AFTER a sporting year which brought distinction to county Carlow on so many fronts, The Nationalist is proud to announce the winners of this year’s Co Carlow Sports Stars Awards.
Following an exhaustive selection process which encompassed four quarterly awards ceremonies throughout the year and a number of lively selection committee meetings, 17 winners have been chosen ahead of the gala awards night at the Seven Oaks on Friday, 17 February.
Guest speaker at the awards ceremony will be RTÈ rugby analyst and Ireland’s favourite Kiwi Brent Pope who will present the awards on the night along with our generous sponsors.
“Each of the award winners are a testament to what can be achieved through hard work and no little dedication and it is our honour to be associated with each and every one of them,” said The Nationalist sport editor John Foley. “These awards were set up by Èire Òg in the 1960s and it is our pleasure to keep such a long tradition going. Our voluntary selection committee of Kieran Lucas, Andrea Ellis, Patricia Amond, PL Curran and John Browne enjoyed much discussion about the merits of so many worthy candidates and we hope our choices are well-received.”
The final selection includes household names such as Leinster and Ireland’s Seàn O’Brien and trainer Willie Mullins, sportspeople who have done Ireland proud on the international stage throughout 2011.
The Service to Sport award goes to Jim Aughney whose stewardship of the Dublin City Marathon has seen it go from strength to strength in recent years, while the Setanta award goes to Muiris Bric, a man synonymous with Cumann na mBunscol in Carlow who has done so much to lay the foundations for Gaelic games in the county.
Squash player Arthur Gaskin is recognised for securing his first victory in the national senior championships just before Christmas while St Leo’s victory in the All Ireland senior colleges football final is just one of a number of awards with a Gaelic games tint.
The Hall of Fame award goes to renowned Carlow cyclist Mike O’Donoghue.
Just one award remains to be chosen, that of the overall Co Carlow Sports Person of the Year.
The winner will be announced on the night of the awards following a public vote through The Nationalist’s text service.
Details on how to vote will be announced in the coming weeks.
If you would like to book your tickets for the event contact The Nationalist on 059 9170100.