Captains' Procession at the Trinity Sport Awards 2025
Reflecting on the year, Matthew Dowsett, Deputy Director of Sport, and Physical Activity at Trinity College Dublin (a last-minute substitution for Michelle Tanner, Director of Sport, and Physical Activity at Trinity College Dublin), highlighted the hard work, leadership and enthusiasm around sport of students, staff, coaches, volunteers, committee members, alumni, friends and supporters. Matt concluded, "This evening is a celebration of success, but also of belonging. Whether you leave here with an award or not, each of you is part of the sport family and community here at Trinity. Sport is part of our history, our identity and our future."
Outgoing TSU chairperson Marcus Boggan speaks at the 2025 Trinity Sport Awards
To a standing ovation from everyone in the room, outgoing Trinity Sport Union (TSU) Chairperson Marcus Boggan highlighted the diversity and achievements of the TSU, "The TSU is more than an organisation; it’s a community of over 5,700 individuals, holding 13,000 memberships across our 47 clubs. Each one of you contributes to what makes this union exceptional – whether as competitors, committee members, or passionate supporters ..."
Sport Person of the Year Lee Pearson
The highly coveted 'Sport Person of the Year' Award went to Trinity Men's Gaelic football player and Offaly Men's Gaelic football captain Lee Pearson. Lee enjoyed an outstanding year, winning the Division 2 League All-Ireland title and reaching the Trench Cup Final with Trinity. Under his captaincy, the club won its first senior championship match in over seven years, going on to secure league success and narrowly missing out in the Trench Cup Final. His performances for Offaly in 2024 earned him selection to the Leinster Provincial squad, a team made up of the top Gaelic footballers in the province, which competed against Connacht in the prestigious Railway Cup. Most impressively, Lee captained the Offaly senior inter-county team to promotion from Division 3 of the National Football League, defeating Kildare in the final. He holds the distinction of being the youngest inter-county captain in both 2024 and 2025.
Trinity Sport member of the Year Rory Ardill-Walker with Trinity Sport's Hannah McGowan
The 'Trinity Sport member of the Year' award went to Rory Ardill-Walker, a core member of many TSU programmes including Social GAA, Tag Rugby Social Programme and the Cricket Club despite only relatively recently moving to Ireland from Australia to pursue a PhD at Trinity. The 'Inclusive Club' award was awarded to Trinity Squash Club which has reached 48% female membership, the highest in the club’s history, and has worked to reduce barriers of entry by investing in equipment that can be shared and used by new members who may not have their own.
Coach of the Year Dan Curran (Trinity Boxing) with Trinity Sport's Matthew Dowsett at 2025 Trinity Sport Awards.
The 'Coach of the Year' award was won by Dan Curran (Dublin University Boxing Club) who has has coached the club for 30 years and has been the club’s third ever coach since it was established nearly 100 years ago. He attends every training session (which takes place three times a week), serves at competitions and works behind the scenes to get our club members recognised. He is also a big advocate for women in this club, and it is only a testament to his values that women often outnumber the men at club trainings now.
Dublin University Golf Club (Men’s Golf) receiving 'Performance of the Year'
The 'Performance of the Year' award was won by Dublin University Golf Club (Men’s Golf) for their Colours match win against UCD, which they won for the first time in 36 years (since 1989), resoundingly beating UCD with a score of 7.5 to 4.5 after a long day of hard-fought matches. The winner of the Trinity ‘Team of the Year’ award was Trinity Women’s Basketball Varsity Team, who had a dominant season not losing a single game all season and going 12-0. They are League winners and returning Varsity Champions.
Women in Sport champion Jane Prendergast with Trinity Sport's Niamh Digby Bratton at 2025 Sport Awards
The ‘Women in Sport Champion’ was awarded to Jane Prendergast, who has served on committees in two major sports clubs - Trinity Camogie and Dublin University Ladies' Boat Club - and has served as a member of the Trinity Sport Union for three years throughout her time in college. She has successfully applying for funding for coaching upskilling for members of her club and also volunteer coached the women’s social programme giving a huge amount of time to sport. She has done so while also competing at a high level herself and completing a challenging degree.
The full list award winners are as follows:
- Trinity Sport Member of the Year - Rory Ardill-Walker
- Inclusive Club Award - Trinity Squash Club
- Coach of the year - Dan Curran (Dublin University Boxing Club)
- Alumni of the Year - Manon Nouvian-Flynn (Dublin University Fencing Club)
- Volunteer of the Year - Oisin Culhane (Dublin University Rifle Club)
- Club Officer of the Year - Finn Walker (Dublin University Sailing Club)
- Performance of the Year - Dublin University Golf Club (Men’s Golf) for their Colours match win against UCD
- Team of the Year - Women’s Basketball Varsity Team
- Club of the Year - Dublin University Fencing Club
- Women in Sport Champion - Jane Prendergast
- Sports Person of the Year - Lee Pearson
In addition to the Sport Awards, the University Pinks were announced on the night including:
- Lee Pearson – Trinity Men's Gaelic football
- María Mezquita García-Poggio – Dublin University Ladies Rowing Club
- Tim Norwood – Dublin University Sailing Club
- Eve Hull – Dublin University Netball Club
- Liam Zone – Dublin University Fencing Club
- Katie Lynch – Dublin University Fencing Club
- Thomas Bean – Dublin University Hockey Club
- Laura Noble – Dublin University Ladies Hockey Club
The University Pinks are awarded to student athletes who have shown outstanding individual merit in their chosen sport – in much the same vein as a ‘Blue’ is allocated in Oxford and Cambridge. Pinks is the highest sporting achievement that Trinity can bestow upon its students, recipients are chosen by the Trinity sport club captains. Over 1,250 students have received the prestigious accolade since its inception in 1927.