Local Lifford lad, Shay Given will be accorded the county’s highest honour at a Civic Reception being hosted in his honour by the Mayor and members of Donegal County Council at the County House, Lifford on Monday, 26th June at 1.00 pm.
The Mayor of the County, Cllr. Dessie Larkin, elected members and staff of the Council will be joined by the Given family and invited guests at the special event to confer the Freedom of County Donegal on Shay in recognition of his contribution to sport at local, national and international level.
Speaking about the forthcoming Civic Reception, the Mayor stated:
“I am delighted that one of my final acts in my term as Mayor of the County of Donegal will be to confer this tremendous honour on Shay Given in recognition of his great achievements in soccer, as a wonderful ambassador for the county and a role model to all of the young people of this County” He added “I am hopeful that this honour will cap a marvellous year for Shay that has seen him win various awards including the PFA Goalkeeper of the Year, and having been appointed captain of Newcastle United and Vice Captain of the Irish International Team”.
Shay will be the first recipient of a badge and pin specially commissioned by the Council. The badge (and lapel pin) will be 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, Donegal Town, 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.
For further information contact: -
Ms Kathleen Browne
Corporate Services
Lifford
074-9172206
Email: kmcgowan@donegalcoco.ie