Brendan’s End of Year Irish Political Awards 2025

It’s a business of lows and lows, with the very rare high thrown in just to keep you hooked. Sure, winning an election is one of those highs, but your campaign team are no sooner hoisting you shoulder-high at the election count when you’re starting to worry about the next election. Getting elected or re-elected, for some, can be a one-minute wonder.

So, it’s only fitting at this time of year, the season of giving, that we give something back to our politicians, the selfless representatives whose willingness to stand for public office is one of the few things that separates our democracy from guaranteed total chaos. Perhaps that’s a tad melodramatic, but you get where I’m coming from – they deserve more credit than they get. And what better way to lavish praise on anyone than with an award.

So, I give you my End of Year Irish Political Awards 2025. It’s not quite Nobel, but in politics, there’s only one thing worse than being talked about.

Brendan’s End of Year Political Awards:

Player of the Year: Catherine Connolly (no explanation or keepy-uppy references needed).

Young Player of the Year: Albert Dolan (FF) Galway East - like a terrier in Committee…one to watch.

Manager of the Year: Roderic O’Gorman – the only leader with 100% harmony in his Dáil Party.

Goal of the Season: Jennifer Carroll MacNeill with reform of weekend consultant rosters, with honourable mention to Martin Heydon on the nitrates derogation.

Own Goal of the Season: Was a tough choice between Eoin Hayes and Eoin Hayes - he’ll be hoping for a better 2026 after a tough start to life in the Dáil.

Most Assists: Cian O’Callaghan while ably deputising as leader of the Social Democrats when Holly Cairns was on maternity leave.

Best Free Transfer: Paschal Donohoe - daylight robbery by the World Bank.

Best Defence: Helen McEntee with €1.3bn to spend on defending Ireland over the next 5 years.

Best Return to High Office: Minister Kevin ‘‘Boxer’’ Moran.

Best Hand Gesture: No beating Michael Lowry on this one!

Best Suits (Male): Pádraig Rice.

Best Suits (Female): Niamh Smyth.

Best Newcomer with a Nickname: Peter ‘‘Chap’’ Cleere.

Paul Gogarty Perpetual Prize for Most Unparliamentary Language: Mark Ward - “You f****** muppet!”

Paul Gogarty Perpetual Prize for Parliamentary Comebacks: Paul Gogarty.

Best Performance in Europe: Photo-finish between Nina Carberry and Barry Andrews.

Fair Play Award: Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy - fair play for weathering the storm during the speaking slot debacle!

Dipped My Toe But Politics Just Aint for Me Award: Jim Gavin

Best Former Leader Who’s Still Around: Alan Kelly – running a good ship as Chair of the Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport.

Best Healy-Rae: A draw.

Best Moustache: Willie O’Dea gets dethroned after 43 years by Barry Heneghan.

Best By-Election to Look Forward to: Galway West – The City of the Tribes and Connemara – the party mercenaries will have a ball. Although, Gerard ‘‘The Monk’’ Hutch’s involvement in the Dublin Central contest might add some spice that one too. It’s all ahead of us! 

Happy new year, everyone.

Brendan Griffin is a former Fine Gael TD for Kerry, Deputy Government Chief Whip and Minister for Tourism and Sport.