Aileen and Paul and the children after she returned from Andoora

Andorra the best place to watch Meath Sports Awards

Aileen Donnelly was celebrating Kilmessan’s All-Ireland Club Junior Camogie title success on the ski slopes of Andorra last weekend.

She was also tuned in to the Meath Chronicle Facebook Live on Friday night to hear her name announced as the Outstanding Achievement Award winner for 2017.

It was a remarkable year for the Kilmessan star as she won her 15th Meath Senior Camogie title on the same day as also winning a Meath Junior Camogie medal - all just a few months after giving birth to her fourth child, Iarla.

With the Meath titles in the bag she went on to play some of the best hurling of her career as she helped inspire Kilmessan to Leinster and All-Ireland Club titles

The former Meath star at one stage questioned if she would play camogie again after the birth of her fourth child in June.

However, the Donnelly determination is admired around Kilmessan and Aileen battled her way back to fitness and enjoyed a hugely successful year.

“We were just back from having dinner in Andorra on Friday night and we went on to Facebook Live to watch the awards, the coverage was great. I was really surprised that I won it because in my own head I didn’t think I was in the same category as some of the other contenders,” she told the Meath Chronicle on Sunday when she returned home.

Like most things, as far as Aileen Donnelly is concerned, it wasn’t a straightforward success on Friday night as her husband took to the stage on her behalf.

Traditionally, if the nominated person cannot attend, then there is no on-stage interview.

However, husband Paul approached the presentation area and took a tentative step towards the stage to set a new trend.

“It would be remiss of me not to say a word or two on behalf of Aileen,” he stated as MC Evanne Ni Chuilinn handed over the mic.

“This trip (to Andorra) was planned after Kilmessan won the All-Ireland so Aileen is very disappointed not to be here tonight and she is very honoured to get nominated for the award.

“Aileen had a remarkable year, she gave birth to our fourth child in June and then went on to win a junior championship and a senior championship in the one day in Meath and then eventually went on to win a Leinster championship and an All-Ireland championship, so I think in fairness she is allowed to have her week off.

“I had to take the week off work to mind our four children and I don’t know how she managed to do her runs and get herself back to fitness. 

“After the week I’ve had, I don’t know how she did it, she’ll kill me when she finds out I’ve been up here (on stage) plugging her case.

“But I have to say, after the week I’ve had, she definitely deserves a little bit of recognition,” he concluded.

While Aileen would have adopted a more low-key approach to the awards ceremony, she returned with the Kilmessan team on Sunday afternoon.

She agreed to a family photograph to mark the occasion of her most recent success and recalled the birth of her fourth child.

“I thought the fourth baby would be straightforward enough, but he ended up being an emergency section, things were complicated and a little scary for us all,” she said. 

“I got home after a week, but then I was back in with an infection, so I wasn’t up on my feet for two weeks and then I did nothing for six weeks, so it was eight weeks after Iarla was born before I started back doing a little bit (of traning).

“It had crossed my mind, with four kids, that if I got injured who would mind them, so it was a case of will I skip the rest of the year, but then I thought if I don’t go back this time I might never go back again.

“Paul was joint-manager with Kilmessan at the time and he fully supported me and he was able to facilitate me getting back.

“I’m lucky that Paul is from a strong GAA background as well, so he understands that, to play, I needed to get out and train.

“I love it too much to stop, so I’ll keep going until the body tells me to stop,” she concluded.

The other contenders were Natalya Coyle, Jack Regan, Sinead Hackett, Lyndsey Conway, Pat Kenny, Padraig McKeever and Vikki Wall.

Each nominee received their trophy before the guests voted on the overall winner.