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Coiste Siamsa Sport Star Awards 2023

The 28th Annual An Garda Síochána Coiste Siamsa Sport Star Awards were held last night to recognise and celebrate the amazing achievements of individual Garda Members in their sporting endeavours.

This year's recipients are:

  • Garda Christina Desmond - Boxing
    • Christina has represented Ireland at World and European elite levels where she is currently ranked number four in the World and two in Europe.
  • Garda Gary Butler - Clay Target Shooting
    • Gary has represented An Garda Síochána at the World Police and Fire Games (WPFG) in 2019, 2022 and 2023 medalling in all tournaments.
  • Garda Shane Cunningham - GAA
    • Shane is well known and respected in the GAA community. This year he captained Kilmacud Crokes in the 2022/ 2023 season to Club Champions and was recognised as AIB club footballer of the year.
  • Garda Sinead Meagher - Handball
    • Sinéad has competed on the handball world stage for many years and highlights her gold medal in the under 19 singles World Handball Championships in Minnesota in 2018 as her best sporting achievement to date. Sinéad’s has won two world gold medals and three silver medals in both single and double disciplines. She has also attained fifteen All-Ireland medals of various colour throughout her career.
  • Garda Kate Brady - Power Lifting
    • Kate has represented An Garda Síochána at the 2022 and 2023 WPFG. In 2019, Kate won a national gold medal qualifying her for participation in the European Championships in which she placed third.
  • Garda Fiona Reidy - Rugby
    • Fiona began playing rugby in 2006 at the age of eighteen whilst attending University of Limerick. Fiona’s has represented UL, Connacht, Ulster and Munster acquiring 32 senior Munster interprovincial caps including five successful interprovincial championships. Fiona has been capped for Ireland on twenty occasions, the pinnacle of her tenure resulting in third place position in the Six Nations Championship in 2016.
  • Garda Ciaran Kavanagh - Rowing
    • Whilst Ciaran is well known for GAA and soccer, this award recognises Ciaran’s successful crossing of the Atlantic Ocean in early 2023 in conditions where he had no previous rowing experience, for his chosen charity, Little Blue Heroes. Ciaran and his team mates successfully reached their destination after 54 days at sea and in excess of 650 hours of rowing raising €15,000 for his chosen charity.
  • Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe (Posthumous award)
  • Garda Tony Golden (Posthumous award)
    • Both awards in recognition of their contributions to their local clubs and sport in Co. Louth during their service.