RTÉ Sports Hall of Fame Award


The RTÉ/Irish Sports Council Hall of Fame Award is an award given annually as part of the RTÉ Sports Awards ceremony each December. The award is given to a sportsperson who has made a major impact on the world of sport during their lifetime. The winner is selected by RTÉ Sport.
The most recent winner, in 2019, was Sonia O'Sullivan.

Winners

By year

YearNat.WinnerSportRationaleNote
2006Car rallyingIn a twenty-year rallying career, the Millstreet Maestro became Ireland's most successful rally driver of all time.
2007FootballThe legendary Manchester United and Leeds United midfielder won his first Irish international cap before he was 19. He went on to captain the Irish side before he embarked on a management career that took in spells as player-manager of Ireland, as well as spells as boss of West Bromwich Albion and Shamrock Rovers.
2008AthleticsAfter competing in the Melbourne, Rome and Tokyo Olympics, and took the bronze in the 400m at the 1966 European Indoor Athletics Championships. She was also a competitive hockey player, gaining 58 Irish caps as well as being named in the World All Star team in 1953 and 1959.
2009Gaelic footballOne of the most respected and much loved figures in Gaelic games, he has been involved in Gaelic football at the highest level for over 50 years, winning four All-Ireland medals as a player before leading Kerry to eight All-Ireland titles from ten final appearances in a 12-year period.
2010SnookerMarking 25 years since his 1985 World Snooker Championship win in which he beat the world No. 1 Steve Davis on the black ball in a final often described as one of the sports greatest.
2011Rugby unionKyle helped Ireland to their first ever Grand Slam win in 1948 and a further two Triple Crowns in 1948 and 1949 and the Five Nations Championship in 1951.
2012FootballDuring his 10-year reign as manager, the Republic of Ireland qualified for two FIFA World Cups, a UEFA European Championship and peaked at No.6 in the FIFA World rankings.
2013FootballThe cultured defender, who enjoyed long stints with both Manchester United and Aston Villa, also represented the Republic of Ireland at the 1990 and 1994 FIFA World Cups, as well as UEFA Euro 1988.
2014Rugby unionDuring a stellar career in which he became the most-capped player in rugby union history, O'Driscoll captained Leinster, Ireland and the British and Irish Lions, winning the RBS Six Nations twice and the Heineken Cup three times along the way.
2015HurlingHe won a record ten All-Ireland medals on the field of play as well as thirteen Leinster medals and six National Hurling League medals before his retirement in 2014.
2016Rugby unionHe captained the Munster team that won their first ever Heineken Cup in 2006 and won 62 caps for Ireland from 1995 to 2005. Foley died suddenly in October 2016.
2017SnookerAs an amateur, Doherty won the Irish Amateur Championship twice, the World Under-21 Amateur Championship and the World Amateur Championship. Turning professional in 1990, Doherty has won a total of 6 ranking tournaments including the 1997 World Snooker Championship.
2018Association footballScored at the 1988 European Championship
2019Track and fieldWon an Olympic silver medal in the 5,000 metres event.