Rhys McClenaghan wins RTÉ Sport Sportsperson of the Year award

Reigning back-to-back world champion gymnast Rhys McClenaghan has been crowned the RTÉ Sport Sportsperson of the Year for 2023.

The native of Newtownards, Co Down won his second European gold medal in April on pommel horse before going on to retain his World Artistic Gymnastics Championships title in Antwerp, Belgium six months later.

The latter victory saw him come out on top in a strong field of contenders which had also featured the return of three-time Olympic gold medalist Max Whitlock to the championships.

McClenaghan, who was also nominated for Sportsperson of the Year in 2022, is a previous winner of the Young Sportsperson of the Year, taking home that award in 2018.

This year's winner of the Young Sportsperson of the Year was Republic of Ireland and Brighton striker Evan Ferguson.

The 19-year-old enjoyed a stellar year which saw him score 12 Premier League goals during the calendar year so far, including a hat-trick against Newcastle in September, as well as netting three times for the Boys in Green.

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell was awarded Manager of the Year following a year which saw him lead his team to grand slam glory in the Six Nations and a victory over South Africa in an epic pool stage encounter at the Rugby World Cup, before a narrow defeat to the All Blacks in the quarter-finals.

Team of the Year went to a Limerick side who earned a fourth All-Ireland Hurling title in a row in 2023.

John Kiely's team battled back from behind during a stirring second-half performance against Kilkenny in July's final to seal a fifth Liam MacCarthy Cup crown in six years.

Former sprinter Jason Smyth was inducted into the RTÉ Sport Hall of Fame, marking a stellar career that saw the Derry man win six Paralympic gold medals,