Coiste Siamsa

On Friday 20th February 2026, the 30th An Garda Síochána Coiste Siamsa Awards took place in Limerick.

Award winners:

• Jamie Rigney – Taekwondo (Sport Star) – RSU, Limerick
• Sheila Clavin – Rowing (Sport Star) – Rathkeale Garda Station
• Martin O’Dwyer – Golf (Sport Star) – Dunmore East Garda Station
• Damien Maher – Rugby (Special Contribution) – RSU, Dublin
• Ian Redican – UPSE/Athletics (Sports Administrator Award) – Technical Bureau
• Paul Norton – Soccer (Sport Star) – Garda Headquarters
• Garda College Hurling Team (Team Award) – Garda College
• Ronan Maher – Hurling (Sport Star) – Portlaoise Garda Station
• Liam Kearns - Posthumous induction to Hall of Fame
• Jim McGowan – Coiste Siamsa Acknowledgement Award – Retired

These awards are held each year to recognise members of An Garda Síochána and Garda staff – serving and retired – who have made an outstanding and significant contribution to sports and sports administration.

The awards recognise the achievements of the recipients who partake in sports at the highest levels whilst being fulltime members of An Garda Síochána, combining and balancing the demands of both.

Involvement in sports at all levels (part-time, amateur, recreational and at the highest national and international levels) and involvement in sports administration in sports club across the country is an integral part of An Garda Síochána Community Policing ethos, being involved and active in our communities.

The awards were hosted by Limerick Garda Division on Friday 20th February 2026.

Speaking at the Awards Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly, President of Coiste Siamsa, said:

"These awards provide an important opportunity to recognise and celebrate the outstanding sporting achievements of members of An Garda Síochána, as well as the positive role that sport continues to play within our organisation and across the communities we serve.”

Assistant Commissioner Paula Hilman, Chairperson of Coiste Siamsa, said:

"As a sports body Coiste Siamsa continues to recognise the outstanding sporting achievements by Garda members across many sports. Our annual awards ceremony provides the opportunity to formally acknowledge the dedication and exceptional achievements of both past and present members of An Garda Síochána. The outstanding accomplishments of our award recipients, which are celebrated at this event, are the result of personal dedication, perseverance, and devotion, and I extend my heartfelt congratulations to those receiving awards and those who were nominated.”

The 29th Annual An Garda Síochána Coiste Siamsa Sport Star Awards were held on February 28, 2025, at the Mount Errigal Hotel in Letterkenny, Donegal, honoring members' national and international sporting achievements. Key winners included cyclist Eve McCrystal, footballer Shaun Patton, and Manager of the Year James Woodlock. 

Key 2025 Award Winners & Highlights

• Venue: Mount Errigal Hotel, Letterkenny.
• Guest Speaker: Jim McGuinness (Donegal GAA).
• Attendees: Over 450 guests, including Garda Commissioner Drew Harris.
• Charity Partner: €20,000 was raised for the Donegal Hospice.

Key Winners:

• Garda Eve McCrystal (Cycling)
• Garda Shaun Patton (Men's Football)
• Garda Aisling O'Connell (Ladies Football)
• Garda James Woodlock (Manager of the Year)
• Garda Kenny McDonald (Rowing)
• Donegal Garda Golf Society (Club of the Year)
• Retired Garda Mick Murphy (Contribution award)
• Retired Sergeant Connie Lynch (Hall of Fame)
• Garda Robbie McCallion (Posthumous award) 

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.

The 25th Annual Coiste Siamsa Garda Sportstar Awards were held at Bloomfield House Hotel, Mullingar, on Friday 30th November 2018.

The awards are presented to Garda members who have achieved success in their chosen sports, locally, nationally and internationally.

Album of photographs taken on the night are available here

This year’s selection committee was chaired by RTE’s Marty Morrissey and this year’s winners are:

David Mansfield – Athletics
In April of this year David set a new Garda Marathon Record of 2:24:57 at the Rotterdam Marathon. He was the second placed Irish athlete and finished in 27th overall. The record had stood for 25 years. He was placed 2nd in the National Half Marathon in August and 3rd in the AAI National 5000 metres. To cap it off, in October he won the USPE European Police Championship Marathon, run as part of the Dublin Marathon, in a time of 2.20.15, another Garda record. David is a Garda and works in the Garda College in Templemore.

Eve McCrystal – Cycling
Another fantastic year for Eve who remains a loyal member of the Garda Cycling Club. She was the winner of two gold medals in the Para-cycling World championships (Road race & Time Trial). Bronze medal winner in the 3km World Track Cycling Championship in Rio. Winner of the National Road Race title- a first for a Garda CC member- and 3rd place in the National Time Trial. This is her 5th Coiste Siamsa award. Eve is a Garda stationed at Ballybay, Co. Monaghan Garda Station and is a native of Co. Louth.

Clodagh Kiernan – Swimming
In August 2018 Clodagh won the Dun Laoghaire Harbour Swim, one of the major events in the Open Water calendar. The race is a 2,200m swim around the circumference of the harbour and attracted over 100 competitors. Clodagh is a member of the Garda Swimming and Lifesaving Club. She is a Detective Garda attached to Garda Headquarters.

Colin Murray – Basketball
Colin was awarded the 2017/2018 College Basketball Player of the year, having guided and captained the Garda College to the All-Ireland final and leagues promotion, averaging 27 points per game. In January 2018 he won the Presidents Cup with Ballincollig Basketball Club. Colin is a Garda attached to Dungarvan Garda Station in Co. Waterford.

Leanne McCarthy – Triathlon
In 2018 Leanne was awarded a Bronze Ironman All World Athlete award for finishing the top 10% overall in 2017. She is currently ranked 3rd overall for Ironman 70.3 events and completed the Ironman Barcelona in a time of 12:28Hrs. This year she finished in the top ten in her age group and 20th overall in the Triathlon Ireland National Series. Leanne was the winner of the Garda Triathlon Title in 2018. She is a Garda attached to Newcastle West Garda Station in Co. Limerick.

Ken McDonald – Rowing
In July of 2018 Ken won two Gold medals at the European Masters Rowing Championships in Munich. He also holds the Irish record for the 500m on the concept rowing machine. Ken is a Garda attached the Garda College in Templemore.

Team of the Year:

Garda Fly Fishing Team– Winners of back to back 5 Nations International Fly Fishing Titles.

In September 2017 the Garda Fly Fishing team won the Five Nations Fly Fishing Championship on Lough Erne in Co. Fermanagh. The event was hosted by the Police Service of Northern Ireland. This was only the second time the Garda team had won the event. Earlier this year the team made it two in a row by winning the event on home ground on Lough Corrib.

Garda Soccer Team– Third place at the 2018 USPE European Police Soccer Championships

Ireland qualified for the European Police Championships by beating Norway. In the group stages they beat Slovakia 5-2 and drew their next two games with Bulgaria (2-2) and the Czech Republic (0-0). In the semi-final where they played the eventual Championship winners Germany and were unlucky to lose 2-1. Ireland played the Netherlands in the third place play off and won the game 6-1. Ireland’s Mark Sherlock won the golden boot award, scoring 7 goals in the competition.

Special Contribution Award: Brian Willoughby

Brian has made a significant contribution to sport in An Garda Síochána. He has been a GAA representative at National level for many years. He has coordinated national Garda Gaelic Football competitions and is the driving force behind the annual Garda Vs Defence Forces challenge games. In June of this year Brian and co-author Noel Hynes published ‘Guardians of the GAA’- a history of the Garda organisation’s involvement with Gaelic games. The book is a celebration of the organisation at its best- engaging with the community and producing role models and heroes.

Hall of Fame: Mick Ryan – Rowing 

A native of Co. Clare, Mick first represented the Garda Boat Club in 1970 and the following year won the Maiden Championship. In 1975 he was part of a crew that were unbeaten in Irish waters and won the first Senior VIII Championship title for the Garda Boat Club. He was part of the team which won the title in ’77 and ’78. In 1975 he was part of an all Garda coxed IV which came 7th in the World Championships. In 1976 Mick and the rest of the all Garda crew represented Ireland at the Montreal Olympics where they won the Petite Final and finished 7th overall. Mick was a detective Garda attached to the Special Detective Unit and is now retired.

David Mansfield – Athletics

Colin Murray – Basketball

Eve McCrystal - Cycling

2017 winners are:

Eve McCrystal - Cycling

In August 2017 Eve and her cycling partner Katie George Dunleavy won gold in the Road Race and the Time Trial events at the World Paralympic Championships in South Africa. Eve was also a member of the Garda Cycling team which took part in the 2017 Ras Na mBan and finished as the top Irish rider in the event. As a result of these achievements she was nominated for the RTE Sportsperson of the Year Award in December. This is her 4th Coiste Siamsa award. Eve is a Garda stationed at Ballybay Garda Station and is a native of Co. Louth.

Athletics - Tom Power

Tom has been running marathons for ten years and in 2017 he decided to run the highest marathon in the world, the Everest Marathon. This event takes place at 17,000 feet and in -17 degree temperatures. In November as part of the first Irish team to compete in the event, Tom completed the race in 7 hours and 40 minutes and finished 25th out of 50 athletes who started. In doing so he also raised money for three charities. Tom is from Dublin and is a Detective Garda at The Garda Technical Bureau and lives in Lucan in Dublin.

David Clarke - Gaelic Football

David played in goal for the Mayo senior football team in 2017. He is the holder of five Connaught senior titles; as well as two Mayo County titles and one All-Ireland Club title with Ballina Stephenites. In 2017 he was awarded his 2nd GPA/GAA All-Star award. This is his third Garda Sportstar award. David is a Garda Stationed at Tubbercurry, Co. Sligo.

Boxing - Niall Kennedy

Niall is undefeated in 9 professional bouts in the heavyweight division, including 5 knockouts. In March of 2017 he won the Massachusetts State title and in September he added the New England title, Niall is a Garda attached to Wicklow Garda Station and is a native of Co. Wexford.

Ladies Gaelic Football - Martha Carter

Mayo star Martha was a member of this year’s beaten all Ireland finalists and nominated for an All Star awards for her efforts. She is the holder of 2 Division 1 League titles and one Division 2 title. Martha is a Garda stationed at Sligo Garda Station.

Declan Conlon - Fly-fishing

In August of 2017 Declan finished 2nd in the Irish Masters Fly-Fishing Championships and he will represent Ireland in Spain later this year at the World Masters Championships. Following another great performance in September in the All Ireland Qualifying Series he has been selected for the Irish Team at the European Championships in 2018. He was also a member of the Garda team that won the British and UK Fly-Fishing Championships in September 2017. Declan is a native of Rathangan, Co. Kildare and is a Garda based at Clondalkin Garda Station.

Jeff Kehoe - Shooting

Jeff has been shooting for the past 10 years and in that time he has represented An Garda Síochána and his country at many competitions. In July of 2017 Jeff became a triple world champion and set a new world record breaking his own previous record in the centrefire gallery rifle. Jeff also played a major role in helping the Irish Team capture the International Gallery Rifle Federation World Cup This is Jeff’s second Coiste Siamsa Award. Jeff is a native of Co. Wexford and is a Garda stationed at Bailieboro, Co Cavan.

Colm Boyle - Gaelic Football

Colm is one of the most outstanding and consistent players on the Mayo senior football panel. In 2017 he won his 4th Football All-star award. Colm is the holder of five Connacht titles and has also guided his club Davitts to county and provincial success. He is a Garda Stationed at Westport in Co. Mayo.

Team of the Year- Garda College Hurling Club

In 2017 the Garda College Hurling team won both the League title and the Ryan Cup, which is the Division 2 Higher Education Championship, beating IT Sligo in the final. This in only the second time the Garda College as won this championship. They were also winners of the Cup and Shield at the Seamus McIntyre Tournament and runners up in the All Ireland Garda Hurling Final.

Special Contribution Award - Garda 4 Peaks Challenge

In May 2017 over 100 Garda members took part in the 4 Peaks Challenge. The aim of the event was to raise money for the mental health charity ‘Aware’. The challenge was to climb the highest mountains in each Irish province in three days. Over €80,000 was raised from the event and it also led to the setting up of a new Hiking Club which will continue to encourage members to participate in the sport.

Hall of Fame – Paul Rayfus (Golf)

Paul has a number of notable achievements in the world of amateur golf including; between 1984 and ’87 winning the Dundalk Scratch Cup; the West and East of Ireland Championships and was runner up in Ireland Close Championships at Royal Dublin in 1986. Between the years 1986 and 1988 he represented Ireland internationally and was part of the Irish team that won the Triple Crown for the first time in 1987. Other notable achievements include representing Leinster and winning the Inter Provincial Title in 1987 for the first time. Paul also played in the Irish Open in 1987 and 1988. He also has something in common with Tiger Woods – both were beaten on the 18th at Porthcawl by Gary Walstenholm. Paul retired from An Garda Síochána in 2009.  He was born in Co. Kildare but has lived in Trim Co. Meath since the age of two.

Coiste Siamsa is the governing body of sporting clubs at national level in the Garda organisation. At local level each Superintendent is Chairmanship of his/her Divisional Coiste Rinne. The efficient operation of the sporting body is facilitated by a network of sports representatives and Provincial and Divisional Secretaries.

The highlight of the Coiste Siamsa calendar is the Annual Sportstar Awards Ceremony which happens in November of each year. This is our showcase event where we award winners in different sporting categories.