Annual Tipperary sports awards had their origins in sports quizzes in Clonmel

Above: Special Achievement Award winner Cillian Dunne (front) was joined by, from left, Keanen Norris (darts), Róisín McGeever (representing swimming award winner Finn McGeever) and Joe Browne (motorsport) at this year's Annerville sports awards

The Annerville awards, which were presented to the Tipperary amateur sports stars of the year by the Tipperary United Sports Panel in Clonmel last weekend, were presented for the first time 63 years ago.

The presentation of the first awards by the United Sports Panel was made at the Tipperary County Basketball Board's ceili at St. Patrick's Hall, Clonmel - now the hall at the rear of The Venue in Gladstone Street - on Sunday, January 17, 1960.

When the Sports Panel members first met they had no name. They assembled at The Slievenamon Hotel (now The Coachman) in Parnell Street, Clonmel on Saturday, December 12, 1959.

When they met a week later to pick the Tipperary Sports Stars of the Year for 1959 it was unanimously decided, on the proposition of Sean Barlow, seconded by Eddie O'Neill, to adopt the name United Sports Panel.

Those first stars were chosen by secret ballot, a tradition that endures to the present day.

Above: At this year's Annerville awards presentation were, from left, Michael Scully (triathlon), Méabh Russell (soccer), Philip McGuire (representing his granddaughter, athletics award winner Courtney McGuire), TJ O’Donoghue (representing his son, snooker award winner Brendan O’Donoghue) and James Prentice (who won the handball award, along with Jerome Cahill). Picture: John D Kelly 

The Panel was the first of its kind to be formed outside Dublin.

The idea of a committee presenting annual sports awards was the brainchild of three Seans - Lyons, Barlow and Cleary. 
The origins of the Sports Panel stemmed from the late 1950s at the sports quizzes held at the Trades Hall in Clonmel, the building opposite the Garda Station.

The first stars, honoured for their achievements in 1959, were Terry Griffin, Roscrea (camogie), Pat Ward, Cahir (soccer), Kevin Pyke, Clonmel (table tennis), Bill Hyland, Clonmel (sports executive), Jack Lalor, Carrick-on-Suir (athletics), Johnny Gearon, Clonmel (cycling), John Doyle, Holycross/Ballycahill (hurling), Liam Ralph, Thurles (boxing), Phil Fanning, Clonmel (basketball) and Leo Dooley, Roscrea (Gaelic football).

In the early years the Sports Panel couldn't afford to provide a meal and the stars were entertained in the homes of the members after the presentation.

Those first awards were presented by the Mayor of Clonmel, Councillor Matt Slater.

Each recipient was acclaimed as they stepped forward to receive their award, which was a cup. One of the biggest cheers of the night was reserved for hurling award winner John Doyle.

Above: Gaelic football award winner Jack Kennedy (left), with the Tipperary minor hurling management team of Ray Doyle, James Woodlock and Brendan Ferris (the Sean Lyons Sports Executive Award winners) and hurling award winner Noel McGrath at the presentation of the 2022 Annerville sports awards. Picture: John D Kelly

The members of the original United Sports Panel were Sean Cleary (chairman), Sean Lyons (secretary), Sean Barlow, Bill Hyland, Christy Mulcahy, Eddie O'Neill, Bill O'Brien, Paddy Cummins, Ken Hogan, Tom Halpin and Ted Dillon.

The 1962 awards were presented at a special dance at the Collins Hall, Clonmel on January 20, 1963. An important addition was the Knocknagow Award, presented to honour an outstanding Tipperary sportsperson of the past.

The first winner was athlete JJ Ryan of Cordangan, Tipperary.

There was a major development when the Sports Panel announced the 1964 awards.I t was announced that the Irish Cider and Perry Company (Bulmers) was sponsoring the awards and that the trophies would from now on be known as the Cidona Awards.

There was another first for the Sports Panel that year when a dinner dance was held to present the awards. The first such function was held at the Ormonde Hotel in Gladstone Street, Clonmel on Sunday, January 31, 1965.

Above: At this year's Annerville awards were, from left, Darragh O’Donoghue, Brian O’Sullivan, Margaret Anne O’Sullivan, Ann O’Donoghue, Knocknagow Award John O’Donoghue and Shane O’Donoghue. Picture: John D Kelly

After 42 years as the Cidona awards the name changed at the 2007 presentation. By that stage the Cidona brand was no longer owned by Bulmers and it was decided that the new name would be the Annerville awards, named after the townland a couple of miles outside Clonmel in which the Bulmers plant is located.

Despite the name change, Bulmers have remained as loyal sponsors since 1964 and next year this year celebrated 57 years as the sponsors of the awards. 

The awards were presented at Hearns Hotel in Clonmel for the first time on January 16, 1970. This remained as the venue until the awards moved to the Clonmel Arms Hotel on January 26, 1973.

The Sports Panel had a long association with the Clonmel Arms, one that lasted for more than 30 years until the hotel closed in late 2005. 

The 2006 awards were presented at Hotel Minella, which was the venue for the next seven presentation ceremonies. 

The Annerville Awards have been presented at the Talbot Hotel Clonmel since 2014.