2004 TEXACO SPORTSTARS ANNOUNCED IRELAND’S RYDER CUP GOLFERS IN STAR STUDDED LINE-UP OF TEXACO AWARD WINNERS

The twelve leading Irish sports personalities chosen as winners of the ten 2004 Texaco Sportstars Awards were presented with their trophies at a ceremony held in Dublin’s Burlington Hotel last evening (Monday, 15th November) at which An Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern TD was Guest of Honour. Two additional awards, the Texaco Hall of Fame and Special Achievement Awards, were also presented.

Chosen from a shortlist of twenty-two sports, the full line-up Texaco Sportstars Award winners for 2004 comprises:

Margaret Johnston

BOWLING

Andy Lee

BOXING

Úna O’Dwyer

CAMOGIE

Colm Cooper

GAELIC FOOTBALL

Ireland’s Ryder Cup Team Members:
Darren Clarke
Pádraig Harrington
Paul McGinley

GOLF

Pat Smullen

HORSE RACING

Seán Óg Ó hAilpín

HURLING

Gordon D’Arcy

RUGBY

Shay Given

SOCCER

David Malone

SWIMMING

Of the twelve stars chosen to receive awards, all but three are winners for the very first time. Previous recipients are golfer Darren Clarke, who won his first Texaco Award last year, Pádraig Harrington who has now won his fifth Texaco Award having previously been honoured in 1996, 1999, 2001 and 2002; and bowler Margaret Johnston, a winner in 1988 and 1992.

Recipient of the 2004 Texaco Hall of Fame award is legendary Kerry footballer Mick O’Dwyer, one of the most distinguished figures in the history of Irish sport and a man synonymous with Gaelic Football for over half a century as Kerry player and manager and, latterly, as manager of Kildare and Laois.

Winner of the 2004 Texaco Special Achievement Award is Cork doctor Clare O’Leary for her success in being the first Irish woman ever to conquer the summit of Mount Everest.

Chosen by a panel of Sports Editors representing national print and broadcast media across Ireland, the Texaco Sportstars Awards are now in their 47th year having been presented annually since 1958.

Hosted by Texaco Country Chairman Paul Martin, the awards ceremony was attended by the Sportstars and their guests along with celebrities from the world of sport, media, business and entertainment as well as senior officials from the ChevronTexaco organisation.

Commenting on the 2004 awards, Texaco Country Chairman Paul Martin said ‘the distinguished array of sports men and women who have won awards this year are a reflection of the prominent positions which Irish sports stars hold, both in domestic and international arenas, and of the high levels of success which they achieve in all forms of competition’.