DONEGAL ASSOCIATION DUBLIN – 2016 Donegal Person of the Year Announced!

Stephen McCahill, a native of Glenties, has been named Donegal Person of the Year for 2016. The announcement was held in The Black Door Piano Bar on Harcourt Street in Dublin on Friday, 20th of January much to the delight of the large crowd in attendance.

Stephen is the third in the family of Packie McCahill and Eileen (nee Gallagher) from Ardara, Stephen’s mother still resides outside Glenties. He was born in 1959 and grew up in Glenties and attended St. Columba’s Comprehensive School in Glenties and the Regional College in Letterkenny. Stephen worked with Lyons Tea as a national sales representative and later became a quality control officer with Moracrete in Clondalkin. In 1981 Stephen moved back to Donegal where he took up a position as quality control manager with Campbell Seafoods in Killybegs and spent six years with the company, he later worked with Joe Murrin as a marketing manager. In 1991 Stephen set up his own company Glenard Fish which organised the sales of fresh fish. Stephen is still involved in the fishing industry in Killybegs. Stephen is married to Marietta and they have two children, Steven and Gemma. Stephen and his family reside outside Ardara.

Stephen is very honoured to be chosen as the recipient of the Donegal Person of the Year and feels extremely privileged that he has been chosen as the 2016 Donegal Person of the Year and acknowledges the quality of the Past Persons of the Year and spoke of the high respect that he holds Deirdre McGlone (Outgoing Person of the Year) in. He remembers fondly attending the Donegal Person of the Year functions in the past and is very excited about the year ahead. Stephen is very passionate about the promotion of our county and is very passionate about community involvement and the importance of keeping the community alive and vibrant. He believes a community needs to be kept alive and there is no place better than your own people and your own community.

Last year’s winner of the Donegal Person of the Year, Deirdre McGlone attended the Official Announcement and reflected on her time as the recipient of this prestigious award. She said it was a great honour for her to receive such an award and thanked the Donegal Association for their support over the year.