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Past Winners

Junior Volunteer of the Year

Orla Grehan - Length of Service: 5 years

Orla Grehan from Ferbane Co Offaly was born on the 11th May 1992. She is currently in her final year at Gallen Community School Ferbane. Orla has great interest in sport and is unselfish in giving of her time to Ferbane Belmont Minor Club and indeed to other local voluntary organisations.

Orla first got involved in the Ferbane Belmont Minor GAA Club in 2005 when she was just 13 years old. Orla initially served as assistant coach to the under 6 group but such was here success that for the past 3 years she has taken overall responsibility for this role despite her young age. As well as playing an active role as a coach in the club, Orla is also a valuable member of the Ladies Football Club and has played in all grades from underage up to adult football.

Adult Manager of the Year

Jimmy Corbett - Length of service: 23 years

Jimmy Corbett is a native Mayo man and full time farmer by profession. Jimmy set up the Carnacon Ladies GAA Club in 1986 when ladies Gaelic football was in its infancy. Since then the Carnacon Ladies have progressed to win numerous underage and senior county titles not to mention three Senior All Ireland Titles in 2002, 2007 & 2008. Jimmy has been to the forefront of all these successes.

In addition to his work with the Carnacon Club Jimmy also finds time to promote ladies Gaelic football within Mayo. Over the years he has served as both PRO and Development Officer of the Mayo Ladies County Board and this year was appointed President. His enthusiasm for ladies Gaelic football is unrelenting and the voluntary effort he gives is second to none.

Adult Coach of the Year

Carmel Malone - Length of Service: 20 years

Carmel Malone, inspired by her son Brian, an athlete with an intellectual disability, founded the Irishtown Special Olympics Athletics Club in 1989 with the help of her friend Bernie Griffin. The club was one of the first community based Special Olympics clubs formed at that time, as previously Special Olympics operated solely from large services and special schools. In order to develop and grow the club, Carmel has acted in a number of roles including the club manager, secretary, treasurer, athlete protection officer and head coach over those years.

Carmel looks after all the logistics of the club. She arranged that the club's athletes could train in Clanna Gael Athletics Club every Monday night and even enlisted the local Gardaí to become involved in club training and competitions. Carmel's dedication is however perhaps best manifest by the reality that she not missed one training session in the 20 years she has been part of the club.

Youth Manager of the Year

Hughi Nolan - Length of service: 20 years

Hughi Nolan grew up in Newtownmountkennedy and played with local club Newtown United until 1992. Shortly afterwards Hughi took over the running of Newtown Juniors and has since overseen the development of some very talented footballers - Clive Clarke, Paul McShane and Katie Taylor are just a few of the athletes who passed through Hughi's hands.

One of the most qualified coaches in the area, Hughi is responsible for the existence of underage football in Newtown and spends his every waking hour looking after the soccer needs of the young people in Newtown. He cuts the grass, marks the pitches, puts up nets, arranges all the coaching courses for the managers, attends all the league meetings ,writes articles for the local papers and updates the website. In the summer he runs soccer camps and Mini World Cup competition for kids of all ages.

Sports Official of the Year

Joe Browne - Length of service: 24 years

Joe initially was introduced to swimming by a friend in the early 1960s and began swimming in the Tara Street pool before joining the Crusaders Swim Club. In 1964 Joe competed in his first sea race and finished in last place. However, he managed to win his second race just two days later.

In 1985 Joe was asked to take over as handicapper of an open water race with his appointment due to be for one race only. This first race was the Island race in Howth and there were 24 swimmers taking part. Twenty five years later Joe is still in the position of handicapper and through this time he has worked tirelessly to help develop open water swim racing in Leinster to a level where there are 25 races each summer. Joe attends each of the 25 races - a commitment which takes in every weekend from June until mid September and has yet to miss a race since his initial "one-time only" appointment back in 1985.

National Administrator of the Year

Liz Howard - Length of service: 3 years

Liz served as President of Cumann Camogaiochta na nGael from 2006 to 2009. A talented and committed camogie player in her youth, as President, Liz acted upon her clear vision for the growth and development of the Association at all levels overseeing the implementation of the Association's first ever strategic plan.

Liz was instrumental in putting in place a first class full time team both at administrative and games development level. Liz focused on promoting the sport in a very positive manner and the profile of the game increased hugely during her time in office assisted to some extent by Liz's coup in ensuring the staging of the Senior All-Ireland Camogie Final on the same day as the U21 All-Ireland Hurling Final. Whilst still in office, she initiated an independent Strategic Review of the Association with work now ongoing to bring camogie to the next level both on and off the playing field.

Disability Sport Volunteer of the Year

Bernie and Joe Walsh - Length of service: 30 years

Joe and Bernie Walsh, both now in their seventies, have been involved in the sport of athletics for the last 40 years. They are both originally from Dublin and have eight children, three of who have a visual impairment and fifteen grandchildren.

In the 1960's they worked to enter a team in the Community Games and from this became founding members of Fingallians Athletic Club. Since then, they have provided advice, structured and delivered training and coaching sessions to young and adult athletes with a visual impairment on a weekly basis. They have travelled as managers and coaches to international competition in support of these athletes. They have also supported their daughter to Paralympics success in athletics and more recently cycling.

Youth Coach of the Year

Seamus Reynolds - Length of service: 29 years

Seamus joined Bann Rowing Club in 1978 and has been involved in the sport of rowing every since. In the mid 1990's when his children started rowing for Bann, Seamus decided to concentrate on coaching. Since then, Seamus's coaching commitments during the winter see him down in the club on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays not to mention two sessions on Saturdays. In the summer months he can be found on the river most evenings.

Seamus also takes time at home to working out training schedules for his crews as well as tailored programmes for each individual athlete. Seamus's input has changed the lives of not only his athletes but also all the volunteers whom Seamus has enlisted to help him with their own experiences and talents. The success of Bann Rowing Club and of many of its members is all thanks to Seamus's efforts and commitment.

Clubman of the Year

Joe Cullen - Length of service: 10 years

Joe Cullen lost one of his legs while working with CIE just over 15 years ago removing an obstacle from a railway line that may well have proved fatal to the passengers on board an oncoming train. As a result of the accident, Joe could no longer work for a living. Joe found it difficult to occupy himself with the free time he suddenly had and found he got no satisfaction from fixing things around the house. His wife Joan was, and still is Schoolboy Secretary of Kilbarrack United and she urged him to help out in club.

At first, Joe would clean the dressing rooms on a weekly basis but before long he spent all his time at the Club. Joe is now the facilities manager at the club and is responsible for maintaining the dressing rooms, clubhouse, erecting the goalposts, nets and marking the pitch. During the summer months he also works with the Summer Soccer School Camps, Blitzes and Sports Days. Joe selfless contribution to Kilbarrack United has made a positive difference both to the club and the local community.

Community Volunteer of the Year

Joe O'Flynn - Length of service: 42 years

Joe O'Flynn started his athletic career in the 1950's whilst attending Rochestown College. Following the establishment of Leevale Athletic Club in 1967, Joe got involved first as an athlete and since as a coach and administrator.

Joe has performed several roles over the course of his long affiliation to Leevale AC including serving 20 years as Secretary and 15 years as Chairman. He has also been involved in the promotion of athletics throughout Cork and indeed, at national level. Joe has even been known to pay the competition entry fee for athletes from his own pocket not to mention the club's electricity bill on occasion. Joe is renowned within athletics for his sense of fairness, honesty and integrity - a reputation that is well regarded not just within Leevale AC but in the sport of athletics throughout Ireland.

Lifetime Award

Jim O'Shea - Length of service: 40 years

For some people raising a son who would go on to play for Manchester United and represent Ireland would be accolade enough but for those involved with Ferrybank AFC that is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Jim O'Shea's contribution to football. For over 40 years Jim O'Shea has been tireless in his work and commitment to Ferrybank AFC - all done in an effort to provide an opportunity for those in his community to take part in the beautiful game.

Jim O'Shea has been involved in Ferrybank AFC since it was established. Over the years Jim marked the pitches, put up the nets, herded cows off the field so that the game could start on time, attended delegate meetings, attended disciplinary hearings for players, managed teams, washed jerseys and even served as Chairman.

The Club that Ferrybank AFC is today is due to the consistent drive, enthusiasm and sheer determination from Jim O'Shea throughout the years. It is simply impossible to count the lives that Jim has touched through his work with Ferrybank nor the volume of kids that would not have had an opportunity to play football if it were not for Jim O'Shea.

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