IRISH sportswomen will be looking to make their mark on the national and international stage again in 2019 following some memorable successes over the last 12 months.
North inner city boxing star Kellie Harrington was just one of the major success stories recorded in 2018.
Harrington claimed gold at the World Championships in India in November becoming the first Irish boxer to win world medals at two different weights.
Her fantastic feat was acknowledged when she was crowned The Irish Times Sport Ireland Sportswoman of the Year for 2018.
Kellie is just the third Irish boxer – after Katie Taylor and Michael Conlan – to become an amateur world boxing champion.
During a gruelling week in India, Harrington defeated boxers from New Zealand, India, Canada and Kazakhstan, before getting the better of Thailand’s Sudaporn Seesondee on a split decision in the final.
Two years ago, Harrington won silver at the World’s in the light welterweight and vowed she would return to take gold.
“Thirteen years of blood, sweat and tears, it’s great to finally get what I worked my ass off for,” she said at the time.
At a triumphant homecoming event on Sean McDermott Street, Harrington, who’s from nearby Portland Row, described how boxing had helped her.
“I got into boxing to keep me out of trouble, to go down a different path,” she said.
“You can choose roads to go down. I was on one road, I took a turn and got onto the right road and this is where I am today. And trust me, if I can do it anybody can do it. To finally reach my goal is amazing, but I’m not hanging up my gloves yet. I have Tokyo in my sights.”
Along with her former Irish teammate Katie Taylor, Sanita Puspure in rowing and cycling’s Katie-Georg Dunlevy and Eve McCrystal, Harrington was the fourth monthly winner in 2018 to have been crowned a world champion.
The Outstanding Contribution to Sport 2018 Award went to the Irish women’s hockey team after they claimed silver at the World Cup in London.
Chairman of Sport Ireland Kieran Mulvey said in sporting terms 2018 was a spectacular year.
“Sport has a unique ability to unite people of all backgrounds and we have had no shortage of sporting success to celebrate in the past 12 months,” he said.
“We are all united in our pride for the achievements of our athletes and teams on their success this year.
“The Irish Times/Sport Ireland Sportswoman of the Year awards is the perfect way to round-off an excellent year and a fitting way to celebrate our wonderful athletes.”
Mr Mulvey congratulated all the winners and wished them well for 2019.