27-05-2025
See photos as Arklow Rugby Club enjoy annual dinner dance
With players and club staff donning their finest frocks and sharpest suits, the conversation and refreshments flowed as attendees enjoyed a wonderful meal, followed by the highly anticipated awards ceremony for the club's men's, women's, and Red Kites senior teams.
Presented by Shane Nalty, the club awards saw Tadgh O'Scannail take home Club Mentor of the Year, with Coach of the Year going to Simon Tyner, Volunteer of the Year to Ger Brennan and Club Person of the Year to Dorraine Dempsey.
The big winners in the Red Kite awards, presented by Tadgh O'Scannail, included Tagger of the Year and incoming captain Julia Murphy, Players Player of the Year Paul Roche, Most Improved Killian Byrne, Player of the Year Paul Kenny, Top Podcaster Martin Breslin, Top Try Scorer Andrew Banak, Most Positive Influence Sean Sheekey, New Coach Assistant Brian Hooper and Backroom Support and New Team Manager Simon Marah.
Finally, The Amazons awards, presented by Shane Byrne and Trevor Prestage, went to Young Player of the Year Alex Byrne, Most Improved Catherine Byrne, Player of the Year Dianne Hunt Byrne, while the men's awards, presented by Anto O'Donnell and Shane Nalty, saw Gordon Prestage (collected by his father Keith) crowned Young Player of the Year, Players Player of the Year going to Eoin Byrne.
Created in memory of late former player and beloved teammate, the Adam Slater Player of the Year award went to Tom Scarfe.
'We brought an end to the 2024/25 season in style with our annual dinner dance in the Arklow Bay Hotel,' a club spokesperson said.
"Every year at our dinner dance we present awards to our three senior teams; Men, Women, and Red Kites; as well as some individual awards for those people in the wider club, without whom our club would not survive.
'It was a special night recognising team efforts and individual accolades, thanking sponsors, volunteers and supporters, and remembering a teammate and brother who we lost during the year.'
