Kate O’Connor crowned Sportswoman of the Year after heptathlon heroics
Kate O’Connor, who won silver in the heptathlon at the World Championships in Tokyo, has been named The Irish Times Sport Ireland Sportswoman of the Year 2025.
In a breakthrough year, the track and field star emerged as one of the best all-round women athletes in the world.
Over the last 12 months, the Dundalk-based athlete medalled in all four championships she entered, including becoming the first Irish athlete to medal in a senior multi-event.
With her silver medal in Tokyo, she becomes just the sixth Irish athlete to win a World Championship medal outdoors.
Meanwhile, the Outstanding Contribution Award from The Irish Times went to Mayo’s Cora Staunton, who won four All-Irelands, 11 All-Stars and six All-Ireland club medals.
In a senior career which spanned 24 years in total in the red and green of Mayo, she amassed a total of 11 All Star Awards. She retired from intercounty football in 2019.
However, she continued to play Aussie Rules, having become the first overseas player to be drafted in the fledgling Women’s Australian Football League when she was selected by Great Western Sydney Giants for the 2017 season. She went on to score over 50 goals in her Aussie Rules career before retiring in 2023.
Staunton, along with several members of the Mayo football team, also played soccer. Indeed in 2006, she was a member of the Mayo Ladies League representative team that won the FAI Cup defeating UCD 1–0 in the final at Richmond Park. And she captained Castlebar to a first Connacht Rugby Women’s Leage title back in 2013.
Staunton, who works with Mayo Sports Partnership, is now a respected football analyst and commentator. Her autobiography, called Game Changer, was named the 2018 Bord Gáis Energy Sports Book of the Year.
