Limerick swimming star Róisín Ní Riain honoured at Sportswoman Awards

LIMERICK swimming star Róisín Ní Riain was among those honoured at The Irish Times Sport Ireland Sportswoman Awards which took place in the Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin recently.

This was the 20th year of the awards and Ní Riain was one of 14 sportswomen who was honoured with a monthly award for her achievements during the year.

Drombanna woman Ní Riain received the Sportswoman of the Month Award for April and with it a nomination for the overall title of Sportswoman of the Year, following her amazing performance at the European Para Swimming Championships in Portugal.

After a gruelling schedule that saw her take on six events – she had 11 races in six days between heats and finals – Ní Riain returned to Ireland with five medals having won gold in the 100m breaststroke and 100m backstroke, silver in the 100m butterfly and 200m individual medley and bronze in the 400m freestyle.

Three years ago, a then 16 year-old Ní Riain, was the youngest member of the Irish team at the Tokyo Paralympics, where she qualified for five finals.

But it was a much more experienced competitor who swam in the Paralympics in Paris, where the Limerick woman won silver in the 100m backstroke and bronze in the 200m individual medley.

Ní Riain, who wasn’t able to make it to the Awards ceremony due to exam commitments – she’s studying for a science teaching degree at UL – can look back at 2024 as a year of great achievement and forward to further success in 2025 and beyond. Lisa Clancy, Vice President of Paralympics Ireland accepted the award on her behalf.

Sportswoman of the Year

Boxer Kellie Harrington, who claimed her second Olympic gold medal at the Paris Olympics last August, was crowned The Irish Times Sport Ireland Sportswoman of the Year for 2024.

The Dubliner’s victory over China’s Wenlu Yang in the 60kg final on a never to be forgotten night at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, made Harrington the first Irish boxer to win two gold Olympic medals.

Harrington, who celebrated her 35th birthday in early December, also joins a select group of only four athletes who have successfully defended an Olympic title – the others being double sculls rowers Paul O’Donovan and Fintan McCarthy and hammer thrower Dr Pat O’Callaghan.

It was the second time Harrington has claimed the overall Sportswoman of the Year title, winning her first in 2018

Team of the Year Award goes to Paralympian cyclists

Katie-George Dunlevy, Ireland’s most decorated Irish Paralympic athlete, and her pilots Linda Kelly and Eve McCrystal claimed the ‘Team of the Year Award’ for their outstanding achievements at the Paralympics and World Championships this year.

In an amazing year Dunlevy amassed 5 Paralympic and World Championship medals. In Paris, she won a gold and silver with new pilot Kelly as well as a silver with long-time partner McCrystal before going on to win two gold at the World Championships in Zurich with Kelly.

Other recipients of the 12 monthly awards included:

Sprinter Rhasidat Adeleke for her superb performance at the World Relay Championships, Ciara Mageean who won the 1500m final at the European Athletics Championships; boxer Katie Taylor who retained her lightweight titles following an epic fight against Amanda Serrano and Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh who captained Kerry to All-Ireland glory.

Sport Ireland CEO, Dr Úna May said 2024 had been a year of fantastic accomplishment for our sportswomen.

“Our female athletes continue to demonstrate that with dedication, ambition, and determination, the extraordinary is possible. The diversity of sports being celebrated at these Awards highlights the incredible breadth of talent right across the nation. To all who stand behind these athletes — coaches, families, volunteers, clubs, and communities — your unwavering support is instrumental in these achievements, and we extend our gratitude to you all.” 

The first winner of The Irish Times Sport Ireland Sportswoman of the Year Award back in 2004 was jockey Cathy Gannon. Boxer Katie Taylor has won the overall award a record five times and been a monthly award winner 18 times. Besides Kellie Harrington, the only other double award winner is former Cork dual player Briege Corkery.