The Her Sport Awards return for an eighth year, celebrating the women who defined a record breaking year for Irish sport. The awards honour the female athletes, teams, coaches and volunteers who continue to raise standards and inspire the next generation, while shining a spotlight on the role models driving visibility and opportunity for women and girls across sport.
Paralympic athletes feature prominently among the 2026 nominees following an exceptional year of performances on the world stage. Their achievements across athletics, triathlon, powerlifting and swimming underline the growing strength and depth of Irish para-sport and its influence at the highest level of international competition.
Athlete of the Year nominee Orla Comerford produced the standout season of her career in 2025, capturing double gold in the T13 100m and 200m at the World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi.
The Ireland women’s Para triathlon squad is nominated for Team of the Year. Across the season, Irish athletes and guides combined for seven international medals, including a World Triathlon Para Cup victory, multiple World Series podium finishes and two top-ten results at the World Championships, strengthening Ireland’s standing in a key Paralympic sport.
Young Athlete of the Year nominee Niamh Buckley announced herself as one of Ireland’s most promising emerging talents in para powerlifting. Her breakthrough season included a junior world title and European junior record at the World Championships, followed by a senior lifetime best performance that placed her firmly on the LA 2028 Paralympic pathway.
Róisín Ní Ríain is also recognised with a nomination in the Young Athlete of the Year category after an outstanding year which saw her win five medals at the World Championships across multiple events.
The Her Sport Awards presented by Lidl will take place on Friday, January 23, 2026, at The Helix on the Dublin City University campus. The ceremony will be held in The Mahony Hall, with doors opening at 6:00pm ahead of a 7:00pm start. Tickets for the event are available to purchase through The Helix website.
