Diversity of Annerville awards winners in Tipperary showed that 'there's a sport for everybody'

Above: Karen Kennedy, Camogie award winner; Pat Cleary, representing his son, Golf award winner Donnacha Cleary; Stephen O’Reilly, Pitch and Putt winner; Hurling award winner Ronan Maher and Michael Mockler, representing his son, Athletics award winner Sean Mockler, at the Annerville awards presentation. Picture: John D Kelly

A tribute to the diversity of sports represented at the presentation of the Annerville awards at the Talbot Hotel Clonmel on Saturday night last was paid by Derek Nolan, representing sponsors Bulmers.

A total of 21 stars in a variety of sports ranging from camogie to motorsport, rugby to pitch and putt, soccer to hockey and hurling to kayaking were honoured with awards by the Tipperary United Sports Panel.

They included John Cleary, the former handball player from Tipperary Town, who won the Knocknagow Award, which the United Sports Panel presents each year to a famous sportsperson of the past.

Derek Nolan said that this diversity showed that there’s a sport for everybody.

Success didn’t come easily, however. This was a really important night for the stars, their families and friends, and the celebration of their success is so important.

When they thought of what their families and coaches had done for them, the stars might be able to give something back to their sport when they retired, he added.

Above: Knocknagow award winner, former handballer John Cleary from Tipperary Town, with his daughter Ruth Carey and her husband Bill Carey. Picture: John D Kelly

Derek Nolan also spoke about the Dillon Quirke Foundation, which was set up following the young Tipperary and Clonoulty/ Rossmore hurler’s death in 2022 to raise awareness and reduce the number of young people dying from SADS (Sudden Adult Death Syndrome) through a cardiac screening programme.

He said it was very important that all young athletes between the ages of 12 and 18 would avail of this screening so that any potential issues with their health could be picked up.

The event was also attended by Gerard Darcy, Cathaoirleach of Tipperary County Council. He said that “as a county we are steeped in sport.

“It’s in our blood,” he said, whether it was individual or team sports, and the people of Tipperary had always excelled in their disciplines.

It was a remarkable achievement for the United Sports Panel, the longest serving sports awards committee in the country, to be still honouring sports after 64 years, and this was a great tribute to the past and present members.

He said that sport keeps us well, mentally and physically. Whether you were a participant or a spectator it could be exhilarating, but it could also be cruel.

Cllr Darcy congratulated all the winners, and wished them well for the future.

Above: Stephen Shoer (Pitch and Putt), Aisling Hickey (Racquetball), Declan Foley (Special Achievement award) and Nicole Drought (Motorsport). Picture: John D Kelly

Eamonn Wynne, Chairman of the Tipperary United Sports Panel, said he was delighted that sporting participation and achievement is very much alive and kicking in our county.

A forensic examination of the stars’ achievements revealed the depth and excellence of all of their successes in the past twelve months.

These included a double World Special Olympics medal winner in Declan Foley; European champions in kayaker Aoife Hanrahan and racquetball player Aisling Hickey; a rising rugby star in Brian Gleeson; rower Daire Lynch, who is on course to compete in this summer’s Olympic Games in Paris; and several national champions and international athletes.

Above: From left, Lauren Fitzpatrick (Ladies football), Geraldine Browne (representing her daughter, Boxing award winner Shauna O’Keeffe), Eileen Ryan (Jimmy Cooney Lifetime Achievement award), Brian Gleeson (Rugby) and Dermot Dougan (President of Clonmel Rowing Club, representing Rowing award winner Daire Lynch). Picture: John D Kelly

He said that away from the limelight of professional sport, headlines are being made by young men and women who continue to strive for and achieve sporting greatness, not for financial reward, but most of all for the love of their chosen sport, where they compete as amateurs.

“The presentation of these awards began all of 64 years ago, and they are the longest running sports awards in the country. For 59 years they have been sponsored by Bulmers.

“We are very grateful to Bulmers for their continued support and their greatly appreciated generosity, which has played no small part in the longevity of the awards scheme”.

The prestige of and the esteem in which these awards are held was reflected in the presence of Derek Nolan from Bulmers, and Gerard Darcy, Cathaoirleach of Tipperary County County Council, the Chairman added.