Nicola Tuthill was crowned 2025 West Cork Sports Star of the Year on Saturday night.

After another standout year on the international stage, the Kilbrittain hammer thrower was crowned the best in the west at the annual West Cork Sports Star Awards held in the Celtic Ross Hotel in Rosscarbery.

‘The talent in West Cork is insane so to win this is amazing,’ the 22-year-old rising star said.

‘The support from the whole room when it was announced was incredible – West Cork is on a different level to everywhere else in that way.’

The 2025 West Cork Sports Star of the Year is Nicola Tuthill!
The Kilbrittain hammer thrower had a year to remember, and has now been crowned the best in the West! pic.twitter.com/KAfv6snG8z

— Kieran McCarthy (@KieranMcC_SS) January 18, 2026

Nicola finished an impressive 11th at her first senior World Athletics Championships in 2025, while also claiming silver medals at both the World University Games and the European U23 Championships. 

Along the way, she twice broke the Irish U23 hammer record, and set new personal bests: her top throw currently stands at 71.75m. 

Also in 2025, Nicola defended her senior national title, and added a further landmark achievement by winning gold at U23 level at the European Throwing Cup, becoming the first Irish athlete ever to do so. 

Last season underlined her status as one of the rising stars of Irish athletics, and the 2025 West Cork Sports Star of the Year award is a fitting accolade for one of the region’s top stars.

Keep an eye on The Southern Star's social media channels in the days ahead for interviews from the night