Ireland’s Olympic stars will take centre stage this Saturday as they come together for the 2025 Team Ireland Olympic Sport Awards, celebrating a landmark year of record-breaking performances and unforgettable moments.
The Olympic Federation of Ireland has announced the shortlists for this year’s awards, with ten honours to be presented at a ceremony in Dublin on 6 December, recognising the athletes, teams, coaches, programmes, and creators who lit up the sporting world in 2025.
It has been a year to remember for Team Ireland, with 68 medals won across world and European competition, including more than 20 senior world podium finishes, alongside a series of national records and breakthrough performances from emerging talent.
Members of the public were invited to help decide the winners, with voting having been open until three weeks ago.
The shortlists reflect the breadth of Ireland’s Olympic success across multiple sports. Four athletes are shortlisted for Female Athlete of the Year, including world medallists Aoife O’Rourke (boxing), Fiona Murtagh (rowing), Kate O’Connor (athletics), and Lara Gillespie (cycling). The men’s equivalent is no less competitive, with cyclist Ben Healy, runner Cian McPhillips, Olympic champion rower Fintan McCarthy, and four-time major winner Rory McIlroy all in contention.
The Team of the Year category celebrates collective achievement, from the Senior Eventing Team and Men’s 3×3 Basketball squad to double world medallists Fintan McCarthy and Philip Doyle.
A new generation of Irish athletes is already making waves, recognised in the Rising Star category. At the same time, the shortlist for Olympic Sporting Moment of the Year pays tribute to iconic scenes that stopped the nation — including Rory McIlroy’s historic Masters triumph and Ben Healy wearing yellow on the Tour de France.
The awards will also recognise coaching excellence, digital creators, and community initiatives, as well as the President’s Award, chosen personally by OFI President Lochlann Walsh for an exceptional contribution to Irish Olympic sport.
This year marks the introduction of the newly commissioned trophy, The Olympic Sport Award – known as the Olly. Inspired by the Olympic torch, the design symbolises excellence, resilience and national pride, with its upward flame representing the pursuit of peak performance and three steel panels honouring the Olympic values of Excellence, Friendship and Respect.
Speaking about the night, Peter Sherrard, CEO of the Olympic Federation of Ireland, said:
“Irish athletes are consistently achieving phenomenal results on the world stage – winning medals, breaking records, and inspiring the nation. But behind every great performance lies years of dedication, sacrifice, and the tireless work of coaches, performance teams, and communities. These awards, and our new trophy, the Olly, are about recognising that collective effort and celebrating the people who represent the very best of us.”
Image Credit: Olympic Federation of Ireland
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