Rowing legend Sanita Pušpure to be special guest at Leitrim Sports Star Awards

Leitrim's annual celebration of the county's sporting heroes will have a very special guest after it was revealed that former double World Rowing Champion Sanita Pušpure has been confirmed as the special guest for the 13th annual Leitrim Sports Star Awards.

This year's Leitrim Sports Star Awards will be held in The Landmark Hotel in Carrick on Shannon on Saturday February 8, with a great crowd expected to honour and celebrate the fantastic achievements of Leitrim's sports stars in 2024.

Pušpure won two World titles in the Single Sculls in 2018 and 2019 as well as two European gold medals in the same event in 2019 and 2020 along with two bronze medals in the European Single Sculls and a bronze in the double sculls in 2022, making her one of Ireland's most successful rowers at international level.

A three time Olympian, Pušpure is one of Ireland's most decorated sports people and should provide a fascinating insight into life as a top class athlete  on the night. 

The full list of nominations is as follows:

HALL OF FAME

Eddie Leddy - Athletics

JUVENILE TEAM OF THE YEAR

• St Clare’s CS Manorhamilton - All-Ireland Senior Girls Small Schools Soccer champions 2024
• Drumshanbo VS - All-Ireland Schools Volleyball Senior C Champions 2024
• Carrick-on-Shannon RFC U13 Boys - Connacht Cup winners
• Leitrim U16 Boys Gaelic Football - Fr Manning Cup winners 2024
• Mohill Community College - Connacht GAA Junior D championship winners 2024

VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR

• Eamonn McGowan Allen Gaels
• Kathy Butler Leitrim LGFA
• Ciaran McBrien Carrick-on-Shannon RFC
• Karina Crowe Carrick & Leitrim Community Games

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT

Daragh Lenehan - CP Academy Ireland U16 Soccer team

SCHOOL SPORTS INITIATIVE

• Leitrim LGFA Secondary Schools 
• St Joseph’s NS Leitrim Village
• Leitrim Cumann na mBunscol
• Carrigallen Scoil Mhuire Naofa 

SENIOR TEAM OF THE YEAR

• Leitrim - LGFA All-Ireland Intermediate Champions 2024
• Leitrim - All-Ireland U20 Hurling C Champions 2024
• Leitrim - NFL Division 4 runners-up 2024
• Carrick-on-Shannon RFC - Connacht Junior 1C Champions 2024
• Mohill GAA Senior Men - Leitrim SFC Champions 2024
• Glencar Manorhamilton Senior Ladies - Leitrim SFC Champions 2020-2024

JUNIOR SPORTS INDIVIDUAL

• Diarmuid O’Connell - Carrick RFC
• Mona Lowe - Carrick Town & Connacht Schools
• Charlie McDermott - Leitrim Darts
• Sophie Kane - Fenagh & Leitrim Handball
• Nessa Fox - Manorhamilton Rangers & Glencar Manorhamilton LGFA
• Katie O'Brien - Carrick Town
• Caragh Guckian - Carrick Town

SENIOR SPORTS INDIVIDUAL

• Michelle Guckian - Leitrim LGFA
• Shane Quinn - Mohill GAA
• Charlie Richards - Angling
• Charlene Tyrell - Leitrim LGFA
• Ailbhe Clancy - Leitrim LGFA
• Muireann Devaney - Leitrim LGFA & Sligo Rovers
• Laura O’Dowd - Leitrim LGFA
• Michael Duignan - Masters Athletics

COACH OF THE YEAR 

• Gerard O’Donnell - Carrick-on-Shannon AC & Dublin Sprint Club
• Helen Kennedy & Bernice Harman - Trident Swimming Club
• Edigijus Grazys - Carrick-on- Shannon Basketball Club
• Jason Clancy - Sean McDermott Boxing Club

CLUB OF THE YEAR

• Trident Swimming Club
• Carrick-on-Shannon Rugby Club
• Sean McDermott Boxing Club Manorhamilton
• Lough Rinn Dragons