Donegal woman among those recognised at University of Galway Sports Awards

A Donegal woman was the recipient of an award at the University of Galway Sports Awards. 

Emma Jane Inns from Bundoran was awarded Club Captain of the Year (Sub Aqua) and was presented with an award by Professor Becky Whay. Áine Kavanagh from Calry, County Sligo, also received the Club Captain of the Year award for hockey.

Sponsored by Bank of Ireland, the awards ceremony was held at the Radisson Red Hotel, Galway and hosted by RTÉ Sport’s Darren Frehill.

“The University of Galway Sports Awards are a celebration of the dedication, resilience and community spirit that define sport across our campus,”  Professor David Burn, President of University of Galway, said. “This year’s recipients have demonstrated not only exceptional achievement in competition, but also leadership, teamwork and a commitment to supporting one another. We are immensely proud of all our students, clubs and coaches who continue to foster an inclusive and vibrant sporting culture within the University.”

Under-23 World Rowing Bronze medallist Donagh Claffey, senior county hurler Sam O’Farrell and Carrie Dolan, All-Ireland winning captain of the Galway Senior Camogie team, were also recognised. 

Sam O’Farrell and Carrie Dolan were named Sports Persons of the Year, while Donagh Claffey from the Rowing Club won Individual Performance of the Year for his bronze medal at the World Rowing Under-23 Championships.

University of Galway is now home to more than 40 active sports clubs, which are student-led and organised, with approximately 6,000 students participating in sport and activity daily at the University. The Swimming and Waterpolo Club received Club of the Year and the Gradam Gaelach Award. While the Most Improved Club went to the Gaelic Games Club (Includes Camogie, Hurling, Ladies Gaelic Football, Men’s Gaelic Football).

Other winners included Ronan Sheppard and Matthew Kennedy of the Sailing Club, who received the Unsung Hero Award, Eveline Nee, for her contribution to University of Galway Archery Club over her four years as an undergraduate student, and the Mountaineering Club for the Best Event of the Year.

Matt Lockett (Galway City), Athletics, was recognised as Coach of the Year, Fundraising of the Year was Boxing in Pink – Boxing Club. The Team of the Year was Women’s Senior 8 - Rowing and Students’ Union Club Captains' Choice – Female was Orla Murphy (Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh), Ladies Gaelic Football. For men’s it was Storm McDonald (Easkey, Co. Sligo), Sub Aqua. 

Des Ryan, Director of Sport and Physical Wellbeing, University of Galway, said: “Our Sports Awards are a celebration of our sporting high performance achievements and our sport for all achievements in the University of Galway. The awards recognise the performances, achievements and hard work of our athletes, players, teams, coaches, committee members and volunteers. Our mission in the University of Galway Sports Unit is to be the most progressive and caring University sports programme on the island of Ireland. All the nominees and award winners are helping us on that mission.

 “This year our winners range from Senior Camogie All Ireland winning Captain to Clubs who have doubled membership this year, and we are very grateful to the Bank of Ireland for their sponsorship and support. Our university sports club members contribute great social capital to our environment. For us in the Sports Unit, it is an honour and a pleasure to work with so many talented young adults and to support all those involved in Clubs. It is a wonderful event where all the different sports clubs celebrate together all those who have greatly contributed to sport in the University of Galway.”

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University Honours were given to Mohammad Zajeer Ahmed (India), Cricket and Table Tennis, Eveline Nee (Rosmuc, Co. Galway), Archery, Ailbhe Folan (Galway City), Hockey, Naoise O’Donnell (Moycullen, Co. Galway), Athletics, Swimming, Cycling, and Triathlon.

The Dean of Student Awards included Katia Tuck (France), Rory McDonnell (Beaufort, Co. Kerry), Table Tennis, Caoimhe Gilligan (Rossinaver, Co. Leitrim), Surf, Sub Aqua, Laoise Gillic (Galway City), Fencing, Oscar Choo (Strandhill, Co. Sligo) Surf, Neasa Ní Ainiféin (Ennis, Co. Clare) Athletics, Mark Deegan (Galway City), Bernie Grealish (Galway City), and John Folan (Galway City) Hockey

The Director of Sports Award recipients were  Emer Jackson (Castletown Geoghegan, Co. Westmeath) Camogie, Ben Haverty (Athenry, Co. Galway) Men’s Gaelic Football, Hurling, David Lynch (Tralee, Co. Kerry) Men’s Gaelic Football, Andrew Egan (Galway City), David Mannion (Ballindereen, Co. Galway) Athletics, Declan Gbinigie (Galway City), Fortune Igbokwe (Galway City) Basketball, Amy O’Sullivan (Ennis, Co. Clare) Volleyball Oisin Murray (Ballyard, Co. Kerry) Athletics, Niamh Ní Lochlain (Galway City) Judo Matthew Thompson (Galway City) Men’s Gaelic Football.

The University of Galway Sports Awards recognise performance, leadership and participation, as well as those who contribute to the running and development of the clubs. They also celebrate remarkable final-year students who have made an outstanding and sustained contribution to sport, demonstrated an impeccable example of sportsmanship and a high level of performance and achievement, served as excellent ambassadors within the University and for student sport, and competed at a regional level or above.

Established in 1845, the University of Galway is one of the top 2% of universities in the world. A bilingual university, comprised of four colleges, 18 schools and six research institutes, with more than 19,700 students, including around 3,000 international students. University of Galway have 135,000 alumni and 98% of graduates are in employment or further study within six months.