LGFA’s Micheál is welcomed ‘home’ at Stokane school
ONE of Stokane National School’s best known former pupils Micheál Naughton is a man of his word and last Friday he proved it, keeping a promised appointment to visit his alma mater just one day after his wife gave birth to their second child, a baby boy.
Michelle Bonner, principal at the twoteacher school, told the Sligo Weekender they were surprised when he rang them to confirm he would be keeping his promise and would attend to present the awards for sports day.
Ms Bonner said: “We would have totally understood it if he couldn’t make it, but we were delighted when we heard he was coming and for good measure he sponsored a plaque for the winner of the junior sports day.
“We want to thank him for making it and for his generosity.
“He also gave a wonderful speech to the pupils which was really well received.” For the last 100 years the Naughton name has been synonymous with the school and Micheál, who is president of the Ladies Gaelic Football Association (LGFA), was warmly welcomed by staff and pupils.
Micheál is the first person from Connacht to become president of the LGFA. During the presentations to the Stokane NS pupils he spoke of the importance of sport and encouraged the children to partake.
He sponsored a Junior Sports Star Shield for the school and coincidentally, his grandnephew Jack Cleary was the first recipient of the award.
His niece Amy Naughton received the Senior Sports Star Shield.
Micheál told all the children to work hard, show respect and believe in themselves and they would achieve anything they wished for.
Micheál, who serves as a county councillor on Donegal County Council, said he had fond memories of the school and of all the people gone before who worked hard to ensure that Stokane NS was well-developed.
Micheál said this year concluded a record of approximately 100 years association of the Naughton family with Stokane NS as Amy has now finished her primary school education there, However, his grand-niece and grand-nephews Sophie and Matthew Cleary and Jack Cleary attend the school, with Jack’s sister Ellie also joining the school in September.
Following the awards ceremony, he then turned the sod for the second phase of Stokane Community Park, which is adjacent to the school.
As a former pupil of the school, he was delighted to be on hand on such a great day.
Micheál Naughton with the Sports Star Award winners, teacher Christina Flynn and principal Michelle Bonner.
Micheál with his niece Amy, who won the senior sports star award, his grandniece and grandnephew Sophie and Matthew Cleary, and his cousin Jack Cleary, who won the Junior Sports Award. Micheál sponsored a new plaque for the Junior Sports Award.
Micheal turning the sod to mark the start of development work at Stokane Community Park with Lisa Curran of the park fundraising group, contractor James Clarke and sixth class pupils from Stokane NS.