Lifetime Achievement for 'heart of soul' of Ballina clubs
In the early days, Christy McDonagh ran Gráinne Uaile Sub Aqua Club from his garden shed.
For 40 years, Christy McDonagh has been the heart and soul of Gráinne Uaile Sub Aqua Club. He has introduced over 400 people to the sport of scuba diving and has seen the club develop from a shed in his back garden to a state-of-the-art clubhouse in Ballina.
Christy has done all this while making sure that the club always maintains rigorous safety standards and is at the forefront of making sure that the club is an early adapter of new technology when it comes on stream because while scuba diving is not a competitive sport, it’s one where your life depends on the training you get. Christy McDonagh has always instilled this in the members of Gráinne Uaile Sub Aqua Club and 40 years later, he continues to do so with the newest group of trainee divers who have started the first step to getting their qualification.
He is a patient and thorough instructor whose enthusiasm is infectious and is central to introducing new trainees to the wonders of sport diving in the waters of Mayo and beyond.
Christy has forever been a keen fundraiser for the club as well, and it is safe to say that the club would not be on such a sure footing without his sterling efforts in this regard. Indeed statuary authorities and the wider community as a whole have much to be thankful to Christy for because it’s thanks largely to his dedication and quiet diligent work that Gráinne Uaile S.A.C. is such a valuable resource as one of the largest Search and Recovery units in the country – and that it is continuing to thrive after all these years.
In 2012, Christy was club chairman when its new state-of-the-art clubhouse was officially opened by Taoiseach Enda Kenny TD. But he was also the diving officer responsible for all diving activities of the 49 club members and even now, he serves as the club’s vice chairperson.
But Christy’s love of water is also evident in him being one of the founding members of Ballina Rowing Club.
A talented rower himself, Christy once represented Ireland against England at the prestigious Henley Regatta and to this day, continues to row every weekend at the Quay in Ballina. But he had never dreamt that Ballina would one day have a rowing club of its own yet that’s exactly what happened in 2020 and true to form, Christy immediately took on the role of safety officer given his immense experience with Gráinne Uaile SAC.
But Ballina Rowing Club acquired a great coach too; Christy has a great way with the youth of the club, imparting his knowledge and huge experience as a rower.
A very limited number of tickets (€65pp) remain available for Friday night’s Western People Mayo Sports Stars Awards banquet at Breaffy House Resort, which includes a drinks reception, three-course meal, wine, the awards ceremony and entertainment. Contact Stuart Tynan at 086-1682149 or the Western People’s Ballina office at 096-60999 during office hours.
