The IABA Annual Awards ceremony took place Friday night at the Louis Fitzgerald Hotel in Dublin and we can now reveal who received the awards which covered, the Irish boxing scene in 2015, male and female, Elite, Intermediate, Youth and Junior level as well as coaches, referees, judges, clubs and volunteers.
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The main ‘boxer’ awards went to Michael Conlan, Katie Taylor, Michael O’Reilly and Joe Ward. Not unexpectedly the World achievement award went to Clonard’s Mick Conlan for his AIBA world bantam title crown in Doha.
Michael O’Reilly ‘s International achievement award was for his Gold medal in the inaugural European Games in Baku, Joe Ward’s for his qualifying for the 2016 Olympics in Rio and Katie Taylor’s in honour of her Gold medal winning performance also in Baku, the 18th Gold of her glittering career to date.
Among the women, Taylor apart, well deserved recognition for Michaela Walsh from the Senior Elites HP team and indeed for Shauna O’Keeffe of Clonmel, Dealgan’s Amy Broadhurst, Niamh Earley of Ryston and Sarah Edge of St. Brigid’s club in Edenderry.
Some special presentations too including Lifetime Achievement honours for the retiring Sean Canavan and Tommy Murphy. Richly deserved for two men who have served the Association with pride over many years.
Main Club accolades go to: Portlaoise BC for its HP Unit (Michael O’Reilly & Michael Nevin being the ‘best known from the club’) whilst Dublin’s Crumlin BC came away with Best Club and Coaching crowns.
No ‘gongs’ this year for Paddy Barnes or Steven Donnelly both of whom have also qualified for Rio via the semi Pro route (WSB/APB). IABA CEO Fergal Carruth said:
“Our boxers, coaches, clubs and staff did the nation proud in international and domestic competition last year. Tonight we pay tribute to their magnificent achievements in 2015 and look forward with confidence to what will certainly be a very exciting and eventful year ahead.”
All the night’s winners are were:
World Achievement Award – Michael Conlan (Clonard)
International Achievement Award 2015 – Katie Taylor (Bray)
International Achievement Award 2015 – Michael O’Reilly (Portlaoise)
International Achievement Award 2015 – Joe Ward (APB)
Best Elite Award (Female) 2015 – Michaela Walsh (Holy Family)
Best Elite Award (Male) 2015 – Dean Walsh (St Josephs/St Ibars)
Best Intermediate Award (Female) 2015 – Shauna O’Keeffe (Clonmel)
Best Intermediate Award (Male) 2015 – Martin Stokes (Holy Family, Drogheda)
Best Youth Award (Female) – Amy Broadhurst (Dealgan)
Best Youth Award (Male) – Michael Nevin (Portlaoise)
Best Junior Award (Female) 2015 – Niamh Earley (Ryston)
Best Junior Award (Male) 2015 – Jason Harty (Rathkeale)
Best Schoolgirl 2015 – Sarah Edge (St. Brigid’s Edenderry)
Best Schoolboy 2015 – Brandon McCarthy (St Michael’s Athy)
Best Club Award 2015 (Crumlin BC)
Best Coaching Award 2015 (Crumlin BC)
Lifetime Achievement Award – Tommy Murphy
Lifetime Achievement Award – Sean Canavan
Best High Performance Club (Portlaoise BC)
Services to Boxing Award 2015 – Gerry O’Mahony (Dungarvan BC)
Services to Boxing Award 2015 – Gay Farrell (Galway)
Services to Boxing Award 2015 – Simon Walsh (Tullamore)
Services to Boxing Award 2015 – Dan Cowman (Waterford)
Services to Boxing Award 2015 – Harry Robinson (Albert Foundry)
Services to Coaching Award 2015 – Christy McKenna Holy Family, Drogheda)
Commitment to Boxing Award – Fergal Redmond (Arklow)
Hall of Fame (Boxer) – Peter Mullen (St Anne’s)
Hall of Fame (Administrator) Art O’Brien (Dublin County Board)
Hall of Fame (Coaching) Jimmy Walsh (Callan)
Best Referee 2015 – John Mongan (Olympic)
Best Judge 2015 – Billy O’Connor (St Michael’s New Ross)
(Top image credit: INPHO/Francis Myers)
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