# Irish Independent Sports Star Awards

The Irish Independent Sport Star Awards are a recognition of the best achievements in sport from Irish individuals and teams within Ireland and internationally. The awards is an annual event that takes place in December and is a star-studded event with leading Irish sports managers, athletes and officials in attendance. Awards go to: Sport Star of the Year, Young Sport Star of the Year, and a special Hall of Fame recipient.
The awards began in 1989 with Tipperary's Nicky English the very first Sport Star of the Year. The Irish Independent Sport Star Hall of Fame award began in 1995 with Christy O'Connor Sr; and in 2004, Cathy Gannon was the first Young Sport Star of the Year. In over a quarter of a century, previous award winners have included Rory McIlroy, Katie Taylor, Sonia O'Sullivan, Packie Bonner, Michael Carruth, Padraig Harrington, Roy Keane and Aidan O'Brien.
The most recent winners in 2015 were Leona Maguire for Young Sport Star, Kevin Moran in the Hall of Fame, and Paul O'Connell for Sport Star of the Year.

## Sports Star of the Year Winners

By Year
| Year | Winner | Sport |
| 1989 | Nicky English | Hurling |
| 1990 | Packie Bonner | Soccer |
| 1991 | Catherina McKiernan | Athletics |
| 1992 | Michael Carruth | Boxing |
| 1993 | Dermot Weld | Horse Racing |
| 1994 | Sonia O'Sullivan | Athletics |
| 1995 | Clare team | Hurling |
| 1996 | Michelle de Bruin | Swimming |
| 1997 | Maurice Fitzgerald | Gaelic Football |
| 1998 | Sonia O'Sullivan | Athletics |
| 1999 | Roy Keane | Soccer |
| 2000 | Johnny Murtagh & John Oxx | Horse Racing |
| 2001 | Aidan O'Brien | Horse Racing |
| 2002 | Padraig Harrington | Golf |
| 2003 | Peter Canavan | Gaelic Football |
| 2004 | Ronan O'Gara | Rugby |
| 2005 | Rugby Walsh | Horse Racing |
| 2006 | Derval O'Rourke | Athletics |
| 2007 | Padraig Harrington | Golf |
| 2008 | Padraig Harrington | Golf |
| 2009 | Brian O'Driscoll | Rugby |
| 2010 | Graeme McDowell | Golf |
| 2011 | Rory McIlroy | Golf |
| 2012 | Katie Taylor | Boxing |
| 2013 | Tony McCoy | Horse Racing |
| 2014 | Katie Taylor | Boxing |
| 2015 | Paul O'Connell | Rugby |

## Hall of Fame Winners

By Year
| Year | Winner | Sport |
| 1995 | Christy O'Connor Sr | Golf |
| 1996 | Jack Kyle | Rugby |
| 1997 | Mick O'Connell | Gaelic Football |
| 1998 | John Giles | Soccer |
| 1999 | John Doyle | Hurling |
| 2000 | Tommy Wade | Showjumping |
| 2001 | Tom Kiernan | Rugby |
| 2002 | Kevin O'Flanagan | Soccer, Rugby, Athletics |
| 2003 | Paddy Mullins | Horse Racing |
| 2004 | Eddie Keher | Hurling |
| 2005 | Sean Boylan | Gaelic Football |
| 2006 | Charlie Hurley | Soccer |
| 2007 | Maeve Kyle | Athletics |
| 2008 | Micheal O'Muircheartaigh | Commentator |
| 2009 | Dr. Ronnie Delany | Athletics |
| 2010 | Jack Charlton | Soccer |
| 2011 | Mick O'Dwyer | Gaelic Football |
| 2012 | Jimmy Magee | Commentator |
| 2013 | Jim Bolger | Horse Racing |
| 2014 | Jimmy Keaveney | Gaelic Football |
| 2015 | Kevin Moran | Soccer |

## Padraig Power Young Sports Star of the Year Winners

By Year
| Year | Winner | Sport |
| 2004 | Cathy Gannon | Horse Racing |
| 2005 | Rory McIlroy | Golf |
| 2006 | Katie Taylor | Boxing |
| 2007 | Katie Taylor | Boxing |
| 2008 | Joe Canning | Hurling |
| 2009 | Grainne Murphy | Swimming |
| 2010 | Brendan Maher | Hurling |
| 2011 | Joseph O'Brien | Horse Racing |
| 2012 | Joseph O'Brien | Horse Racing |
| 2013 | Tony Kelly | Hurling |
| 2014 | Bertram Allen | Showjumping |
| 2015 | Leona Maguire | Golf |