Dermot Earley Bursary presented to two young sporting stars
Recipients of the Dermot Earley Bursary with the council chief executive, Cathaoirleach, Paula Earley and elected members.
Two young Roscommon athletes — Aisling Shanagher from Derrane and Niall Heneghan from Ballinlough — have been named as the 2026 recipients of the Roscommon County Council Dermot Earley Bursary.
The awards were presented ahead of this month’s plenary meeting of Roscommon County Council by Cathaoirleach Cllr Liam Callaghan and chief executive Shane Tiernan. Each winner receives a €1,500 bursary to support their academic and sporting development.
The annual bursary honours the late Dermot Earley, one of Roscommon’s most celebrated sporting figures. A distinguished Gaelic footballer and Irish Defence Forces Chief of Staff from 2007 until his passing in 2010, Mr Earley also served in several United Nations missions. Previous bursary recipients include Roscommon footballer Enda Smith and last year’s honourees, Charlotte Blackweir and Tommy Morris.
Members of the Earley family attended the ceremony, with Dermot’s daughter Paula accepting a presentation from the council in recognition of the family’s ongoing support for young athletes across the county.
This year’s female award recipient, Aisling Shanagher, is a versatile athlete who plays for Kilbride LGFA and the Roscommon county team. She has represented both school and county at provincial and national level in Gaelic football, basketball, and volleyball.
She has captained multiple teams and contributed to several championship-winning and finalist sides. She is currently studying General Engineering at the University of Limerick.
Niall Heneghan from Michael Glavey’s GAA Club is a member of the Roscommon U-20 football panel. A standout performer during his school years, he was named both Junior and Senior Men’s Sports Star of the Year.
In 2023, he earned national attention when he scored three goals and four points against Leitrim in the Connacht Championship, securing the Electric Ireland Minor Player of the Week award. He is now studying Physical Education at TUS Athlone.
Speaking at the presentation, Cllr Callaghan praised the recipients and all who applied, stating that the bursary celebrates “excellence, dedication and the spirit of sport in County Roscommon.” He went on to say: “As a local authority, we not alone support sporting excellence but value the importance of sporting participation in its many forms and its importance for healthy living.
“In 2011, the elected members of Roscommon County Council established the annual bursary in honour of the late Dermot Earley — a man whose legacy continues to inspire athletes across our county and beyond.
“On behalf of Roscommon County Council, I wish every applicant continued success in both their academic and sporting endeavours. Your dedication, passion, and discipline embody the very best of our county,” Cllr Callaghan concluded.
