kieran Patton. Donal Breslin was a star player for Donegal for a decade from the mid-'90s and had an influential role in their 3-in-a-row NY championships of 2000-2002. He also played for the NY County team and has continued contributing to the GAA by coaching and training Donegal and Minor Board squads. Under Dooley's leadership the NY GAA succeeded in installing a new playing surface and lighting for Gaelic Park, major boosts to all levels of football and hurling in NY. His three decades of leadership and success as a NY GAA officer, culminating in the chairmanship from 2004-2007, won him the ultimate honor this year from Croke Park, the President's Award, bestowed on those who serve the Irish sporting body with the utmost distinction. For Journal ads, phone Donal Gallagher 518-634-2392; for Dinner tickets ($80), phone Mary Grant 914-693-1875. The $100 Draw tickets (1st Prize $20,000, 2nd Prize $10,000) are available at Heritage, 914-776-7532, and from 917-882-8038. Tweet

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