Nuacht

The triumphs and endeavours of athletes, sports clubs and coaches have been celebrated at the 41st annual University of Galway Sports Awards.  Among the winners were under-23 World Rowing Bronze medallist Donagh Claffey, senior county hurler Sam O’Farrell and Carrie Dolan, All-Ireland winning captain of the Galway Senior Camogie team.  Sam O’Farrell and Carrie Dolan were named Sports Persons of the Year, while Donagh Claffey from the Rowing Club won Individual Performance of the Year for his bronze medal at the World Rowing Under-23 Championships.  Other winners included Ronan Sheppard and Matthew Kennedy of the Sailing Club, who received the Unsung Hero Award, Eveline Nee, for her contribution to University of Galway Archery Club over her four years as an undergraduate student, and the Mountaineering Club for the Best Event of the Year.  Sponsored by Bank of Ireland, the awards ceremony was held at the Radisson Red Hotel Galway and hosted by RTÉ Sport’s Darren Frehill.  Professor David Burn, President of University of Galway, said: “The University of Galway Sports Awards are a celebration of the dedication, resilience and community spirit that define sport across our campus. This year’s recipients have demonstrated not only exceptional achievement in competition, but also leadership, teamwork and a commitment to supporting one another. We are immensely proud of all our students, clubs and coaches who continue to foster an inclusive and vibrant sporting culture within the University.”  Des Ryan, Director of Sport and Physical Wellbeing, University of Galway, said: “Our Sports Awards are a celebration of our sporting high performance achievements and our sport for all achievements in the University of Galway. The awards recognise the performances, achievements and hard work of our athletes, players, teams, coaches, committee members and volunteers. Our mission in the University of Galway Sports Unit is to be the most progressive and caring University sports programme on the island of Ireland. All the nominees and award winners are helping us on that mission.  “This year our winners range from Senior Camogie All Ireland winning Captain to Clubs who have doubled membership this year, and we are very grateful to the Bank of Ireland for their sponsorship and support. Our university sports club members contribute great social capital to our environment. For us in the Sports Unit, it is an honour and a pleasure to work with so many talent young adults and to support all those involved in Clubs. It is a wonderful event where all the different sports club celebrate together all those who have greatly contributed to sport in the University of Galway.”  The University of Galway Sports Awards recognise performance, leadership and participation, as well as those that contribute to the running and development of the clubs. They also celebrate remarkable final-year students who have made an outstanding and sustained contribution to sport; demonstrated an impeccable example of sportsmanship and a high level of performance and achievement; served as excellent ambassador within the University and for student sport; and competed at a regional level or above.  University of Galway is now home to more than 40 active sports clubs, which are student-led and organised, with approximately 6,000 students participating in sport and activity daily at the University.  2026 Sports Award Winners  Best Event of the Year 50th Anniversary of the Maamturks Challenge - Mountaineering  Club Captain of the Year Áine Kavanagh (Calry, Co. Sligo) Hockey, Emma Jane Inns (Bundoran, Co. Donegal) Sub Aqua  Club of the Year Swimming and Waterpolo Club  Coach of the Year Matt Lockett (Galway City) Athletics  Most Improved Club Gaelic Games Club (Includes Camogie, Hurling, Ladies Gaelic Football, Men’s Gaelic Football)  Fundraising of the Year Boxing in Pink – Boxing Club  Individual Performance of the Year Donagh Claffey (Fardrum Athlone, Co. Westmeath) Rowing  University Honours Mohammad Zajeer Ahmed, (India) Cricket and Table Tennis Eveline Nee (Rosmuc, Co. Galway) Archery Ailbhe Folan (Galway City) Hockey Naoise O’Donnell (Moycullen, Co. Galway) Athletics, Swimming, Cycling, and Triathlon  Sports Person of the Year - Male Sam O’Farrell (Nenagh, Co. Tipperary) Hurling  Sports Person of the Year - Female Carrie Dolan (Clarinbridge, Co. Galway) Camogie  Unsung Hero Ronan Sheppard (Moycullen, Co. Galway), Matthew Kennedy (Galway City) Sailing  Team of the Year Women’s Senior 8 - Rowing  Student’s Union Club Captains Choice – Female Orla Murphy (Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh) Ladies Gaelic Football  Student’s Union Club Captains Choice – Male Storm McDonald (Easkey, Co. Sligo) Sub Aqua  Dean of Student Award Katia Tuck (France), Rory McDonnell (Beaufort, Co. Kerry) Table Tennis Caoimhe Gilligan (Rossinaver, Co. Leitrim) Surf, Sub Aqua Laoise Gillic (Galway City) Fencing Oscar Choo (Strandhill, Co. Sligo) Surf Neasa Ní Ainiféin (Ennis, Co. Clare) Athletics Mark Deegan (Galway City), Bernie Grealish (Galway City), John Folan (Galway City) Hockey  Director of Sports Award Emer Jackson (Castletown Geoghegan, Co. Westmeath) Camogie Ben Haverty (Athenry, Co. Galway) Men’s Gaelic Football, Hurling David Lynch (Tralee, Co. Kerry) Men’s Gaelic Football Andrew Egan (Galway City), David Mannion (Ballindereen, Co. Galway) Athletics Declan Gbinigie (Galway City), Fortune Igbokwe (Galway City) Basketball Amy O’Sullivan (Ennis, Co. Clare) Volleyball Oisin Murray (Ballyard, Co. Kerry) Athletics Niamh Ní Lochlain (Galway City) Judo Matthew Thompson (Galway City) Men’s Gaelic Football  Gradam Gaelach Award Swimming and Waterpolo Club  Ends