The Laois man who won a national volunteering award is to be honoured at a live virtual ceremony this evening.
Mikey Hyland was recently named the Ladies Football Volunteer of the Year and will receive the Lulu Carroll award.
Shanahoe Ladies man Mikey, and the other winners, will be acknowledged during a special virtual ceremony, which can be viewed live on the LGFA Facebook Page on Friday evening, February 12.
The event will commence at 7.30pm, with Dáithí Ó Sé performing MC duties.
Two Shanahoe Ladies players, Mary Griffin (formerly Kirwan) and Eimear Barry, have explained just how important to the club Mikey is.
83-year-old Mikey was instrumental in the foundation of Shanahoe Ladies back in 1994 following the success of two local Cumann na mBunscol girls’ teams, Shanahoe NS and Clough NS.
And almost 30 years later, Mary, who will appear alongside Mikey and Eimear on Monday’s Talking Sport Podcast, explained how he is still as heavily involved now as ever.
The 2001 All-Ireland winner said: “Mikey has dedicated nearly 30 years of his life towards our club, Shanahoe.
“He was a founding member in 1994 and is the only one still involved after all these years. His role has varied on a committee level but his dedication to team mentoring is what separates him from the rest.
“At the beginning, he had his own daughters that lined out for the club and now his granddaughters do.
“Mikey’s living room walls are decorated with pictures of the many teams he trained and his mantle arranged with trophies of appreciation. The delight in his face when he reminisces about the games is heart-warming.
“Mikey is involved with every team from U-6 to senior in some capacity. His commitment never doubted.
“Every evening of the week some team togged out but Mikey was the common denominator.
“All clubs endure times of triumph and struggles. Managers come and go, some great years and some not so good but Mikey never gave up on us.
“His love for the game is phenomenal and the energy he transfers to all is contagious. On a human level he is the adviser, supporter, role model and leader.
“Pitch side he motivates, expects perseverance and determination. Respect is one of the greatest expressions and one we all have for him no matter who you talk to.
“Year in, year out Mikey presents himself for the next season ahead and this coming year will be no different. He is irreplaceable. He is the definition of dedication.”
Mikey and committee members throughout the years have organised cabarets, church gate collections, table quizzes, 24 hour stay awakes and the sponsored walks to raise funds for Shanahoe Ladies.
One of their biggest ventures on the fundraising side of things was taking part in the first Lip Sync Battle in Laois with a neighbouring ladies football club, Park Ratheniska, back in 2015.
Mikey threw his name into the hat and on the night he stole the show with his brave and creative performance in the full attire as ‘Elvis’.
He also got involved in the ‘Do it for Dan’ campaign in aid of little Dan Donoher from Courtwood.
Shanahoe Ladies were selected to compete in the Virtual Lip Sync Battle and Dolly Parton’s ‘Working 9 to 5’ was their chosen song.
Mikey once again got into the thick of it with his cowboy hat and guitar in tow. Laois and Shanahoe keeper Eimear Barry described him as ‘having a heart of gold’.
She said: “As a club, we owe a massive debt to Mikey because he is the spirit of the club and shows great leadership.
“He is very honest with us as well because he tells us the truth all the time – whether we like to hear it or not.
“Mikey was heavily involved in the Do It For Dan campaign and the Lip Sync Battle than we ran back in 2015.
“He is the cradle of the club and he has a real heart of gold.”
You can catch the full podcast with Mikey, Mary and Eimear on Monday.
SEE ALSO – Fundraiser launched for family of Laois dad-of-five following sad passing
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source https://www.laoistoday.ie/2021/02/12/laois-man-to-be-honoured-for-national-award-at-live-virtual-ceremony-this-evening/
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