AWARDS Shortlist Announced for RTE Sports Person and Team of the Year
RTة’s 2006 The Sporting Year in association with The Irish Sports Council
Shortlist Announced for RTة Sports Person of the Year and RTة Team of the Year
RTة Sport today (Tuesday 12 December) announced the shortlist for RTة Sports Person of the Year and RTة Team of The Year. The shortlists for the two high profile awards were drawn up following almost 2,000 nominations submitted by the public to RTة.ie.
The RTة Sports Person of The Year shortlist features boxing champions Bernard Dunne and Katie Taylor, athletics star Derval O’Rourke, golfers Padraig Harrington and Darren Clarke, Ireland and Munster rugby player Paul O’Connell, Kerry GAA footballer Kieran Donaghy, racing trainer Aidan O’Brien, Kilkenny hurling legend Henry Shefflin and show jumper Jessica Kurten.
The winner of this year’s RTة Sports Person of The Year will be decided by an esteemed judging panel that will choose the winner from the shortlist and will be announced during RTة’s 2006 The Sporting Year on Saturday 16 December on RTة One. Chaired by Tom McGurk, the panel will include Eamon Dunphy, George Hook, Pat Spillane, Cyril Farrell, Ted Walsh and Jerry Kiernan.
For the first time the highly coveted RTة Team of The Year Award will be open to a public vote. Three finalists were chosen from the nominations and this year the Triple Crown winning Irish International Rugby team, Heineken Cup winners Munster and the victorious European Ryder Cup Golf Team will all battle it out as the public votes via phone and text for the winner during RTة’s 2006 The Sporting Year which begins at 9.45pm on RTة One. Lines will be open on the night with details announced at the beginning of the programme and on www.rte.ie/sport
RTة’s 2006 The Sporting Year in association with The Irish Sports Council will also see Michael Lyster, Darragh Maloney and Peter Collins present a review of the sporting year and look back on the dramatic and memorable sporting moments of 2006.
Special guest on the night, Ronnie Delany, will present the honour of the RTة/The Irish Sports Council Hall of Fame Award to a very deserving Irish sporting veteran. This year marks the 10th Anniversary of Ronnie receiving this award and also the 50th anniversary of his historic Olympic gold medal win.
RTة’s 2006 The Sporting Year in association with The Irish Sports Council, Saturday 16 December, 9.45pm, RTة One
To read more about the show visit www.rte.ie/tv/thesportingyear
For further information contact: Sharon Brady, Senior Press & Publicity Officer, RTة Television, Tel: 01 2083161 Email: sharon.brady@rte.ie