The GAA is pleased to confirm the recipients for Gradaim an Uachtaráin 2022. These prestigious annual awards, organised with the support of AIB and broadcast by TG4 on Friday, February 11th at 10.20pm, affords Uachtarán CLG with an opportunity to acknowledge outstanding commitment and long service across the club and county network.
The 11 awards are a cross-section of people who have shared the common theme of making an inspirational impact on their code and also their club and community.
Uachtarán CLG Larry McCarthy said: “The GAA is about Games, but it is people who make the GAA what it is. The GAA Presidents’ Awards is an opportunity for the Association to acknowledge a group of inspirational people who have made an outstanding contribution towards the success of Gaelic games.”
“They are, in many respects, ambassadors for the tens of thousands of volunteers who dedicate themselves to the promotion of Gaelic games at club, school and county levels and who we are so fortunate to call our own.”
“Their work is not motivated by recognition – but that is why it is all the more important to appreciate the work that they do and celebrate the fact the GAA is the better for it.
I’d also like to thank AIB for their support of these awards and their long-standing support of the GAA and also acknowledge TG4 who since their foundation have played a crucial role in the promotion of our games.”
The 11 awards are made on a provincial and code basis. As well as Gaeilge, Education and International Awards, the presentation of the annual Dermot Earley Family Award will also be made.
The GAA Presidents’ Awards (Gradaim an Uachtaráin 2020) will be broadcast tomorrow night on TG4 at 10.20pm.
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HANDBALL AWARD: BILLY LOVE, Clogh GAA Handball Club, Co Kilkenny
Billy has been a steward in Clogh Handball Club for nigh on 35 years. He has been involved in all aspects of club life, from serving as Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary and currently PRO, to coaching young people to the highest of standards, giving them the opportunity to play at the highest level in all juvenile activity whilst helping players gain success at County, Provincial, National, and World level. Billy is also a great supporter of team events from U12/13, U14/15 and U16/17 teams in Feile na nGael, Community Games and School competitions.
Under Billy’s excellent guidance and coaching, both boys and girls, have been successful across all age groups and have won numerous County, Provincial, National and World Titles.
He is the current Development Officer with Kilkenny Handball Board and also currently holds the role of Leinster Juvenile Officer and National Feile Rep for GAA Handball.
Billy is widely associated with juvenile Handball coaching and has been at the forefront of a conveyor belt of National & International championship players from his own club and county. His favourite role in handball was and still is the development of young players in his club and he dedicates hours of his time every week training local children.
Billy’s passion for handball and his club is to be extremely admired. He will always find a way to raise money for the club and make sure our juveniles are given the best possible opportunities.
Trips to the World Handball Championships would not have been possible without him and all of his hard work fundraising for these tournaments in Winnipeg, Chicago and Edmonton; trips that many still look back upon fondly to this day.
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