The Irish athletics team manager at Sydney 2000 and trainer of the Donegal Senior GAA team, Mr Patsy McGonagle, was born in Ballybofey on the 27th of October, 1947, the eldest of a family of six.

He was educated at Sessiaghoneill National School, St Columb's College, Derry and St Mary's Teacher Training College, Strawberry Hill, London. He graduated in 1969 and began teaching in Glenties where he was instrumental in establishing the Donegal Athletic Board of which he was first secretary.

He organised the first primary school sports events in Donegal and the organisation has grown considerably with over 8,000 children participating in athletics in the County in 2001.

Since founding the Finn Valley Athletics Club in 1971 Patsy, currently head coach, has worked ceaselessly for the youth of the Finn Valley, of Donegal and throughout Ireland, coaching at local, national and international levels.

He has been a member of the Donegal Athletics Council since 1975 and the management committee of Bord Luthchleas na hÉireann, now known as the Athletic Association of Ireland, since 1992.

Patsy is a Physical Education Lecturer at the Letterkenny Institute of Technology where he manages the sports programme and has taught since 1972. He is also a Member of the National Coaching and Training Centre, University of Limerick and will coach the Irish team at the European Cup Track & Field Championships, Tallinn, Estonia in June and at the European Track & Field Championships, Munich, Germany in August, 2002.

Patsy joined A Company, 24th Battalion, F.C.A. in 1963 and currently holds the rank of Commandant.

He is married to Rosaleen and they have two daughters, Aine and Aoife and three sons, Brendan, Conor and Niall.

The Donegal Person of the Year 2001 is sponsored by Digifone. The Presentation Dinner for the Donegal Person of the Year 2001 will take place in the Burlington Hotel, Dublin on Friday 1st of March, 2002.

Thanks to Patricia Sharkey, P.R.O of the Donegal Association for this story.