THE DONEGAL ATHLETICS COUNTY BOARD’S evening and dinner at Finn Valley AC was the most successful to date with the inaugural Hall Of Fame award going to Cyril O’Boyle from Glenswilly.
O’Boyle was born in Belcruit with the family moving to live in Glenswilly shortly afterwards. A dominant athlete on the national scene in the early 1950’s, he was the National cross-country and one-mile champion in addition to being Ulster champion.
Like many before him, O’Boyle emigrated to Scotland but continued to be a prominent sportsman as he wore the vest of Clydesdale AC.
Closer to home, he was a member of Strabane AC as there was no organised athletics scene in Donegal until the late 1960’s with the formation of Cranford AC and subsequently the Doengal County Board 1971.
For his award, O’Boyle was accompanied by his wife Noreen and daughter Pat. Sadly, his daughter Moira, who was an international athlete, passed away some years ago .
The success of the evening was a tribute to the officers of the board led, by County Secretary Bernie O’Callaghan of Killybegs.
