The Coiste Siamsa Sportstar Award is a celebration of sporting achievement in An Garda Síochána.
The Garda Coiste Siamsa 16th Annual Sportstar Awards, sponsored by St. Raphael's Garda Credit Union Ltd., will take place this Friday, 27th November 2009, in Hotel Kilkenny, Kilkenny City.
The Coiste Siamsa Sportstar Award is a celebration of sporting achievement in An Garda Síochána. Each year we honour men and women in the force who have excelled in sport locally, nationally and internationally.
Jimmy Magee of RTE was chairperson of the selection committee and will present the awards and act as Master of Ceremonies on the night.
Presentations will be made to the following award winners:-
Badminton: Fiona & Pauline Glennon. Sisters Pauline and Fiona won a gold medal at the European Police Championships in Canada this year for badminton doubles and continually represent Leinster and Ireland in various championships. Fiona is a Garda stationed at Pearse Street and Paula is a Garda Stationed in Tallaght.
Basketball: Michelle Fahy. Michelle was on the Glanmire basketball team who successfully defended their national title this year and in so doing secured a 3 in a row. She was also selected to play on the senior Irish team that took part in the European championships. Michelle is a Garda stationed in Henry St., Limerick.
Hurling: Eddie Brennan. What can be said about Eddie - now a 6 time recipient of the Sportstar Award. He also boasts 7 All Ireland medals, 10 Leinster, 5 National Leagues, 4 All Stars, 1 U21 All Ireland, 2 Senior Club & 1 Leinster Club. Impressive. Eddie is a Garda stationed at Portlaoise.
Motor Rallying: Martin Brady. In October 2008 Martin was crowned the champion navigator of the Mitsubishi Evo Challenge Championship in the U.K. & in July 2009 he secured another title giving him victory in the championship 2 years in a row. This is a feat never previously achieved by any other competitor. Also in July 2009 he was selected to become part of the U.S.A. National team to take part in the Rally of Nations. Martin is a Garda stationed in Crumlin.
Swimming/Lifesaving: Garda Mixed Lifesaving Team. This was the 34th year that Garda teams have been representing the force at The Annual Association of Chief Police Officers National Lifesaving Championships. This year the Garda mixed team became the first Garda team to ever win the competition. The team was comprised of Gardaí Sinéad Delaney, Annette Connolly, Liam O’ Connell, John Duffy & Student Garda Sinéad Tyrell.
Hockey: Louisa Healy. Louisa is Ireland’s first choice goalkeeper and holds 45 international caps. She is a member of Loreto Hockey Club, Rathfarnham, which won this year’s All Ireland hockey leagues and will now go on to represent Ireland at the European Club Championships.
Gaelic Football: Tom O’ Sullivan. Winner of 5 All Irelands, 6 Munsters, 1 All Ireland U21, 3 NFL, 3 County Championships and 2 All Star Awards & this is his second Garda Sportstar. A real possibility for footballer of the year after a number of ‘Man of the Match’ awards, which include his super performance in the All Ireland Final.. Tom is a Garda stationed at Moyvane.
Canoeing/Kayaking: Peter Egan. Peter won the K2 National Marathon for the second consecutive year. He was second place in the K1 National Marathon Championship and was a semi finalist in the K2 World Championships in Canada. Peter also won a Sportstar award last year and is a Garda stationed in Tallaght.
Special Contribution - Larry Morrison.
Larry has always invested his time and energy into promoting the sport of boxing.
In An Garda Síochána he has been a team manager for 4 World Police & Fireman Games, each one being an outstanding success.
This role has huge responsibility as it involves overseeing numerous weigh ins, medicals & fight draws – all the responsibility of the manager.
Larry operates effectively behind the scenes, letting the boxers take the medals and praise.
Apart from the WPFG he has managed numerous other boxing events and was a considerable fighter in his day, winning multiple gold and silver medals at middle weight at various international police games.
It is only fitting that the time and commitment he has given to sports in An Garda Síochána be honoured with this award.
Larry is a detective Garda in the Garda National Drug Unit.
Hall of Fame Award 2009 - Frank Cummins
The man holds eight All Ireland Senior Hurling medals, seven of them won on the field of play in the position of mid field, between the years of 1969 and 1983. His first was as a substitute in 1967.
Nearly seventeen years at the top, ever present in the most energy consuming of positions in the fastest of field games, where standards of fitness and preparation became more demanding each year.
His record is remarkable. All Star awards in 1971, 1972, 1982 and 1983; All Ireland club medals with mighty Blackrock in 1972, 1974 and 1979; Texaco hurler of the year in 1983. Over a 16 year inter county career his hunger was as apparent at it’s end as at it’s beginning. Arguably more so.
The day Frank Cummins retired, Kilkenny didn’t taste success again until 1992. Coincidence? Almost a decade without an All Ireland is almost unheard of for Kilkenny. Frank - a true colossus of the game.
He joined An Garda Síochána in 1967 and spent most of his service in Cork where he was based in Fermoy, Watercourse Road, Shandon and The Bridewell Garda Stations.
Garda Press Office
26/11/09
