World University Games Champion Thomas Barr crowned Athlete of the Year at the 2015 GloHealth National Athletics Awards

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Thomas Barr competing in Beijing 2015

World University Games Champion Thomas Barr (Ferrybank) was named as the Athlete of the Year at the GloHealth National Athletics Awards which took place on Wednesday 25th of November in the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Santry.

Barr just edged Robert Heffernan (Togher) and Mark English (UCD) for the award with his consistency throughout the season. Heffernan won the Endurace Athlete of the Year award with his return to form finishing 5th in the 50km Race Walk at the World Athletics Championships. English also had an excellent year with a silver medal over 800m at the European Indoor Athletics Championships.

It was Barr’s top class summer winning the 400m Hurdles title at the World Universities 400m hurdles title in Gwangju, South Korea and a new Irish 400m Hurdles record of 48.65 seconds at the Rome Diamond League that sealed the top award along with the Track and Field Athlete of the Year and the University Athlete of the Year award.

Frank O’Mara was inducted into the Hall of Fame for 2015. O’Mara was a world class middle distance runner specialising in the 1500m, 3000m and 5,000m. He became World Indoor Champion over 3000m twice, in Indianapolis in 1987 and Seville in 1991. He also made the world outdoor 5,000m final in Rome in 1987 and was also part of the quartet that set the 4x1 mile world record in Dublin in 1985 alongside Marcus O'Sullivan, Eamonn Coghlan and Ray Flynn.

While the National Athletics Awards is a celebration of the many successes of our international and national it also commemorates the association’s exceptional volunteer base. Dick Hodgins was named as the Lifetime Achievement Award recipient – the pinnacle volunteer award. Hodgins received the award for his services with the Cork City Sports keeping a world class athletics meet to the Irish sporting public. John McDermott of Annalee AC won the Outstanding Official of the Year.

President of Athletics Ireland Professor Ciaran O Cathain said: “We had plenty to celebrate this year with standout performances by Thomas Barr, Robert Heffernan and Mark English in particular. We wish all our Irish athletes the best for Olympic year.”

He added:  “The National Athletics Awards is also an excellent opportunity for the association to acknowledge the clubs and the volunteers who play a vital role in to the development of athletes and the sport in Ireland”


Cork City Sports Meet Director Dick Hodgins receives the Lifetime Service to Athletics Award
Dick Hodgins Receives Cork City Sports Lifetime Achievement Award
Photo: Tony O'Connell Photography
Picture: 2011 Cork City Sports Athletics Person of the Year Award at the River Lee Hotel.  Dick Hodgins receiving his Lifetime Achievement Award from President of CCS Frank Walley, in the presence of Lord Mayor Cllr Terry Shannon.

Rob Heffernan receives the Endurance Award
Rob Heffernan

Award Winners

Award Athlete/Team/Club Club
Lifetime service to Athletics Dick Hodgins Cork City Sports
Outstanding Official Award John McDermott Annalee AC
Junior Athlete Kevin Mulcaire Ennis Track
U23 Athlete Mark English UCD
Endurance Robert Heffernan Togher
Track & Field Thomas Barr Ferrybank
Inspirational Performance Brian Murphy Crusaders
Performance Club Clonliffe Harriers Clonliffe Harriers
Development Club Finn Valley AC Finn Valley AC
Team of the Year Women’s Senior Team European Cross Country Championships 
 
Service to Coaching John Shields Clonliffe Harriers
Mountain Runner Ian Conroy Raheny Shamrock 
Master Athlete Mick Traynor Raheny Shamrock
Ultra Athlete Eoin Keith Sportsworld
University Athlete Thomas Barr Ferrybank
Irish Schools Tailteann Awards – Girl 
Phoebe Murphy Loreto Clonmel
Irish Schools Tailteann Award – Boy Matthew Behan CUS