Pupils from St Brigid's NS in Meath Hill with their teacher and Green-School Coordinator Bríd Callaghan along with Deirdre Stapleton and Amy Davidson of Specsavers and Kiva Cromwell accepting the Sportsperson of the Year award for her husband Gavin.

Cromwell named Meath Sportsperson of the Year as Meath Hill pupils take Overall Community Award

Published: Fri 22 May 2026, 11:45 AM

Last updated: Fri 22 May 2026, 11:46 AM

Ardcath champion horse trainer Gavin Cromwell was crowned Meath Sportsperson of the Year, while the extraordinary pupils of St Brigid's NS in Meath Hill were the delighted Overall Community Award winners at the 2026 Meath Chronicle Community & Sports Awards in partnership with Specsavers & Bective Stud held yesterday in the Darnley Lodge Hotel in Athboy.

Over 200 people attended the afternoon event which saw the heroes of our local communities and our sporting stars come together to be celebrated for their achievements.

The event was officially opened by Cathaoirleach of Meath County Council, Cllr Wayne Harding paid tribute to all who selflessly give to their communities and the sporting heroes who give us so much joy.

MCs for event were Meath Chronicle Editor, Gavan Becton (Community Awards) and Meath Chronicle Sports Editor, Fergal Lynch (Sport Awards).

Overall Community Award Winners - Meath Hill National School pictured with Deirdre Stapleton and Amy Davidson (Specsavers)Photo: David Mullen/www.cyberimages.net Photo by David Mullen

Mr Becton said the Meath Sports Awards had traditionally held a special place in the county’s sporting calendar but had last year evolved to include the Community section "where we could honour and celebrate the community heroes among us."

"We felt we needed to acknowledge those people who do so much to enrich our communities and most often do so without fuss recognition or spotlight. At the Chronicle we take great pride in being able to celebrate the achievements of the county’s sporting stars and community heroes and in some ways, these awards are just a lovely extension of what we do every week in the paper and online @meathchronicle.ie

"We love to chart the progress and accomplishments of those in our communities who volunteer, pitch in and organise for others and also those who step up and entertain and shine in their sporting arenas. In Co Meath we are blessed to have so many people who do all these things and acknowledging those achievements is what the Community and Sports Awards are about."

Kiva Cromwell (representing husband Gavin Cromwell) pictured with the Overall Sportsperson of the Year AwardPhoto: David Mullen/www.cyberimages.net Photo by David Mullen

Mr Becton also paid tribute to award partners Bective Stud and Specsavers for their contribution as well as that of sponsors Meath County Council, Meath Local Sports Partnership, Meta, Aura Leisure Navan & Trim, the Darnley Lodge Hotel and AXA Navan.

There was a superb and unexpected finale to the awards when the delighted pupils of St Brigids NS wowed the audience with the their super song about saving energy and protecting the environment.