More than a modest measure of success

Twelve months of achievement by Irish women in sport was celebrated at the Sportswoman of the Year awards yesterday, writes Ian O'Riordan

THE 2008 Sportswoman of the Year awards had a slightly different feel to it yesterday when joint-sponsors The Irish Timeswere joined by the Irish Sports Council. Of course it couldn't be a more fitting partnership: The Irish Sports Council helps fund women's sport, and The Irish Times helps promote it, even though it wasn't always that way.

"This is always a great occasion for The Irish Timesand is of even more significance in 2009 as the newspaper celebrates its 150th anniversary this year," said editor Geraldine Kennedy.

“I hate to tell you, but sport hardly got a mention back in the first edition in March, 1859. In fact, the only sports covered were horse racing, hunting, coursing and yachting. In the case of sailing, the correspondent obviously pushed the boat out in his efforts to uncover a story, opening his report with the memorable sentence: ‘There is little stirring at present in the aquatic line’.

“Well, times have certainly changed and it’s fair to say there’s a lot stirring in women’s sport at present. The dreariness of January is lightened every year by these awards. It’s a chance to relive and celebrate the outstanding achievements by our monthly award winners who are a credit to the country and worthy of every plaudit that comes their way.

“Whether it was the Beijing Olympics or Ireland’s top golf courses or the famous sod of Croke Park or the narrow confines of boxing rings around the globe, the sportswomen here today have thrilled and delighted us over the last 12 months. In fact, like most other areas of life, they have outperformed their male counterparts in many sports. And, forgive me for saying it, they go about their business with a style and modesty so often lacking in male sport.

“I know we’re brainwashed to think that every soccer, GAA or rugby star is almost infallible, but I think many of them could take a leaf from these young women here in how to practise humility and excel at the same time.”

Kennedy went on to pay tribute to the ever increasing role of women in sport: “I leave here thinking that the scale of achievement will hardly be bettered next year. Well, I should have learned by now. The 2008 stars we are honouring today are every bit as good if not better than the winners in previous years.

"Many of them receive great assistance from the Irish Sports Council in helping to live out their sporting dream and it's only right that we acknowledge the huge contribution of the council and their chief executive John Treacy," she said. Also present from The Irish Timesyesterday was Sports Editor Malachy Logan, and sportswriter Mary Hannigan, one of the three award judges, along with fellow sports journalist and writer Lindie Naughton and RTÉ's Greg Allen.

Along with John Treacy, the Irish Sports Council were represented by its chairman Ossie Kilkenny, with other representatives from sports of the winning recipients, including Liam Hennessy, president of Athletics Ireland, and Lisa Clancy, communications director of the GAA.

Other guests included former Irish international soccer manager Brian Kerr; Mary Davis, managing director of Special Olympics Europe-Asia, and John O’Mahony, Fine Gael TD and current Mayo football manager.

After Katie Taylor was awarded the overall Sportswoman of the Year, there was a special surprise for all those in attendance when Ronnie Delany, Olympic gold medallist from 1956, presented the first Lifetime Achievement award to Belfast’s Mary Peters, who in 1972 secured her place in sporting history when winning the pentathlon Olympic gold medal.

“My hope is that sporting success doesn’t just finish on the field of play,” she said, “but that all the winners here today can find a life outside of sport, and ultimately put some of that back into sport.”

And like all matters sporting, Peters knows what she was talking about, as one of the original icons of women’s sport.