All go for The Echo 2018 Sports Awards
THE ECHO 2018 Amateur Sports Awards were officially launched in the Green Isle Hotel.
Dublin Ladies footballer Olwen Carey, Ireland international hockey player, Shane O’Donoghue, Templeogue Basketball Club’s Jason Killeen and The Echo 2017 Sports Star, Jenny Egan, were on hand to help mark the official start of this year’s awards which are sponsored by the Green Isle, South Dublin County Sports Partnership and the South Dublin County Council.
At the official launch of The Echo 2018 Amateur Sports Awards in the Green Isle Hotel
Now entering its tenth year, this awards initiative goes some way to recognising the huge amount of achievements across a wide spectrum of amateur sport in our locality.
Each month both an individual competitor and team are nominated to go forward to ‘The Echo Sports Star’ and ‘Team of the Year’ final, the winners of which will be announced at a special gala night in the Green Isle Hotel in December.
Jason Killeen, Olwen Carey, Shane O'Donoghue and The Echo 2017 Sports Star of the Year, Jenny Egan
After a tremendous season in which she picked up five major international medals and became Ireland’s first female competitor to make the podium at the World Canoe Marathon Championships, Lucan kayaker Jenny Egan scooped The Echo 2017 Amateur Sports Star title in December.
Among the other past winners of the ‘Sports Star of the Year title were former Ireland international hockey player Stephen Butler, 2010 Irish Tarmac Rally champion Gareth Mac Hale, Ireland 400m runner Brian Gregan, National record-breaking swimmer Brendan Hyland, ex-European Rallycross champion Derek Tohill, Republic of Ireland women’s soccer star Katie McCabe, Ireland’s top Olympic style Taekwondo competitor Jack Woolley and Olympic sailing silver medallist Annalise Murphy.
Winning their club’s first men’s Super League title, Templeogue Men’s Basketball team were crowned The Echo Team of 2017.
Other clubs who have raised ‘The Echo Team of the Year’ prize in past years are Crumlin United, St Mary’s Rugby Football Club, St Francis FC Ladies, Peamount United Ladies, DSD Athletic Club, Terenure College RFC and Ballyboden St Enda’s senior footballers.
While these awards aspire to recognise the achievements of local competitors and teams in their respective fields, the initiative also aims to highlight the work of those behind the scenes.
Indeed the great sporting feats from local to international degree that are covered in the pages of The Echo can, in large part, be attributed to the efforts of volunteers and coaches, which can, so often, go unacknowledged.
For this reason, these awards also include categories for ‘Coach/ Manager of the Year’, ‘Sports Volunteer of the Year’, ‘Club Development of the Year’ as well as ‘Club of the Year’.
Hall of Fame
What’s more, the awards also recall the success of past sporting greats in our community by way of ‘The Echo Sports Hall of Fame’ Award.
Commenting on the Green Isle’s involvement with the Sports Awards, Sharon Moylan, Sales Manager with the hotel said “The Green Isle Hotel have been sponsors of The Echo Sports Awards going into the fourth year now.
“We are proud to be part of this experience and to watch the progression of these young sports men and women of all ages.
“The commitment and passion shown by these individuals as they strive to be the best they can be, is inspiring and the fact that we play a small part of this whole picture is very rewarding.
“Being involved and supporting the players is an important part of our commitment to the community and it’s that which we are very proud of,” she added.
Also looking forward to recognising more great work and achievements in local sport by way of these awards in 2018, South Dublin County Sports Partnership Co-ordinator Thos McDermott said “The sports awards are a very important feature in the Sports Partnership’s annual calendar.
“They allow us to recognise the effort and achievement of local club coaches, administrators and athletes and to support the great work that they do to promote the benefit of sport to our community.
“They also help to promote the wide variety of sports that are available to the community and the opportunities they can provide.
“SDCSP has partnered with The Echo since the inauguration of the Sports Awards and see the partnership with The Echo as a cornerstone of its role to promote increased participation in sport in our community.
“Sports participation should be open to all, regardless of age, gender or ability and the awards are a recognition of the efforts of all those who work to achieve this objective,” he added.
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