Hannah Looney of Cork is presented with the GWA Camogie Personality of the Year award at the Gaelic Writers’ Awards, supported by Dalata Hotel Group, at the Iveagh Garden Hotel in Dublin. Photo by Matt Browne/Sportsfile.
The Gaelic Writers’ Association (GWA) annual awards dinner took place at the Iveagh Garden Hotel, Dublin on Friday night with Clare’s John Conlon, Kerry’s Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh, Cork’s Hannah Looney and Armagh’s Niall Grimley honoured as Personality of the Year in their respective codes.
The awards, supported by the Dalata Hotel Group, saw Sean McGoldrick handed the Lifetime Achievement award and Munster GAA’s Dermot Weeshie Lynch named PRO of the Year.
David Hickey of Dublin with his GWA Football Hall of Fame award at the Gaelic Writers’ Awards, supported by Dalata Hotel Group, at the Iveagh Garden Hotel in Dublin. Photo by Matt Browne/Sportsfile
David Hickey (Dublin), Tom Dempsey (Wexford), Kitty Ryan Savage (Tipperary) and Ciara Gaynor (Tipperary) were inducted into the GWA Hall of Fame.
Hickey won three All-Irelands for the transformative Dublin side of the 1970s and also played semi-professional rugby in France.
He was later selector and team doctor for the Dublin team and has campaigned on a range of issues including Palestine, where he is involved with ‘Gaels Against Genocide.’
Tom Dempsey of Wexford is presented with the GWA Hurling Hall of Fame award at the Gaelic Writers’ Awards, supported by Dalata Hotel Group, at the Iveagh Garden Hotel in Dublin. Photo by Matt Browne/Sportsfile.
Tom Dempsey was a star turn on the Wexford side, which landed the 1996 All-Ireland title, a first since 1968. The All Star has gone on to forge out a career with RTE as a highly respected analyst.
Kitty Ryan Savage was the skipper of the first side to win the All-Ireland ladies title, the Brendan Martin Cup, back in 1974 and her induction marks the 50 years since that historic occasion.
Kitty Ryan-Savage of Tipperary with her GWA Ladies Football Hall of Fame award at the Gaelic Writers’ Awards, supported by Dalata Hotel Group, at the Iveagh Garden Hotel in Dublin. Photo by Matt Browne/Sportsfile.
Ciara Gaynor is a five-time All-Ireland winner with Tipperary. A daughter of another Premier legend and 2021 GWA Hall of Fame Inductee, Len, in recent years she has again demonstrated her incredible drive by competing in ironman contests at the triathlon world championships.
Ciara Gaynor of Tipperary with her GWA Camogie Hall of Fame award at the Gaelic Writers’ Awards, supported by Dalata Hotel Group, at the Iveagh Garden Hotel in Dublin. Photo by Matt Browne/Sportsfile.
The awards also recognised the achievements of Sean McGoldrick, the legendary Sunday World GAA correspondent and former Irish Press writer, who also worked for the Irish and Sunday Independent, covering Gaelic football, hurling and boxing in particular with a passion, insight and fearlessness that few could match. He has written several acclaimed books, including the autobiographies of Pat Spillane and Jimmy Magee, a history of the Dublin Marathon and Punching Above Their Weight, an in-depth account of Ireland’s Olympic success in boxing.
Former Sunday World sports writer Seán McGoldrick is presented with the GWA Lifetime Achievement Award award by Martin Breheny at the Gaelic Writers’ Awards, supported by Dalata Hotel Group, at the Iveagh Garden Hotel in Dublin. Photo by Matt Browne/Sportsfile.
Dermot ‘Weeshie’ Lynch was also recognised for his hard work and diligence as Munster GAA PRO, with his province, spearheaded by the Kerry man, continuing to set a standard in terms of their dealings with the media.
The GWA also marked the extraordinary contribution of current players in all four codes to the GAA, their counties and the country.
Armagh’s Niall Grimley and his family suffered an unimaginable tragedy just over a year ago when his brother, Patrick, his wife Ciera and a close friend, Ciara McElvanna were killed in a car accident.
Niall Grimley of Armagh with his GWA Football Personality of the Year award at the Gaelic Writers Association Awards, supported by the Dalata Hotel Group, at the Iveagh Garden Hotel in Dublin. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile.
Personality comes in many forms, and Niall showed his in abundance to overcome an awful loss and serious injury - a broken neck in 2022 - to help Armagh to this year’s All-Ireland title.
Clare’s John Conlon has been a driving force for the county and was a key man at 35 as he helped the Banner land a first All-Ireland title since 2013 and just a fifth in their entire history.
John Conlon of Clare with his GWA Hurling Personality of the Year award at the Gaelic Writers Association Awards, supported by the Dalata Hotel Group, at the Iveagh Garden Hotel in Dublin. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile.
Louis Ní Mhuircheartaigh was the scorer-in-chief for Kerry Ladies as they showed huge resilience to put back to back All-Ireland final defeats behind them and land a first national senior title since 1993.
Cork’s Hannah Looney is that rare gem in modern day Gaelic games, a proper inter-county dual star competing at the highest level in both codes. She holds six All-Ireland camogie titles and one in football.
The full list of winners from the Gaelic Writers’ Association (GWA) Awards are as follows:
Football Personality of the Year – Niall Grimley (Armagh)
Ladies Football Personality of the Year – Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh
Hurling Personality of the Year – John Conlon (Clare)
Camogie Personality of the Year – Hannah Looney (Cork)
Football Hall of Fame – David Hickey (Dublin)
Ladies Football Hall of Fame – Kitty Ryan Savage (Tipperary)
Hurling Hall of Fame – Tom Dempsey (Wexford)
Camogie Hall of Fame – Ciara Gaynor (Tipperary)
PRO of the Year – Dermot ‘Weeshie’ Lynch (Kerry and Munster)
Lifetime Achievement Award – Sean McGoldrick