Tipperary had three deserved winners at the annual MacNamee Awards in Croke Park

Tipperary had three deserved winners at the annual MacNamee Awards in Dublin recently and were honoured during a well-attended ceremony at GAA headquarters in Dublin.

The GAA National Communication and Media Awards are named after the late Pádraig MacNamee, former President of the GAA, Chairman of the GAA Commission (1969-1971), and member of the RTÉ authority.

They are presented annually in recognition of outstanding contributions made by individuals and Association units in the area of media and communications. The presentation of the 2021 and 2022 Awards were delayed due to Covid 19.

In a category with a number of strong contenders, Semple Stadium Field of Legends by Tipperary’s first winner, Liam Ó’Donnchú stands out for its thoroughly researched and engaging content charting the history of one of the most famous grounds in the GAA.

The author has succeeded in bringing together the colourful story of this wonderful arena with accounts of memorable matches, notable characters and of course the famous Féile.

The book is packed with photos, illustrations and match programme cover imagery that enrich it throughout. It is a much-needed historical account of a very special place.

Ó’Donnchú was the winner of a second award for his 2021 publication “Thurles Sarsfield GAA Story Volume 2 (1960-2019).”
The club history documents the events and accomplishments of the club over the last 59 years.

It has detailed accounts of matches at all levels, and key moments within the club. A superb production that has been meticulously researched; the hardback book used images throughout to illustrate the activities of the club during this period.

RTÉ and Tipperary journalist Damiam Lawlor was the next Premier winner after he received the award for “Publication of the Year 2022” for his book “After the Storm,” while his colleague from the Nenagh Guardian, Shane Brophy, won the award 2022 Provincial Media Award for his article “Dillon Quirke Remembered” after the sad and sudden passing of Dillon Quirke in 2022.

Present at the awards was Uachtarán CLG Larry McCarthy, who said: “From its very beginning, the GAA has been aware of the importance of telling our story and being able to connect with our members and supporters.

“The MacNamee Awards are a prestigious recognition of excellence in this field and have grown to match the changes in an ever-evolving media landscape. We appreciate the coverage that our games command across the media at the club and county level.

"I salute all of those who are being honoured, and in particular, pay tribute to Seán Moran and Enda McEvoy who are very worthy entrants to the Hall of Fame for the high standards, and longevity, with which they have reported on our great games and players.”