'Water' achievement as Niamh nails unique feat

The 2025 Western People Mayo Sports Stars Awards take place on Saturday, February 7 at Breaffy House Resort.

We like to think it takes something special to win a Mayo Sports Stars Award. To win a second is exceptional. But to win two for different sports entirely places Niamh Kilgallen in rarefied company altogether.

10 years ago Niamh won a Mayo Sports Stars Award for swimming. To say she was good in the pool is an understatement; among those trailing in her wake at that time were Mona McSharry, now an Olympic, World and European medal winner.

Niamh’s path, however, has taken a different trajectory, and the Claremorris native has gone from being in the water to on top of the water. What hasn’t changed is that’s she’s still the one setting the standards nationally.

Rowing has since become Niamh’s passion and it’s with the Dublin-based Neptune Rowing Club that she has become one of the most formidable scullers in the country. It’s not our word you have to take for that – her results do the talking.

She made the best possible start to 2025 at the Irish Indoor Rowing Championships. The sport, needless to say, has enjoyed an explosion in popularity due to Ireland’s international success over the past decade so there was a record attendance at those national indoors held at the University of Limerick Sports Arena last January, where Niamh Kilgallen delivered a commanding performance to win the Women’s Open 2000m in a time of 7:08.

Proving her worth outdoors also, Niamh added the Women’s Intermediate Single Sculls title at the Irish Rowing Championships at Fota Island in July. In very warm conditions she dominated the race from start to finish.

It was little surprise then that she was selected as one of four senior women’s scullers to represent Ireland at the 2025 Home International Rowing Regatta at the world-renowned Dorney Lake in the UK. Going up against the top scullers from England, Scotland and Wales, as well as her Irish rivals, Niamh finished third overall on the stunning Olympic-standard course and also helped the Irish team win silver in the women’s quad scull sprint.

The 2025 Western People Mayo Sports Stars Awards take place next Saturday, February 7, at Breaffy House Resort. The special guest for this year’s awards function is Kerry GAA legend Tomás Ó Sé.

Tickets for the gala presentation banquet, which includes a drinks reception, a four-course meal, the awards ceremony and entertainment, are priced at €70pp and are on sale to the general public.

For ticket enquiries contact Nicola Lawrence at 086-8293435 or email nicola.lawrence@westernpeople.ie.