Wicklow’s sporting finest feted at awards
WHEN you combine the honouring of the finest sports people in Co. Wicklow and a fundraiser for a wonderful cause such as the Wicklow Hospice you’re only really ever going to get one result: an absolutely wonderful night.
That was how last Friday night turned out in the Arklow Bay Hotel when some of the best and brightest of our sports people and their families descended on the popular hotel for the Wicklow Sports Awards.
Over 200 people turned up to celebrate wonderful sporting achievements across a vast array of sporting disciplines from rugby to ladies football, to horse racing to golf, from boxing to football and on and on.
As well as being a magnificent evening to recognise the sports stars, the event also performed the role as a fundraiser for the Wicklow Hospice with well over €3,000 raised for that wonderful cause.
Guests were whisked through the evening by the capable and knowledgeable host Michael Sargent of East Coast FM who provided details of each award winner’s achievements and interviewed many of those present to help give a real glimpse into their lives.
Sinead Tarmey of the Wicklow Hospice said that her organisation was very grateful to be chosen as the beneficiary of this event and that to see the room full of such worthy winners was ‘fantastic’.
‘The Wicklow Hospice is so grateful to the Wicklow County Council and the Wicklow Sports and Recreation Partnership for choosing us as a beneficiary for such a wonderful event. To see a room full of such worthy winners and their families was fantastic and made for a very enjoyable night. Once again on behalf of the Wicklow Hospice thank you all so much,’ said Sinead Tarmey. Monthly Award Winners: January: Josh van der Flier and Wicklow darts team.
February: Lucy Mulhall and Ciaran Gethings.
March: Mick Byrne and Warren Kavanagh (Wicklow hurling team).
April: Fionnuala McCormack and Niall Earls (Wicklow RFC).
May: Aisling Beacom and Louise Quinn (Arsenal).
June: Katie Taylor and Glencormack FC (Wicklow Cup).
July: Lara Gillespie and Regan Buckley. August: Joseph Byrne (golf) and Baltinglass Golf Club.
September: Daina Moorehouse (boxing) and Tinahely LGFA Club.
October: Liam Scales, and Aine O’Gorman and Claire Walsh.
November: Leo Cullen, and Edel Kennedy and Becky Cassin.
December: Alan Miley and Wicklow RFC Girls Section.
Wicklow Sports & Recreation Partnership Award Winners:
Event of the Year: Ecotrail Volunteer of the Year: Breda Donnelly Youth of the Year: Alan Miley Coach of the Year: Stephen Coughlan Club of the Year: Blue Dolphins – Special Olympics Club
Katie Taylor Bursary: Katie Ann O’Neill the
Irene Winters, Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council, presenting the ‘Katie Taylor Bursary’ award to Katie Ann O’Neill at the Arklow Bay Hotel.