AIRO Awards Evening - a great success

Over 250 people gathered in a packed Cashel Palace Hotel on Friday 24th October, 2025 for AIRO’s annual Irish Racehorse Owners Awards.  Hosted by our Master of Ceremonies, Richard Pugh who together with co-host Jane Mangan presented a great evening of entertainment.  AIRO Chairman David Hyland in his speech welcomed all present including Minister for Agriculture Food and the Marine Martin Heydon, he congratulated the Champions behind the Champions being celebrated that evening but also highlighted the pressing issues that were effecting owners with a particular emphasis on Prizemoney.  Minister Martin Heydon recounted a lovely childhood story of his family horse Blackrath Prince and assured attendees that he was all too aware of the pressures of Racehorse Ownership and reiterated his commitment to this racing and breeding industry.
 
Our Sponsors and award winners included the following:
Ballylinch Stud sponsored Special Recognition Award – Mr Willie Mullins
The Irish Field sponsored the Newcomer Award – O’Connell Morgan Syndicate
HRI Ownership sponsored NH Racing Dream – Monabeg Investments Ltd
Godolphin sponsored Flat Racing Dream – Mr Chris Jones
Howden Insurance sponsored Syndicate/Racing Dream Award – Slaneyville Syndicate
Dundalk Stadium sponsored the All-Weather Award – Shamrock Thoroughbreds
ITBA sponsored the Owner/Breeder Award – Mrs Noreen McManus
ITM sponsored the Overseas Owner Award – Mr Stewart Andrew
Goffs Sales Selection Award – Amo Racing Ltd
Tattersalls Ireland Sales Selection Award – Mr Shane Stafford
Crossogue Preserves sponsored Champion NH Owner Award – Mr JP McManus
Bermingham Cameras sponsored Champion Flat Owner Award – Mrs John Magnier
HRI Welfare Dept sponsored the Welfare Award – Ms Alice Fitzgerald (Loaded)
Weatherbys sponsored the Stable Staff Award – Ben Arthey (Stuart Crawford’s yard)
Punchestown Racecourse sponsored the Sponsors Award – Ballymore Group
Connolly RED MILLS sponsored the Services to the Industry Award – Mr Brendan Sheridan
Mount Falcon Estate sponsored the Racecourse of the Year – Naas Racecourse
The Racing Yearbook sponsored the Racing Personality Award – Mr Con Marnane
Coolmore Stud sponsored the Hall of Fame Award – Moyglare Stud & Eva Maria Bucher Haefner
 
The Curragh Racecourse sponsored the champagne reception while SES Equine Veterinary Services Ltd sponsored the flowers.  We are so grateful to our sponsors who come back every year to support Owners.  We’d like to thank the hotel and their staff for a wonderful evening with scrumptious food and AV Star systems for the staging and producing the brilliant video’s on the night.   Jason Fallon helped with dancing off the dinner and Caroline Norris as always was our brilliant photographer on the night and Ciara Lacy’s floral arrangements adorned many Owners kitchen tables in the days that followed the event.  
Huge thank you to Jason O'Ceannobhain and Kevin Casey for the magnificent award portraits and bog oak bespoke pieces.  There was also a presentation on the night to TREO EILE proceeds of the Golf Outing earlier this year by the Owners and Trainers Associations combined.