THE stars of Irish sport turned out in style at the RTE Sportsperson of the Year awards night on Sunday night.
2024 has been a star-making year for many athletes, headlined by an Olympic Games that saw Team Ireland take home a record seven medals.
7
7
7
7
Four of those were gold, with Paul O’Donovan and Fintan McCarthy, Kellie Harrington, Rhys McClenaghan, and Daniel Wiffen taking top honours in Paris.
In the case of O’Donovan and McCarthy, and Harrington, the gold medals in the lightweight double sculls and boxing were retained from Tokyo 2021.
The team’s exploits in France were recognised by O’Donovan being named RTE Sportsperson of the Year for 2024.
The Corkman became the first Irish Olympian to win medals at three consecutive games, having won silver alongside brother Gary at Rio 2016.
In addition to winning Olympic gold, he also won gold at the World Rowing Championships single sculls.
Speaking to RTE afterwards, O’Donovan was asked what kept him motivated to keep going.
And he said: “When I’m talking to older people like Timmy Harnedy and Eugene Coakley, they would be saying, they wish they were younger and still wish they were still doing it.
“I’m not sure, I have just been doing it for so long I don’t know any better.
“I like the sport, for one, that helps, I have had some good teammates over the years and that helps get the results.”
RTE Young Sportsperson of the Year was taken home by Róisín Ní Riain after a year that saw her become a double Paralympic medallist.
She won silver and bronze in Paris for the 100m Backstroke S13 and 200m Individual Medley SM13, as well as double gold at the European Championships in the 100m back and 100m breaststroke.
She said: “Just to be in a room with so many great people here tonight is an absolute honour and to be able to come away with this award, it’s been a really great year.”
Fellow Paralympians Katie-George Dunlevy and Linda Kelly were the winners of the RTE Sport Team of the Year.
They beat off competition from the likes of the Ireland men’s rugby team that won back-to-back Six Nations, All-Ireland hurling champions Clare, and All-Ireland football champions Armagh.
And deservedly so, as they took home gold and silver medals in Road Cycling in Paris and are Double World Champions.
Dunlevy, won three medals in Paris, told RTE: “It is huge.
“Myself and Eve won this after Tokyo which was a dream. For Para athletes to actually win an accolade like this is huge.
“I am representing so much. I am representing visually impaired children and adults at home to believe in themselves and you can achieve.
“You have to be resilient as a disabled person and disabled athlete and I think I have shown that this year.”
Willie Mullins was revealed as the RTE Sport Manager of the Year.
He became the first champion trainer both sides of the Irish Sea since Vincent O’Brien in 1954.
2024 also saw him achieve record breaking Grade 1s in a year including eight at Cheltenham while also picking up the Aintree Grand National with “I Am Maximus”.
Finally, former Irish Olympian and professional boxer, Michael Carruth was inducted into the RTE Sport Hall of Fame.
The welterweight boxer who took home a gold medal at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona.
7
7