Several of Ireland’s best known gaelic footballers, past and present, are gathering in Ardara, county Donegal this weekend for the inaugural Pat Shovelin All-Stars weekend.
The event, which is being organised by friends and family of the former Donegal goalkeeping Pat Shovelin, takes place this Saturday and Sunday (April 6th & 7th).
Pat died from cancer in 2017 and was a hugely popular figure in GAA and sporting circles.
The centrepiece of the weekend will be an exhibition game on Saturday evening at Pearse Memorial GAA Park in Ardara (6:30pm) when the 2012 Donegal All-Ireland winning team will play an All-Star selection, which was picked by Pat himself before he died.
Dr Charlie McManus, who was a close friend of Pat’s, is helping to organise the weekend. He spoke to Ocean FM Sport.
As a player, Shovelin won Donegal championships with Ardara in 2000 and 2004, and will also be remembered as a visionary goalkeeping coach, playing a crucial role in Donegal’s triumphs at provincial and All-Ireland level.
The proceeds from the Pat Shovelin All-Star weekend will go towards three charities, chosen by Pat’s family: Donegal Hospice, the Oncology Unit at Letterkenny University Hospital, and the Irish Cancer Society.
