The annual Irish Sailing Awards will take place on Thursday 5 March at the National Maritime Museum, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin.
The Irish Sailing Awards recognise exceptional sailing talent representing Ireland at home and on the international stage as well as showcasing the clubs, volunteers and training centres who are setting standards in leadership, training and innovation.
This year sees a new Award in the form of Race Official of the Year, a category that aims to celebrate and recognise the many remarkable race officials who volunteer their time and expertise for the good of our sport. The new Awards which were introduced last year will also feature including Event of the Year celebrating some of our wonderful sailing events around the country and The Dubarry Team of the Year for which the winners will be awarded with the perpetual “Dubarry Boot” Trophy, sponsored by Dubarry Clothing.
As always, the range of talent is impressive with the annual battle for Irish Sailor of the Year including Olympians and Sailing Grand Slam medallists Eve McMahon and Finn Lynch, J/24 World Champions Headcase and the team involved in bringing the ILCA U21 World Championships to Ireland.
There are three sailors nominated in the Youth Sailor category including Adam Greene of Lough Erne who claimed a fifth place at the Topper World Championships, Sienna Wright of Howth Yacht Club, a regular in this category, who, amongst many other results, won Silver at the ILCA 6 Youth European Championships in Portugal, and Lucy Ives of Ballyholme and Royal St George YC’s who was 11th at the same event.
The Irish Sailing Woman on the Water Award, now in its third year, boasts three nominees, all of whom continue to inspire and promote Irish sailing on domestic and international platforms.
Tim Bourke, CEO of Irish Sailing said, “2025 was another outstanding year for Irish Sailing, boasting podium finishes at World Championships, Sailing Grand Slam success, a World Sailing Conference held in our own back yard, a refreshed Champions’ Cup and another excellent Watersports Inclusion Games and that’s just the start of it. These nominations highlight the outstanding depth of talent in our sport, built on years of commitment, innovation, and expertise. We are particularly looking forward to celebrating the achievements of our international sailors who continue to punch well above their weight on the world stage as well as acknowledging the important work done by Clubs, Training Centres, instructors, coaches, officials and volunteers throughout the country.”
The Awards will be hosted by Irish International Class 40 sailor Pamela Lee as well as regular presenter Justin Cullen of Skerries Yacht Club.
For further details please contact Louise Kane Tel: 086 701 3610 louise.kane@sailing.ie
Irish Sailing is the national governing body for sailing, powerboating and windsurfing in Ireland.
The Categories and Nominations for 2025 are as follows:
The Irish Sailing Youth Sailor of the Year
Lucy Ives, Ballyholme Yacht Club, Royal Saint George Yacht Club
Sienna Wright, Howth Yacht Club
Adam Greene, Lough Erne
Irish Sailing Cruising Award
Norman Kean, ICC
Cormac Mac Donncha
Paul O’Reilly, Mullingar Sailing Club
Irish Sailing Club of the Year
Announced on the evening
The Dubarry Team of the Year
Erin McIlwaine & Ellen Barbour, RSGYC/Newcastle YC and County Antrim BC
Ben O’Shaughnessy & Ethan Spain, Royal Cork YC & National YC
Headcase, Lough Ree Yacht Club, Mayo Sailing Club, Baltimore Yacht Club, Howth YC
Irish Sailing Event of the Year
The Dublin Match Cup- International Match Racing Tour, IMRA / National YC
ICRA Nationals, Kinsale Yacht Club
Mayo Mayhem, Irish Windsurfing Association, Achill
Irish Sailing Race Official of the Year
Philip Scallan, Wexford Harbour
Michael Conway, National YC
Dave Mullaly, Killaloe
Irish Sailing Training Centre of the Year
Lough Derg Yacht Club
Galway Bay Sailing Club
Atlantic Marine Training
Irish Sailing Class of the Year
Ruffian 23
Fireball
Squib
Irish Sailing Volunteer of the Year
Ruairi Finnegan, Waterford Harbour Sailing Club/ Royal St George YC / IMRA
Nicola Harris, Waterford Harbour Sailing Club
Gary Cullen, Howth YC
Irish Sailing School of the Year
St Andrew’s College, Co. Dublin
Schull Community College, Co. Cork
Irish Sailing Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Award
Mandy Kelly, Sutton Dinghy Club
Gerard Hogan, Galway Bay Sailing Club
Maeve Robinson & Duncan Lyster, Royal St George YC
Irish Sailing Instructor of the Year
Matthew Cotter, Howth YC
Johnny Flynn
Jane Hunter, Sutton Dinghy Club
Woman on the Water Award
Riona McMorrow Moriarty, Tralee Bay Sailing Club
Ann Kirwan, National Yacht Club
Sheenagh McNamara, Waterford Harbour Sailing Club
Irish Sailor of the Year presented by Afloat
Mark Lyttle (Services to Sailing)
The Goodbody Family (Family Sailing)
Andy George & John Beckett (Regatta)
Don O’Dowd (Services to Sailing)
Peter Ryan (Services to Sailing)
Andy Sargent (Regatta)
Pat Tanner (Offshore)
David & James Dwyer (Offshore)
Baltimore Sailing Club (Team Racing)
Niall O'Brien & Ronan O Briain (National)
Cillian Dickson & 'Headcase' (International)
Daniel Copiethorne and Matt Mapplebeck (Junior)
Andrew & Sam Hall (Offshore)
Daniel & Henry Thompson (Int. Dinghies)
Ross & Aoife McDonald (Sportsboats)
Michael O’Connor (One Design Keelboat)
Fiachra McDonnell (Solo Dinghies)
Rob O'Reilly (Regatta)
Sienna Wright (Female, Int Dinghies)
Patrick Boardman (International Keelboats)
Chris Johnston (Regatta)
Atlee Kohl and Cathal O'Regan (Dinghies)
Tom Kneen (Offshore)
Ian Bowring & Jenny Needham (Services to Sailing)
Finn Lynch (Olympic)
Eve McMahon (International)
Johnny Mordaunt (International Offshore)
Johnny Murphy (Offshore)
Nigel Biggs & Dave Cullen (Regatta)
Fionn Lyden (Sportsboats)
Brian Hall (Regatta)
Eve McMahon (International)
Bobby Driscoll (Juniors)
Sienna Wright (Youth Internationals)
Finn Lynch (Olympic)
Paul O’Higgen’s (Offshore)
Rob O’Leary, David Kelly & Patrick Boardman (Regatta)
Alex Barry (Dinghies)
Alan Markey (Cruising)
John Maybury (Keelboats)
Cian Guilfoyle (Offshore)
Gerry Jones (Services to Sailing)
Power of One Transatlantic team (Ocean Rowing)
Chris Bateman & Lucy Loughton (International Dinghies)
Johnny Mordaunt (Ocean Racing)
Frank O’Leary (Offshore)
Irish Sailing President’s Award
This is a special award in recognition of outstanding achievement Irish sailing.