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HerSport Editor
January 26, 2026
Her Sport Awards
Aoife Wafer rugby, Athlone Town AFC Women, Ava Crean marathon, AYA Supplements, Celina Stephenson, community sport Ireland, Dublin Marathon winner, gender equality in sport Ireland, Gym Plus sponsorship, Her Sport Athlete of the Year, Her Sport Awards, Her Sport Awards 2025, Her Sport Awards presented by Lidl Ireland, Her Sport Community Award, Her Sport Hall of Fame, Her Sport Personality of the Year, Her Sport Team of the Year, Her Sport Young Athlete of the Year, Irish athletics 2025, Irish boxing legend, Irish sport changemakers, Irish sport recognition, Irish sports awards, Irish women in sport, Irish women’s football, Irish women’s marathon, Irish women’s rugby, Kate O’Connor athlete, Kate O’Connor heptathlon, Katie Taylor Hall of Fame, Lidl, Lidl Ireland sport sponsorship, Runners High Dublin, Six Nations Player of the Championship, SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division, Wilkinson Sword sponsorship, women’s boxing Ireland, women’s running Ireland, women’s sport awards Ireland, women’s sport Ireland, women’s sport leadership
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The 2025 Her Sport Awards presented by Lidl welcomed over 800 guests to The Helix on Friday night, marking a landmark celebration of excellence across women’s sport in Ireland. Athletes, teams, volunteers, partners and supporters came together to honour the achievements, stories and milestones that defined an extraordinary year.
The atmosphere in the room reflected the momentum behind women’s sport nationwide, with the event showcasing not only elite performance, but leadership, community impact and cultural influence.
The winners of the Her Sport Awards presented by Lidl Ireland were revealed, recognising the athletes, teams and changemakers who defined an extraordinary year for women’s sport in Ireland.
Her Sport Athlete of the Year, sponsored by Gym Plus
Kate O’Connor
Kate O’Connor was named Her Sport Athlete of the Year following one of the most remarkable multi-event seasons in Irish sporting history. In 2025, she medalled at every major championship and delivered Ireland’s first-ever global outdoor medal in combined events.
Her season was anchored by a historic silver medal at the World Championships in Tokyo, where she scored an Irish record 6,714 points in the heptathlon, built on five personal bests across seven events. Indoors, she added World Indoor silver and European Indoor bronze, breaking the national pentathlon record, and later claimed gold at the World University Games.
Ranked second in the world and crowned Irish Athlete of the Year, O’Connor’s campaign redefined Irish multi-event standards.
Her Sport Young Athlete of the Year
Aoife Wafer
Aoife Wafer was named Young Athlete of the Year after a breakthrough rugby season that placed her at the centre of Ireland’s Six Nations campaign. She was voted Player of the Championship – the first Irish woman to receive the honour – and named in the Team of the Championship after producing one of the most dominant statistical profiles of the tournament.
Her four tries, relentless ball-carrying and influence on both sides of the ball shaped Ireland’s third-place finish. Despite a mid-season knee injury, Wafer returned to start Ireland’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final and secured a move to Harlequins ahead of the 2025-26 season, establishing herself as a cornerstone of Irish rugby’s future.
Her Sport Personality of the Year, sponsored by AYA
Ava Crean
Ava Crean was named Personality of the Year following one of the most extraordinary breakout stories in Irish athletics. Just months after beginning competitive running, the 19-year-old claimed the Irish National Women’s Marathon title at the Dublin Marathon, finishing first Irish woman home in 2:34:12; a nine-minute personal best.
Her rapid rise, authenticity and ability to capture the public imagination made her one of the most talked-about figures in Irish sport in 2025, embodying the spirit of possibility and connection that defines the Personality of the Year award, sponsored by AYA Supplements.
Her Sport Hall of Fame, sponsored by Lidl Ireland
Katie Taylor
Irish sporting icon Katie Taylor was inducted into the Her Sport Hall of Fame in recognition of her unparalleled contribution to Irish and global sport. A trailblazer inside and outside the ring, Taylor’s career reshaped the landscape of women’s boxing and elevated Irish sport on the world stage.
Her legacy of excellence, resilience and leadership continues to inspire generations, making her a defining figure in the history of women’s sport in Ireland.
Her Sport Team of the Year
Athlone Town AFC Women
Athlone Town Women were crowned Team of the Year after a historic league-and-cup double that marked one of the most dominant seasons in the SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division.
Defined by consistency, belief and decisive performances in the biggest moments, Athlone’s achievements represented a landmark year for the club and a powerful statement of the league’s growing competitiveness and quality.
Her Sport Community Award, sponsored by Wilkinson Sword Intuition
Celina Stephenson
Celina Stephenson was named recipient of the Her Sport Community Award, sponsored by Wilkinson Sword Intuition, for her transformative impact on women’s participation in running through her work as founder of Runners High Dublin.
Founded on the belief that every pace is valid, Runners High Dublin is an inclusive, women-only running community that has redefined what running spaces can look like. Created specifically for women who felt excluded from traditional running environments; beginners, slower runners or those who had been made to feel “not good enough”. The community prioritises belonging, confidence and connection over speed or performance.
Through weekly runs and a supportive structure that ensures no one is ever left behind, Celina has helped hundreds of women across Dublin rebuild their relationship with movement. Her approach celebrates slower paces, encourages participation without pressure, and creates an atmosphere where encouragement, laughter and genuine support are central.
Celina’s leadership continues to inspire women and girls to engage with sport on their own terms, making her a deeply deserving recipient of the Her Sport Community Award.
Her Sport Moment of the Year
A powerful new category was added to this year’s Her Sport Awards presented by Lidl, with the introduction of Her Sport Moment of the Year, a category created to recognise defining moments that shifted conversations, challenged norms and sparked meaningful change across women’s sport.
The inaugural award was presented to Aisling Maher on behalf of the camogie players who took a stand and brought national attention to the skorts versus shorts debate. What began as a uniform issue quickly became a catalyst for a wider conversation around choice, respect and equality for female athletes.
The moment captured exactly what the Her Sport Moment of the Year was designed to honour: impact beyond results, courage beyond competition, and the power of athletes to influence progress.
Now firmly established as Ireland’s leading celebration of women’s sport, the Her Sport Awards presented by Lidl honoured excellence across elite performance, leadership, community impact and cultural influence, reflecting a year of historic achievements and growing momentum nationwide.
Her Sport extends its sincere thanks to everyone who attended on the night, as well as to our sponsors and partners whose continued support in the lead-up to the Awards and throughout the evening made this celebration possible. A huge thank you to Lidl, AYA, Gym Plus, Wilkinson Sword Intuition, BPerfect, FIAT and Canella Lane.
Their commitment plays a vital role in elevating visibility, opportunity and recognition across women’s sport in Ireland.
Robert Ryan, Chief Executive Officer at Lidl Ireland & Northern Ireland said:
“The 2025 Her Sport Awards have once again shone a spotlight on the very best of female sporting talent, celebrating those game changers who are not only impacting Irish sport, but inspiring the next generation of future talent. At Lidl, we are deeply committed to ensuring that these phenomenal achievements are celebrated. Earlier this week we launched our new ‘Greatness Deserves to be Seen’ campaign with the Ladies Gaelic Football Association, backed by this year’s Hall of Fame winner Katie Taylor. The campaign aims to give female athletes the recognition they deserve and the Her Sport Awards are a fantastic platform to continue elevating these incredible athletes. By partnering with the Her Sport Awards and continuing our long-standing support of the LGFA, we are working to create a future where every young girl in Ireland can see greatness in action and know that there is a clear, celebrated path for her to follow.”
The Her Sport Awards presented by Lidl Ireland continue to shine a spotlight on the individuals and teams shaping the future of Irish sport, ensuring that achievements at every level receive the recognition they deserve.
We’re excited to see what this coming year has in store for women in sport.
You can check out the photos from the night here.
