The brightest Gaelacticos in Ulster honoured at 14th All-Stars

CLUB is king and that was evident again at the Hillgrove Hotel in Monaghan on Friday, March 7 as nearly 500 people got suited and booted for the 14th annual Gaelic Life Ulster Club All-Stars event.

Undoubtedly the biggest yet, and with a new category making its debut, it truly was a night to remember as clubs from every corner of the province were recognised for their expertise and exploits.

Emceed once again by BBC’s Connor Phillips, who was surprised with the Dromintee Reserve Player of the Year award at the end with his club’s event on at the same time, the atmosphere was boisterous and the honours plentiful as the Team of the Year in four codes was followed by a raft of individual awards.

Stirring speeches by Dominic McClements, Managing Director of North West News Group, and Ulster GAA supremo Michael Geoghegan set the tone for what the awards were truly about – the celebration of club life both on the pitch and what it means to be associated with your very own people – the same people that will be with you the entire journey.

The four teams were warmly welcomed with provincial champions Errigal Ciaran, Loughgiel, Clann Éireann and Sleacht Néill particularly well represented.

The Player of the Year gongs went the way of that quartet too.

Clann Éireann and Armagh workhorse Cait Towe got a standing ovation from her clubmates when her name came out for Ladies’ Football Player of the Year. A totally deserving award for the type of player who turns championship potential into championship success.

Amy Boyle’s leadership qualities are well known at this stage, and her position as Antrim captain for 2025 speaks to that. For Loughgiel, it was evident once again as she was named Camogie Player of the Year as the Shamrocks dominated Ulster for yet another season.

Given the quality of the Ulster Club Championship, selecting the Hurler of the Year was incredibly difficult, but in the end, it was youngster Ruairí Ó Mianáin of Sleacht Néill who got the nod after some real eye-catching displays from the half-back line.

Likewise, Footballer of the Year was a real battleground but in the end Ruairi Canavan took the award with his father Peter – who wasn’t a bad aul player himself – watching on.

Every year, the John Morrison Hall of Fame award proves a real highlight of the ceremony and the 2024 awards were no different with Carrickmore and Tyrone trailblazer Eilish Gormley being honoured. Her interview, where she recounted the barriers overcome, had the audience engrossed.

As did Francie McQuade, the first-ever winner of the Volunteer of the Year award. The Moy man has been part of the heartbeat of the Tyrone club and was richly deserving of his prize.

Clann Éireann’s Greg McGonigle, Errigal duo Stevie Quinn and Enda Gormley, Sleacht Néill’s Paul McCormack and Loughgiel duo Conor Higgins and Ronan McCloskey were honoured with managerial awards while the fact that Sorcha Gormley won the Dual Player of the Year award suggests that the Gormley surname is set for headlines for the decades yet.

So when all was said and done, and after a fabulous Hillgrove dinner, all was left to do was to dance the night away with The Engagements and celebrate a fantastic night of club celebration.