Today, three members of the boxing community are being honoured by the Federation of Irish Sport for their volunteer commitment to their clubs, the wider boxing family and their sport.
In addition to celebrating the 32 county individuals, Co. Tyrone’s Garry Mc Gillion was awarded the Outstanding Achievement Award. Garry’s boxing journey began as a young competitor, but his career was tragically cut short following the Omagh Bombing in 1998. Despite the trauma and personal loss, Garry redirected his passion into lifelong voluntary service. Garry’s contribution also extends to leadership and governance through his work on the Ulster Boxing Council and Central Council to which he was elected in 2024, ensuring Ulster boxing continues to have a strong and trusted voice nationally. Garry Mc Gillion exemplifies resilience, dedication, and outstanding community spirit. For decades, Garry has been a dedicated coach with his local club, giving 3–4 evenings each week to training and mentoring young boxers. His focus has always been about more than success in the ring, he uses boxing to help young people overcome hardship, build resilience, confidence, discipline, and achieve their personal best in sport and in life.
The inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award was awarded to Tony Davitt, which recognised six decades of dedication and service as a highly respected legend in Irish boxing. Known for his decades-long dedication as a coach, mentor and community sporting figure starting out at Julianstown Boxing Club and Phoenix of Ballyboughal Boxing Club, Dublin where he currently trains the next generation of champions.
Garry Kehoe, of Marble City BC in Kilkenny, recieved his county winners accolade. Garry is a dairy farmer who took over the running of Marble City as a teenager. He is a member of Central Council’s Coaching Commission, in addition to originating and administering Kilkenny’s Leagues. Garry has also coached national teams representing Ireland at tournament including the 2023 European Schools Championships, 2023 World Junior Championships, 2024 World Youth Championships and 2025 European U19 Championship.
Speaking at the awards, Minister Charlie McConalogue TD, Minister of State for Sport and Postal Policy commented: “The culture of volunteering in sport is one that we have a proud tradition of in this country, and so it is fitting that we celebrate some of the outstanding individuals and groups from all sectors of the sporting community at this event. Be it coaching teams, preparing pitches, administering timetables, driving participants to training, matches or competitions, none of it happens without the dedication of volunteers. I want to wish all of the nominees the very best of luck, and to thank them, and the wider volunteering community, for all of their contributions to sport around the country.”
Speaking about the significance of the awards, Mary O’Connor, CEO of the Federation of Irish Sport, said: “The Federation of Irish Sport is delighted to honour the extraordinary volunteers who dedicate their time, passion, and energy to supporting sport and physical activity across Ireland. Their commitment not only enriches Irish sport but also strengthens communities nationwide. Their dedication is worth €1.5bn to the Irish economy each year. These awards provide an important opportunity to recognise the immense scale of volunteering required each week to support 1.47 million club members throughout the country.”
Full List of County Winners
| County | First | Surname | Club | Sport |
| Antrim | Emma | Montgomery | Glens United FC | FAI |
| Armagh | Majella | Crilly | St Brenda’s Camogie Club | Camogie |
| Carlow | Simon | Racklyeft | Carlow Town Hurling and Camogie Club | GAA/LGFA |
| Cavan | Tommy | McMahon | Belturbet Rowing Club | Rowing |
| Clare | Tom | Loughnane | St Cronan’s Athletics Club | Athletics |
| Cork | Kelly | Fitzgerald | Owenabue Special Olympics | Special Olympics Gymnastics |
| Derry | Philip | Johnston | Derry City FC | FAI |
| Donegal | Fergus | McAteer | Mulroy Academy FC | FAI |
| Down | Kathryn | Wylie | Leander Swimming Club | Swimming |
| Dublin City Sports & Wellbeing | Ger | Redmond | Coolock Running Club (CRC) | Athletics |
| Dublin Dún Laoghaire – Rathdown | Patrick | Finnerty | Cabinteely Athletic Club | Athletics |
| Dublin Fingal | Declan | Harte | NAC Masters SC | Swimming |
| Active South Dublin | Patsy | Kelleher | Dublin Lions Basketball Club | Basketball |
| Fermanagh | Daphne | Greene | Brookeborough Heber MacMahons Club | LGFA |
| Galway | Arun | Babu | County Galway Cricket Club | Cricket |
| Kerry | Debbie | Quirke | Kingdom Pickleball Club | Pickleball |
| Kildare | Annelies | Goyarts | North Kildare Basketball Club | Basketball |
| Kilkenny | Garry | Kehoe | Marble City Boxing Club | Boxing |
| Laois | Louise | Foster | Kestrels Basketball Portarlington | Basketball |
| Leitrim | Ronan | Butler | St Mary’s Kiltoghert GAA club | GAA |
| Limerick | David | Leahy | Castle United AFC | FAI |
| Longford | Tony | Headon | Longford Rugby Club | Rugby |
| Louth | Andrew | Gallagher | Castletown Belles FC | FAI |
| Mayo | Jes | Gough | Kilmurry Youths FC | FAI |
| Meath | Paddy | Bird | Stamullen Julianstown Badminton Club | Badminton |
| Monaghan | Sheila | Forde | Blackhill Nursery | GAA |
| Offaly | Adrian | Curley | Tullamore Harriers | Athletics |
| Roscommon | Anthony | Shally | Kilbride GAA | GAA |
| Sligo | Rory | Clarke | Sligo Rowing Club | Rowing |
| Tipperary | Sean | Minogue | Riverdale Pitch & Putt | Pitch and Putt |
| Tyrone | Garry | McGillion | Bishop Kelly Boxing club | Boxing |
| Waterford | Kate | Ryan | Tallow GAA & Camogie | GAA/Camogie |
| Westmeath | Bill | Dougherty | Westmeath Minotaurs | American Football |
| Wexford | John Joe | Doyle | DMP Athletics Club | Athletics |
| Wicklow | Lucy | Mooney | Hollywood GAA club | GAA |
| Lifetime Achievement | Tony | Davitt | Phoenix of Ballyboughal, Dublin | Boxing |
| Ulster Club/Community Award | Leander Amateur Swimming Club | Swimming | ||
| Munster Club/Community Award | Shannon Paddlers Kayak & Canoeing Club | Paddle Sports | ||
| Leinster Club/Community Award | Naas Pythons Special Olympics Club | Special Olympics | ||
| Connacht Club/Community Award | Moyne Villa Football Club and Community Grounds | Soccer, GAA | ||