THOMAS BARR HAS been crowned as the Athlete of the Year at the 2015 GloHealth National Athletics Awards this afternoon.
The Ferrybank runner just edged Robert Heffernan (Togher) and Mark English (UCD) for the award with his consistency throughout the season.
Heffernan did pick up the Endurance Athlete of the Year award with his return to form finishing fifth in the 50km walk at the World Athletics Championships.
English also had an excellent year with a silver medal over 800m at the European Indoors, a performance for which he picked up the U23 Athlete of the Year gong.
However, it was Barr’s top class summer winning the 400m hurdles title at the World University Games in South Korea before setting a new Irish record of 48.65 seconds in the same event at the Rome Diamond League that sealed the top award as well as the Track and Field Athlete of the Year and the University Athlete of the Year prizes.
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 5000m.
He became World Indoor Champion over 3000m twice and also made the world outdoor 5000m final in Rome in 198. He was also part of the quartet that set the 4×1 mile world record in Dublin in 1985 alongside Marcus O’Sullivan, Eamonn Coghlan and Ray Flynn.
President of Athletics Ireland Professor Ciarán Ó Catháin 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.
“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”
Award Winners
Athlete of the Year: Thomas Barr (Ferrybank)
Hall of Fame: Frank O’Mara
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
Development Club: 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)
