Water Polo recognised at Swim Ireland Awards

Outstanding Contribution to Water Polo – Eamon Caulfield

Congratulations to Eamon Caulfield who received the award for Outstanding contribution to Water Polo at the 2023 Swim Ireland Awards in the Carlton Hotel Blanchardstown, Dublin.

The Outstanding Contribution to Water Polo award goes to a person who has had an outstanding contribution to the Water Polo community over a prolonged period. This year’s worthy winner has exceled in more than one of the criteria’s set out for this award.

Eamon is a member of Corrib Water Polo Club in Galway and has been involved in Water Polo from an early age. He started playing Water Polo with St Vincent’s Water Polo Club in Dublin soon after his brother Joe founded the club in 1969. During this time he went on to represent the club at various different levels in both the National and Leinster indoor and outdoor leagues.

Through his career in the army, this took him to the west of Ireland in 1974, where he became one of the founding members of Corrib Water Polo Club in 1980. The newly formed club entered the National leagues which Eamon went on to represent for the next 20 years helping the club reach their first Irish Senior Cup semi final in 1999. This laid the foundation for the club to grow even further with Eamon continuing to help the club strengthen their position as being one of the biggest clubs in the country today through his coaching and team manager roles.

Eamon has had an outstanding contribution promoting the cause of Water Polo in Ireland in various positions at Club, Regional and National level for close to 40 years, including President of Ireland Water Polo. In these positions he has continuously gone above and beyond his designated roles, no more so than since his retirement from the army where has taken on the role of Fixtures secretary and Connacht representative. During this time Eamon was instrumental in the organising and running of numerous cup competitions across all age groups taking on the Tournament Director role on numerous occasions but no more so then when the sport was recovering from the impact of Covid.

Eamon’s contribution extends past Water Polo, with him involved in the setting up of the Heskin Open Water Sea league that runs through the summer months in Galway, as well as holding the position of Club President of Galway Swimming Club. He also held the position of President for the Connacht region in 1980. As a qualified swimming teacher and water polo coach he has used this to continuously retain athletes within these aquatics disciplines as well as advocating for learn to swim programs through improved pool access in the Galway region.

Eamon has consistently shown a high level of commitment to Water Polo through his positions within his club and in National Committee while continuously striving for higher standards for the better of Ireland Water Polo. His commitment to Water Polo in Ireland has also been further enhanced through his role as Team Manager for the Ireland Mens Senior team as well as being Ireland Water Polo’s representative on the organizing committee for the re established Home Nations tournament in 2022.

As recognition for these many years of service and commitment, the Ireland Water Polo Committee feel Eamon is a worthy winner as the 10th recipient of this award.

Past Winners:

2012: Nickey O’Meara

2013: Brian O’Dwyer

2014: Tommy Kirk & Ben Kealy

2015: Bert O’Brien

2016: Phil Kelly

2018: Gerry O’Neill

2019: Shane Moraghan

2022: Ian Hanrahan

2023: Eamon Caulfield

 

Water Polo Player of the year

For the first time at the Swim Ireland awards night, awards were given out to the Male and Female Water Polo Players of the year. Congratulations to Mairead Baker and Cillian Colvin on picking up this years awards.

Female Water Polo Player of the year – Mairead Baker (St. Vincents)

  • Captain of St Vincent’s Senior Women’s – winning the Women’s National Division 1 League and Irish Senior Cup in Bangor for the 11th year in a row.
  • Team of the Tournament – Irish Senior Cup 2023.
  • Member of the Women’s Ireland team which won the Home Nations in the NAC in Dublin in May.

Male Water Polo Player of the year – Cillian Colvin (St. Vincents)

  • Member of the St Vincent’s Men team that won the Mens National Division 1 league and Irish Senior Cup in Bangor.
  • Team of the Tournament – Irish Senior Cup 2023.
  • Member of the Mens Ireland team which finished runners up in the Home Nations in the NAC in Dublin in May.

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