Volunteers Sports Award for James McLarnon

James Mc Larnon won the prestigious Volunteers Sports Award for County Antrim at the Federation of Irish Sport Awards ceremony in Dublin on Tuesday 12 November.

James won this award for his tireless work with Naomh Comhghall CLG where he is club secretary, coach to the U10 boys, a fundraiser and grant seeker as well as playing a bit of senior football from time to time.

He does all of this while at the same time he is the father of a young family and a husband to his very understanding wife Jenny (who also does a tremendous amount of work for the club).

No Club can survive without the hard work and dedication of its volunteers who work away in the background looking for funding, organising social events, attending meetings, sending e-mails, making tea, cleaning changing rooms and coaching on a wet Monday evening and all this after working all day. However, success on the pitch will undoubtedly come from this hard work being carried out behind the scenes by a few people doing a multitude of jobs.

Next season will see a new chapter in the development of Naomh Comhghall CLG with the much needed upgrade in the facilities at the pitch. There are new changing rooms and a meeting room already in place and a spectator fence, walkway and outdoor gym trail to be installed over the Winter.

None of this would have been possible had it not been for the hard work of a small team of volunteers of which James was both central and crucial to its success.

James’ hard work and vision will have left a legacy for the future generations who will play Gaelic sports in Antrim town.