Ryder Cup heros Darren Clarke and Padraig Harrington are among a number of sporting stars to make the shortlist for the RTÉ Sports Person of the Year award.
The Irish golfers are joined by boxing champions Bernard Dunne and Katie Taylor, athletics star Derval O'Rourke, Ireland and Munster rugby player Paul O'Connell, Kerry GAA footballer Kieran Donaghy, racing trainer Aidan O'Brien, Kilkenny hurling legend Henry Shefflin and show jumper Jessica Kurten.
The winner of this year's awards will be decided by judging panel that will include Eamon Dunphy, George Hook, Pat Spillane, Cyril Farrell, Ted Walsh and Jerry Kiernan.
This year's winner will be announced on during RTÉ's 2006 The Sporting Year on Saturday 16 December on RTÉ One.
The programme will also be naming the RTÉ Team of The Year Award, which will be open to a public vote for the first time.
Three finalists have been chosen from the nominations and these are the Triple Crown winning Irish International Rugby team, Heineken Cup winners Munster and the victorious European Ryder Cup Golf Team.
The shortlists for the two awards were drawn up following almost 2,000 nominations submitted by the public to RTÉ.ie.