At this year’s UCD Athletic Union Council (AUC) Sports Awards, more than 530 students from 25 UCD sports clubs were honoured for their outstanding sporting achievements on behalf of the University over the last year. UCD President, Professor Orla Feely, praised the students for their role in fostering a “vibrant, inclusive and welcoming” community on campus. UCD Sport is grateful for the hard work and dedication of club committees in providing sporting opportunities to more than 11,500 club members throughout the academic year.
Irish Olympian and UCD hammer thrower Nicola Tuthill was named Dr Tony O’Neill Sportsperson of the Year for her record-breaking contributions to Irish athletics. The 21-year-old Science student debuted at the Paris 2024 Olympics, narrowly missing the Final, and became the First Irish medallist at the European Throwing Championships, winning U23 gold.
UCD Athletics Club was awarded Elite Club of the Year, while the UCD American Football Club was awarded Elite Team of the Year for its Shamrock Bowl XXXVI win. Club Event of the Year was awarded to the UCD Sailing Club for its Alumni Regatta Event.
UCD Trampoline Club was the recipient of the Club Inclusion Award, and Graduate of the Year was awarded to David Somers of the UCD Boat Club. A new award to recognise the contributions of volunteer coaches was introduced this year, with the inaugural winner of the Volunteer Coach of the Year Award being Ciarán Brennan from the UCD Taekwon-Do Club. The Gerry Horkan Club Administrator of the Year recipient was Joseph Albert from the UCD Mountaineering Club. UCD Mountaineering Club was also named Varsity Club of the Year, while Varsity Team of the Year was awarded to the UCD Men’s Basketball Club. The Dr Padraic Conway Memorial Medal was awarded to Cathal Murphy of the UCD GAA Club, and Dervila O’Brien from the UCD Boat Club was this year’s recipient of the David O’Connor Memorial Medal.
