Leitrim man takes award at Irish Athletics Awards

Joe Doonan won the Service to Coaching award at the Irish Athletics Awards in Dublin on Wednesday.

Doonan gained fame as the Carrigallen schoolteacher and Ballinamore AC member who coached European Cross-Country champion, Irish marathon record holder, four-time World Cross-Country silver medallist, and Olympian Catherina McKiernan.

The Carrigallen man also served as Irish Athletics team coach in 1992 when they travelled to the Barcelona Olympics.

The annual awards ceremony celebrates Irish excellence in athletics and follows a hugely successful season for the sport in Ireland, with 21 international medals and counting.

Kate O’Connor was named Irish Athlete of the Year after claiming the country's first medals in a multi-event competition, competing in the heptathlon in the Netherlands, Germany, and China earlier this year, finishing with a silver medal at the World Championships in Japan.

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Cian McPhillips picked up the Track Athlete of the Year award after his breakthrough in the 800m and resetting the Irish record to 1:42.15 when he finished fourth in Tokyo.

Fionnuala McCormack (Kilcoole AC) was named Endurance Athlete of the Year following another stellar season, including a top-ten finish in the marathon at the World Championships in Tokyo and a personal best of 2:23:46 in Valencia — just 23 seconds off the Irish record.

Conor Kelly (Finn Valley AC) was awarded Under-20 Athlete of the Year after a season highlighted by gold in the 400m at the European U20 Championships, three national U20 400m records, and selection for multiple Irish relay teams at senior championships.

Nicola Tuthill (UCD AC) was named Under-23 Athlete of the Year following a season that included silver at both the World University Games and the European U23 Championships, gold at the European Throwing Cup (U23), and twice breaking the national U23 hammer throw record.

The men’s 4x100m relay team of Michael Farrelly, Sean Aigboboh, Marcus Lawler, Israel Olatunde, and Bori Akinola took home the Team of the Year award after breaking the national record twice in one week, including a 38.88 clocking at the European Team Championships.

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Derval O’Rourke was a hugely popular inductee into the Irish Athletics Hall of Fame.

Her induction recognised the beginning of an illustrious career that saw O’Rourke represent Ireland at three Olympic Games. Her breakthrough continued in 2006 when she claimed World Indoor gold in the 60m hurdles, cementing her status as one of Ireland’s most decorated athletes.

Dick Hooper was the recipient of the Special Recognition Award.

A special moment in the ceremony commemorated the 40th anniversary of Ireland’s world record in the 4×1 mile relay (15:49.08), set on August 17th, 1985. Team member Eamonn Coghlan accepted a commemorative gift on behalf of the team, which also included legends Ray Flynn, Frank O’Mara, and Marcus O’Sullivan.

World champions Greta Streimikyte and Orla Comerford also received special acknowledgement during the evening following outstanding 2025 seasons that saw them bring home gold at the World Para Athletics Championships in India.