McSharry honoured at Sports Awards
SLIGO swimmer Mona McSharry, who had a magnificent year in 2019, was honoured at the annual Irish Times Sport Ireland Sportswoman of the Year Awards which were held in Dublin recently.
McSharry won the Sportswoman of the Month Award for last December, after claiming six titles in the space of three days at the Irish Short-Course Championships in Lisburn.
McSharry was the toast of Ireland when she won her first senior international medal at the European Championships in Glasgow at the beginning of the month. The 19-year-old Grange swimmer won a Bronze medal in the 50m Breaststroke final.
At the Irish Championships, as well as collecting titles in the 50, 100, and 200m freestyle, 100 and 200m individual medley and 100m breaststroke, she broke six national records.
Among the highlights for McSharry, who’s a member of the Marlins Swimming Club in Ballyshannon, was the breaking of Michelle Smith’s 23-year-old 100m freestyle record.
Nineteen-year-old McSharry, who was also a contestant in this year’s RTE series Ireland’s Fittest Family, brought that excellent form to the European Short Course Championships in Glasgow earlier this month.
She won a bronze in the 50m breaststroke before going on to be the fastest qualifier in the final of her favoured event the 100m breaststroke. Unfortunately, she just missed out on a second medal by 0.4 of a second in that final.
She was upbeat after the swim, admitting she was still learning how to best swim that race.
“It was a great race yesterday in the semi-final and it would have been nice to repeat that, but I’m still learning,” she told RTÉ.
“Every time I get in there, I swim it differently, so I’m still trying to figure out what works for me, but I’m overall happy with how this week has gone.”
The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Shane Ross described 2019 as a busy year for Irish sport, with our sportswomen doing us proud on the national and international stage.
“The inspirational effect of sport on the Irish public cannot be overstated and it was heartening to see the nation get behind our athletes and teams.
“One of the highlights was the Irish Women’s Hockey Team playing in front of a packed Donnybrook and live on national television as they qualified for Tokyo 2020.
“Exposure such as this, coupled with an increase in funding through Sport Ireland will inspire and encourage participation in all sports and at all levels.
“I would like to acknowledge Sport Ireland and the Irish Times for staging these awards which recognise the incredible contribution of Irish women in sport. “I would like to congratulate all of today’s winners and also pay tribute to their families and all of the coaches and support teams who have helped them to reach the highest levels of sport.”
The Chairman of Sport Ireland Kieran Mulvey described 2019 as a significant year for women in sport with the launch of Sport Ireland’s Women in Sport Policy and the announcement of increased multi-year investment in the area.
He said: “The policy builds on the significant work being undertaken by our National Governing Bodies for Sport and Local Sports Partnerships, recognising the significant impact involvement in sport can have on the lives of women.
“Sport has a unique ability to unite people of all backgrounds and we are all united in our pride for the achievements of our athletes and teams on their success this year.
“The Irish Times Sport Ireland Sportswoman of the Year awards is the perfect way to round-off an excellent year and fitting way to celebrate our wonderful athletes.
“I congratulate each of the monthly award winners on their achievements and wish them well for the year ahead,” he added.