The Irish Times/VHI Healthcare Sportswoman of the Year :"Whoever said that January is the dreariest and most depressing month of the year obviously never received an invitation to The Irish Times/VHI Healthcare Sportswoman of the Year awards." So began the speech of The Irish Timeseditor Geraldine Kennedy at yesterday's awards lunch, and given the foul rain and wind lashing around outside, Dublin's Westin Hotel was quite obviously the place to be.
With 12 monthly award winners from 2007 - or, more specifically, 14, given two awards were shared - it was very much a celebration of women's sport, which, Kennedy then added, is something that is both overdue and undervalued.
"As a woman editor, I am particularly proud that this is a celebration of our sportswomen, who deserve an event like this to mark their contribution to the ever-expanding world of competitive women's sport.
"Each of the monthly award winners has excelled at her sport over the past 12 months, and, quite frankly, it must be an unenviable task for the judges to select the overall winner. Strong arguments could be made for every one of our monthly award winners to be named Sportswoman of the Year.
"Whether it was the football or camogie pitch, the track or the boxing ring, the squash court or the racetrack, all the sportswomen we are honouring today excelled in 2007 and thrilled the Irish sporting public on countless occasions.
"Their dedication knows no limits and they really are an inspiration to everyone here and to the tens of thousands of young girls who aspire to follow in their footsteps. These awards only started four years ago but they have established themselves as one of the most prestigious on the sports calendar. This says so much about the calibre of the winners and the spectacular growth of women's sport in recent times.
"For instance, who would have thought a few years ago that our best hopes of success at this year's Olympics and London 2012 would appear to rest with our top sportswomen rather than our sportsmen?"
VHI Healthcare was represented by medical director Dr Bernadette Carr, who singled out the strong impression each of the monthly award winners also make on all those involved in sport.
"Involvement in sport is a key health and lifestyle choice, especially for women," said Carr. "Each of these winners helps get that message out there, that your health is your wealth. And of course it's also a great accolade to be announced as a monthly winner of such an award."
Minister for Education and guest of honour Mary Hanafin also emphasised the influence such winners have on all women active in sport: "You are the role models for women's sport, especially in schools.
"And we do need to get more children active and participating in sport. It's also wonderful to see people of all age groups represented here."
With 11 sports represented among the monthly winners, the lunch was also attended by a range of famous sporting names and officials, including two Olympic medallists in Ronnie Delany, who won gold over 1,500 metres at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, and John Treacy, now chief executive of the Irish Sports Council, who won silver in the marathon at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.
Athletics Ireland chief executive Brendan Hackett was also in attendance, as was Debbie Massey, chief executive of Basketball Ireland, and Mary Davis, chief executive of Special Olympics Ireland.
Among those representing The Irish Times were sports editor Malachy Logan, deputy managing director Liam Kavanagh and manager editor Eoin McVey.
In conclusion, Kennedy thanked the judging panel of Mary Hannigan, of The Irish Times, and journalists Lindie Naughton and RTÉ's Greg Allen. She also thanked Maeve O'Meara and Grace Morgan from the Promotions Department of The Irish Times for their work in organising the awards. Finally, she paid tribute to the host of the afternoon, RTÉ's Des Cahill, "who has become an integral part of this awards ceremony with his insightful knowledge, easy manner and, above all, his wit."
