Several of the region's leading sports performers in 2023 will gather at the Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa in Sligo on Saturday, October 14th, for the inaugural Ocean FM Sports Awards.
The event will celebrate a memorable season of sporting achievement across Donegal, Leitrim and Sligo.
Former Arsenal, Juventus and Republic of Ireland international Liam Brady will be the special guest on the night.
There are 13 awards to be presented on the night.
More than 800 nominations were submitted for the awards from Ocean FM Sport listeners.
The final shortlists of three for each category (see below) were determined by a four-strong judging panel, made up of both external and internal personnel.
Shortlisted nominees include boxer Dean Clancy and swimmer Mona McSharry who have secured qualification this year for next Summer's Paris Olympics.
The athletics achievements of Tir Chonaill Athletic Club's Kelly McGrory and North Sligo Athletic Club's Chris O'Donnell are also acknowledged on the Female and Male Sportsperson of the Year shortlists respectively.
The Awards will also see a Hall of Fame winner and an Ocean FM Sports Moment of Year, chosen by the listeners.
Other nominees include Sligo jockey Derek Fox, who won the Aintree Grand National this year (aboard Corach Rambler) for the second time in his racing career.
Ballymote rower Brian Colsh won gold for Ireland last July at the World under-23 rowing championships in Bulgaria.
His success is acknowledged too.
On the team front, it was a year of high achievement for several Sligo teams with Summerhill College, St Attracta's Community School Tubbercurry, and Abbey Vocational School Donegal all excelling in various sports at national level.
Sligo's under-20 footballer team, and their manager Paul Henry, are also nominated for awards, after reaching the county's first ever All-Ireland under-20 football final this year.
The nominees for Club of the Year are Sligo Rugby Club, Tourlestrane GAA Club and Sligo Lawn Bowls.
The night will also make time to celebrate diversity and inclusion - and volunteerism in sport across the north west region.
Tickets for the Ocean FM Sports Award are priced at €50.
This includes dinner and an opportunity for the everyone to watch Ireland's Rugby World Cup quarter-final together on the big screens in the Radisson ballroom, before the awards ceremony begins.
Tickets can be bought here.
Here are the Ocean FM Sports Awards shortlists:
Ocean FM Team of the Year
1. ATU Sligo women’s soccer team
2. Sligo under-20 gaelic footballers
3. Summerhill College senior gaelic footballers
Ocean FM Club of the Year
1. Tourlestrane GAA Club
2. Sligo Lawn Bowls Club
3. Sligo Rugby Club
Ocean FM International Award
1. Mona McSharry (Swimming)
2. Brian Colsh (Rowing)
3. Eamonn Kelly (Rallying)
Ocean FM Hall of Fame Recipient
To be announced on the night
Ocean FM Sports Volunteer
1. Jerry O’Grady (Coolaney Utd FC)
2. Eamon Harvey (Tir Chonaill AC)
3. Martin Seery (Sligo LGFA)
Ocean FM School of the Year
1. Summerhill College, Sligo
2. St Attracta’s Community School, Tubbercurry
3. Abbey Vocational School, Donegal Town
Ocean FM Young Sportsperson of the Year
1. Paddy Reape (Showjumping)
2. Jessica Reynolds (Golf)
3. Keeva Flynn (Soccer & Gaelic football)
Ocean FM Female Sportsperson of the Year
1. Mona McSharry (Swimming)
2. Emma Doherty (Soccer)
3. Kelly McGrory (Athletics)
Ocean FM Male Sportsperson of the Year
1. Dean Clancy (Boxing)
2. Chris O’Donnell (Athletics)
3. Derek Fox (Horse Racing)
Ocean FM Special Achievement Award
1. Liam Cox (Endurance Athlete)
2. Noel Coen (Special Olympics – Equestrian)
3. Catherine ‘Dizzy’ Hyndman (Soccer)
Ocean FM Listeners Sports Moment of the Year
To be announced on the night
Ocean FM Diversty/Inclusion Award
1. Maggie Heylin (St Mary’s GAA Club, Sligo)
2. Noel Coen (Special Olympics – Equestrian)
2. Sligo Lawn Bowls Club
Ocean FM Sports Personality of the Year
1. Paul Henry (Gaelic football)
2. Dean Clancy (Boxing)
3. Mona McSharry (Swimming)
4. Seamus Somers (Athletics).
The winners will be announced at the Ocean FM Sports Awards Ceremony on Saturday, October 14th, in the Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa, Sligo.
