Two of Ireland’s brightest swimming stars were among those honored at last night’s Swim Ireland Annual Awards, which took place in Ballina, Mayo. 18 total awards were given in celebration of Swim Ireland’s athletes, coaches and volunteers.
Mona McSharry and Shane Ryan were named Performance Athletes of the Year for their history-making performances over this past summer. McSharry won Ireland’s first-ever gold at a World Junior Swimming Championships, while Ryan broke the nation’s 26-year gold medal-winning drought at the World University Games by taking the men’s 50m back event.
17-year-old Conor Ferguson was honored with the Performance Pathway Swimmer of the Year award after winning silver medals at both the European Junior and World Junior Championships.
Swim Ireland’s Chief Executive Officer Sarah Keane commented on the celebratory night stating, “We are delighted each year to be able get the aquatic community together to celebrate the fantastic achievements of our athletes and coaches and to recognise our volunteers for the hard work that they do. The night gives us the opportunity to celebrate and acknowledge the hard work that everyone puts into our sports and indeed recognise the positive impact that so many of the leaders of our sport have year in year out on the lives of Irish people young and old, male and female inside the pool and out”.
2017 Swim Ireland Award Winners
Swim Ireland Performance Athlete of the Year | Shane Ryan |
Swim Ireland Performance Athlete of the Year | Mona McSharry |
Swim Ireland Para Swimmer of the Year | Nicole Turner |
Swim Ireland Performance Pathway Athlete of the Year (Swimming) | Conor Ferguson |
Swim Ireland Performance Pathway Athlete of the Year (Diving) | Anna Power |
Swim Ireland Performance Coach of the Year | Grace Meade |
Swim Ireland Performance Pathway Coach of the Year | Martin McGann |
Swim Ireland Team Coach of the Year | Anne Mulcair |
Swim Ireland Team Coach of the Year | Emmet Crowley |
Swim Ireland Club Volunteer of the Year | Joe Moran |
Swim Ireland National Volunteer of the Year | Brian Nolan |
Swim Ireland Open Water Swimmer of the Year | Carol Cashell |
Masters Outstanding Achievement Award | Dymphna Morris |
Swim Ireland President’s Award | Fr Dermot Moloney |
Swim Ireland President’s Award 2017 | Peter Brennan |
Swim Ireland Hall of Fame | Eddie Campion |
Swim Ireland Hall of Fame | Davy Page |
Swim Ireland Connacht Club of the Year 2017 | Shark SC |
Swim Ireland Leinster Club of the Year 2017 | Viking SC |
Swim Ireland Munster Club of the Year 2017 | Dolphin SC |
Swim Ireland Ulster Club of the Year 2017 | Bangor SC |
Swim Ireland Club of the Year | Bangor SC |
His father is from Ireland.
Isn’t he from Philadelphia?