Looking back at the 2016 Meath Sports Awards
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Meath Sportsperson-of-the-Year for 2016 Natalya Coyle received her award at Knightsbrook Hotel from Mary McGuigan (Celtic Media Group), Marie Cusack (Cusack Hotel Group) and Meath Chronicle sports editor Conall Collier. Photo: John Quirke / www.quirke.ie John QuirkeImage 2 of 11
The top three sportspersons for 2016 were Meath women - Megan Thynne (Young Sportsperson), Natalya Coyle (Sportsperson of the Year) and Sara Treacy (Outstanding Achievement). Photo: John Quirke / www.quirke.ie John QuirkeImage 3 of 11
Jimmy Geoghegan (Meath Chronicle) and Jonathan Cusack (Cusack Hotel Group) presented a Meath Sportsperson-of-the-Month award to Meath hurling manager Martin Ennis. John QuirkeImage 4 of 11
Nikki Devlin (left) of the Meath Chronicle and Clara Clarke (Cusack Hotel Group) presented a Meath Sportsperson-of-the-Month award to Elizabeth Morland. John QuirkeImage 5 of 11
The 2016 awards marked the 10th anniversary of the current awards and was marked with a special one-night-only performance by the girls who had performed in the Meath GAA Broadway fundraiser the previous month as part of the Blues Brothers presentation. John QuirkeImage 6 of 11
ABOVE: Style from Trim at the 2016 awards was provided by Geraldine Forde (left), Donna Lee, Stacey Ford, Eva Ford, Lauren Lee, Michelle Boyle, Carmel Lee, Maura Clarke, Ciara Peppard and Kathy Farrelly. John QuirkeImage 7 of 11
Jockey Ger Fox (left) was the recipient of an Outstanding Achievement award and attended the event with Nicola Walsh, Eleai Apps and his twin brother Anthony. Photo: John Quirke / www.quirke.ie John QuirkeImage 8 of 11
Navan Cosmos manager Derek Coogan (back left) received a Sportsperson-of-the-Month award and had plenty of support on the night that included Shane Nealon, Neil Byrne, Bob Hogan, Brian Newman, Mervyn Ennis, Darragh Fitzsimons, Alan Murphy, Libbie Byrne, Dara Fitzsimons; Sinead Murphy, Gwen Coogan, Joyce Ennis and Nifa Blackwell. John QuirkeImage 9 of 11
Evanne Ni Chuillin and Andy McEntee (left) presented a young sportsperson-of-the-year nominee award for Conor Nash to Conor’s father, Tony, mother Bernadette, sister Lauren and brother Edward. John QuirkeImage 10 of 11
There was lots of awards for soccer players at the awards and they were joined by Mark Scanlon (FAI), Christy McElligott (Operation Transformation) and Paul Holland (FAI Schools Meath) while the recipients included Gary Rogers, Amanda McQuillan, Dom Peppard and Cian Lee. John QuirkeImage 11 of 11
LEFT: At the awards were Kathleen Tormey (left), Conor Tormey, Jim Mullery, Ann Flynn, Mary Smyth and Francis Flynn. John QuirkeThe 2020 Meath Sports Awards will be presented on Friday 12th March in a digital format due to the current Covid-19 restrictions.
This will be the 14th annual event, but due to the ongoing pandemic the 2020 awards will be confined to the main presentation, the 2020 Sportsperson of the Year, the team-of-the-year and outstanding achievement awards.
The current format of the Meath Sports Awards was introduced in 2007 with the first annual banquet at the Knightsbrook Hotel and Spa, Trim on Monday 4th February 2008.
The awards were not solely designed to honour those who have achieved sporting greatness and become household names, but also to recognise the achievements of the men and women who dedicate so much time to club and county in their chosen sports.
An Outstanding Achievement and a Hall of Fame category were added in 2008 and a young sportsperson of the year award was introduced in 2010.
The Cusack Hotel Group supported the awards annually with a broader range of sponsorship added from 2018.
This year's awards are supported by Meath County Council, Devenish, Utmost, Knightsbrook and ECOMM Merchant Solutions.
The 2020 presentation will be the 14th annual awards and for the 13th time the main trophy will be designed by noted craftsman and woodturner Seamus Cassidy.
It is anticipated that each of the 2020 recipients will be acknowledged at the 2021 Meath Sports Awards which are provisionally scheduled for January 2022.