The 21st annual Coiste Siamsa Garda Sportstar Awards will be held at The Malton Hotel, Killarney, Co. Kerry, on Friday 21st November 2014.
The awards are presented to Garda members who have achieved success in their chosen sporting areas, locally, nationally and internationally. This year’s selection committee is chaired by ex Munster and Ireland rugby player Alan Quinlan.
This year’s winners are:
Rugby - Niamh Briggs
Niamh was a member of the Ireland Women’s Rugby team which captured an historic first ever Grand Slam in 2013. . She was a key member of Ireland’s World Cup squad which achieved a historic victory against New Zealand on the 2014 Women’s Rugby World Cup and was nominated for player of the year. Niamh is a native of Co. Waterford and is a Garda Stationed at Roxboro Road Garda Station in Limerick.
Canoeing/Kayaking - Peter Egan
National champion Canoe Marathon in the K1 and K2, National champion Canoe Sprint 200m K1 & K2, National champion Canoe Sprint 500m K2, Semi- finalist at the World Championship Canoe Sprint K2 200m, 17th place European Champion Canoe Sprint , 16th place World Championship Canoe Marathon, 4th in the 2014 Liffey Decent. Peter from Lucan is a six time winner of the Garda Sportstar Award and is stationed at Tallaght Garda Station in Dublin.
Gaelic Football – Aidan O’ Mahoney
Aidan was a member of the Kerry Gaelic Football team which captured this years All Ireland title. Aidan is a winner of 5 All Ireland title; 8 Munster titles; 3 National Titles. Aidan is a previous winner of a Coiste Siamsa Sportstar Award in 2006. Recognised as one of Kerry’s fittest players he is a Garda stationed at Tralee Garda Station.
Hurling – James Woodlock
James was a key member of the Tipperary Hurling team which lost this year’s All Ireland Hurling Final to Kilkenny. He has been a feature on the Tipperary team for a number of seasons having come back from a serious injury in 2009. The Drum-Inch clubman excelled at mid-field for his county in this year’s championship. James is a Garda stationed in Kilkenny
Angling – The Garda Angling Team
(Ernie Henderson, Tralee; Eamon Bracken, Athlone; Donnacha Maguire, Ballymun; Richard Caplice, Carrickmacross; Derek O’Raw, Bridewell Dublin; Jason Furlong, Clondalkin.) won a gold medal at this years European Police Freshwater Fishing Championship held in Belgium in September 2014. The Garda team has won medals at this event every year since 2010, including gold in 2010 & 2011.
Triathlon – Brendan Flanagan
Brendan is a founder member of Portmarmock Athletics Club and Portmarnock Triathlon Club. In September 2014 he represented Ireland at the Long Distance Triathlon (3.8km swim, 180km cycle and 42.2km run) at the Challenge Almere-Amsterdam event and was the first Irish competitor to cross the line. He is a sergeant attached to National Support Services in Dublin.
Camogie - Michelle Casey
Michelle played full-back on this year’s Limerick Camogie team which captured the All Ireland Intermediate Camogie title, beating Kilkenny in the final. Michell was the captain of Limerick in 2013 and was Munster camogie player of the year for 2013. Michelle is a Garda Stationed at Nenagh Garda Station.
Cycling - Eve McCrystal
Eve was a member of the Irish Cycling team which recently took part in Ras Na mBan in 2014. In August she also piloted Ireland’s Paracycling team to a silver medal at the World Paracycling Championships in Greenville, USA. Eve is a Garda stationed at Ballybay Garda Station
Administration of Sport – Seamus Moriarty
Seamus is described as a cornerstone of Na Gael ladies football in Tralee Garda Tralee who won county, Munster and All Ireland titles last year. He uses his role as a Garda to promote community involvement and organises an annual football tournament where the Kerry Garda Ladies team take on local teams and raise money for charity. His other passion is cycling and has initiated a Cycle Safety campaign for children, which is used to promote safe cycling for children in Kerry Division.
Social/Cultural Contribution - James O Mahoney
This is the first year for this award and it will be given to Garda members who contribute to the social and cultural life of the communities. This year’s winner is James O Mahoney a Garda Juvenile Liaison Officer station in Bandon. He is the founder of Kinsale Youth Support Services (KYSS). In his dealing with young people he noticed at anxiety and mental health issues were causing them to abuse drugs and commit crime. James realised that the Gardaí alone could not tackle the problem and with the assistance of other community leaders founded KYSS. The KYSS employs a youth worker who is available to young people with issues and provided access to counsellors. James also founded the Garda Youth Awards in 1995, recognising that young people’s contribution to society needed to be acknowledged. The awards have been running for almost twenty years and have been adopted by 19 other Garda Divisions.
Hall of Fame - Willie McGee
Willie McGee is a native of Burrishoole, Co. Mayo and is a retired Detective Superintendent. Described as tall and strong and an ideal target at full forward. Willie won an All-Ireland U 21 medal for Mayo, beating Kerry 4-9 to 1-7 in the 1967 final replay. Willie scored 4-1 in the game and earned the nickname ‘4 goal Willie’. This feat has never been surpassed. As a result Willie was called up to the Senior panel. He won a Connaught title in 1969 and scored seventeen goals from play in senior inter-county competitions. In 1970 Willie won a National League title.
Willie was a founder member of the reformed Garda GAA Club and was active as a player and club officer. He retired from football in 1985, but that didn’t end his sporting achievements. In 1991 he won gold in the doubles handball competition at the World Police & Fire Games and an All-Ireland football medal playing for Kildare in the over 40s competition. Willie McGee is the deserving winner of the Coiste Siamsa Hall of Fame Award for 2014.
