The Irish Independent Sport Star Awards are a recognition of the best achievements in sport from Irish individuals and teams within Ireland and internationally. The awards is an annual event that takes place in December and is a star-studded event with leading Irish sports managers, athletes and officials in attendance. Awards go to: Sport Star of the Year, Young Sport Star of the Year, and a special Hall of Fame recipient.
The awards began in 1989 with Tipperary's Nicky English the very first Sport Star of the Year. The Irish Independent Sport Star Hall of Fame award began in 1995 with Christy O'Connor Sr; and in 2004, Cathy Gannon was the first Young Sport Star of the Year. In over a quarter of a century, previous award winners have included Rory McIlroy, Katie Taylor, Sonia O'Sullivan, Packie Bonner, Michael Carruth, Padraig Harrington, Roy Keane and Aidan O'Brien.
The most recent winners in 2015 were Leona Maguire for Young Sport Star, Kevin Moran in the Hall of Fame, and Paul O'Connell for Sport Star of the Year.
Sports Star of the Year Winners
By Year
Year Winner Sport 1989 Nicky English Hurling 1990 Packie Bonner Soccer 1991 Catherina McKiernan Athletics 1992 Michael Carruth Boxing 1993 Dermot Weld Horse Racing 1994 Sonia O'Sullivan Athletics 1995 Clare team Hurling 1996 Michelle de Bruin Swimming 1997 Maurice Fitzgerald Gaelic Football 1998 Sonia O'Sullivan Athletics 1999 Roy Keane Soccer 2000 Johnny Murtagh & John Oxx Horse Racing 2001 Aidan O'Brien Horse Racing 2002 Padraig Harrington Golf 2003 Peter Canavan Gaelic Football 2004 Ronan O'Gara Rugby 2005 Rugby Walsh Horse Racing 2006 Derval O'Rourke Athletics 2007 Padraig Harrington Golf 2008 Padraig Harrington Golf 2009 Brian O'Driscoll Rugby 2010 Graeme McDowell Golf 2011 Rory McIlroy Golf 2012 Katie Taylor Boxing 2013 Tony McCoy Horse Racing 2014 Katie Taylor Boxing 2015 Paul O'Connell Rugby
Hall of Fame Winners
By Year
Year Winner Sport 1995 Christy O'Connor Sr Golf 1996 Jack Kyle Rugby 1997 Mick O'Connell Gaelic Football 1998 John Giles Soccer 1999 John Doyle Hurling 2000 Tommy Wade Showjumping 2001 Tom Kiernan Rugby 2002 Kevin O'Flanagan Soccer, Rugby, Athletics 2003 Paddy Mullins Horse Racing 2004 Eddie Keher Hurling 2005 Sean Boylan Gaelic Football 2006 Charlie Hurley Soccer 2007 Maeve Kyle Athletics 2008 Micheal O'Muircheartaigh Commentator 2009 Dr. Ronnie Delany Athletics 2010 Jack Charlton Soccer 2011 Mick O'Dwyer Gaelic Football 2012 Jimmy Magee Commentator 2013 Jim Bolger Horse Racing 2014 Jimmy Keaveney Gaelic Football 2015 Kevin Moran Soccer
Padraig Power Young Sports Star of the Year Winners
By Year
Year Winner Sport 2004 Cathy Gannon Horse Racing 2005 Rory McIlroy Golf 2006 Katie Taylor Boxing 2007 Katie Taylor Boxing 2008 Joe Canning Hurling 2009 Grainne Murphy Swimming 2010 Brendan Maher Hurling 2011 Joseph O'Brien Horse Racing 2012 Joseph O'Brien Horse Racing 2013 Tony Kelly Hurling 2014 Bertram Allen Showjumping 2015 Leona Maguire Golf
References