Cathaoirleach Cllr. Dónal Gilroy hosted a special reception at County Hall on Tuesday, 26 May to honour three exceptional women whose contributions have made a lasting impact on Irish life — Caroline Currid, Sandy Kelly, and Eileen Magnier.
Cathaoirleach’s Reception Honours Outstanding Achievements of Three Remarkable Women
While the Council was delighted to welcome Eileen Magnier in person, it expressed sincere regret that Caroline Currid and Sandy Kelly were unable to attend. The occasion nonetheless provided a fitting opportunity to recognise and celebrate the remarkable achievements of all three honourees.
Opening the evening, Cathaoirleach Cllr. Gilroy said:
“Tonight, we gather to celebrate and recognise three outstanding women who have made an exceptional contribution to Irish life — Caroline Currid, Sandy Kelly, and Eileen Magnier.”
He highlighted the achievements of Caroline Currid, a proud Sligo native and one of Ireland’s leading sports and performance psychologists. A former Sligo ladies footballer and All-Ireland junior medal winner, Caroline has gone on to work with multiple All-Ireland winning teams, including Tyrone, Tipperary, Dublin and Limerick.
“Her work has transformed how athletes approach performance, focusing on resilience, mindset and confidence,”
the Cathaoirleach noted, adding that her influence extends beyond sport into business and leadership development.
Paying tribute to Sandy Kelly, the Cathaoirleach described her as one of Irish country music’s most iconic voices, with a career spanning more than five decades.
“Her songs have become part of the soundtrack of many people’s lives,”
he said, referencing her international success, collaborations with Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson, and her recent induction into the Irish Country Music Hall of Fame.
A central focus of the reception was the recognition of veteran broadcaster Eileen Magnier, whose career with RTÉ spanned nearly 40 years.
Cllr. Gilroy acknowledged her groundbreaking role and enduring impact:
“Over a career spanning nearly four decades with RTÉ, you became one of Ireland’s most trusted regional journalists… your career has been defined by trust, integrity and public service, and we thank you most sincerely.”
He noted her pioneering achievement as RTÉ’s first female regional correspondent and her extensive reporting across the North West, bringing stories from Sligo, Donegal and Leitrim to a national audience with professionalism and compassion.
Eileen Magnier spoke warmly about her career and the colleagues who supported her over the years.
“John McMorrow and I were a partnership… there’s no way I would have done that job without him — he was the best colleague anyone could ask for,”
she said, also acknowledging the wider RTÉ teams who contributed to her work.
Reflecting on decades of reporting, she commented:
“For over 30 years I reported on everything — the good news, the bad news… it’s the good stories that stand out for me.”
She spoke fondly of her connection to Sligo and the many community projects she covered:
“I think of the connection — the Town Hall, the Chamber, the UNESCO Project, Sligo Gael and all the Sligo walks… it’s those positive stories that stay with me.”
On her retirement, she added:
“People ask me if I miss the job… I don’t miss the long drives, the long hours. What I love now is the freedom that it gives you.”
Eileen also praised the Council’s decision to honour three women at the one event:
“I think it’s really special that the Council are honouring three women today… it’s so important to acknowledge the work of women that often goes forgotten.”
Reflecting on her own pioneering role, she said:
“It still amazes me that I was the first woman correspondent in RTÉ… but we’ve come an awful long way since then.”
She also paid tribute to her fellow honourees, describing Sandy Kelly as “a legend” and noting Caroline Currid’s “incredible reputation”.
Concluding the event, Cathaoirleach Cllr. Gilroy extended his appreciation:
“On behalf of Sligo County Council and the people of Sligo, I offer our sincere thanks and congratulations. To Caroline and Sandy, we send our best wishes. And to Eileen — thank you for being with us this evening.”