Freedom of County Donegal to be bestowed on Anthony Molloy

Freedom of County Donegal to be bestowed on Anthony Molloy

Freedom of County Donegal to be bestowed on Anthony Molloy

Donegal GAA legend Anthony Molloy will be accorded the county’s highest honour at a Civic Reception being hosted in his honour by the Cathaoirleach and members of Donegal County Council at the County House, Lifford on Tuesday next (7th June 2016) at 6pm.

The Freedom of the County will be awarded in recognition of his contribution to Gaelic Football in County Donegal and Ireland and his excellent work as an ambassador amongst the Donegal Diaspora.

A native of the Parish of Ardara, Anthony Molloy is best known as the captain of Donegal’s 1992 All Ireland winning football team and his achievements at both his local club Ardara and as a member of the Donegal senior inter-county team speaks for itself.  From being part of the winning team in the U14 Championship in 1976 to leading the winning Donegal Senior’s to all Ireland glory in 1992, Anthony Molloy has had an outstanding career in Gaelic Football.

His role of honour includes 1 All Ireland U21 medal in 1982, 3 Ulster S.F.C in 1983, 1990 & 1992, 1 Ulster U21 FC in 1982, an All Star Award in 1992 and Donegal Player of the Year in 1988 & 1990.  He also received 2 ESB All Ireland Championships with NW Boston and 2 New York Senior Football Championship with Donegal New York in 1986 & 1992.

Cathaoirleach, Cllr. Ciaran Brogan stated that he, along with the elected members of Donegal County Council, is delighted to be in a position to confer this honour to Anthony Molloy.

“We are delighted to be in a position to bestow this honour on Anthony Molloy.  Not only is he a gaelic football legend, he is also a person who inspires and brings a great sense of hope and belief to everyone he meets.  He brought such a lift to Donegal back in 1992 when he led our Senior Football team to All Ireland glory and he has done a huge amount of work internationally particularly among the many Donegal people living in the US”.

“He has been and continues to be a great ambassador for Donegal.  His documentary Deoch an Dorais which aired on TG4 last December helped cast a light on the struggles faced by many Donegal and indeed Irish people who emigrated to the US over the years.  His story telling skills and his capacity to captivate an audience with this remarkably poignant yet at times humorous story is a great reflection on the man that is Anthony Molloy, a very humble and extremely passionate individual.”

Anthony will be the seventh recipient of a badge and pin specially commissioned by the Council. The badge (and lapel pin) is reserved exclusively for those on whom the Freedom of the County is conferred.

The badge, crafted by Ms Geraldine Hannigan, Designer Goldsmith, Letterkenny, and mounted on a background designed by Mr Fionntan Gogarty, Artworks, is a silver replication of the County Badge granted to the Council County by the Chief Herald of Ireland as part of a Grant of Arms to the County. The badge comprises the O’Donnell Cross enfiled by an Iunula.  The Iunula on which it is based was discovered at Trentagh, Co. Donegal, and dates to the period 1500 -2,000 B.C.  It is on display in the National Museum.

Other recipients of the Freedom of County Donegal include Phil Coulter, Shay Given, Patsy McGonagle, Daniel O’Donnell, Packie Bonner and the 28th Infantry Battalion.