Dean O’Mahony is the May winner of the Waterford Sports Awards in association with WLR and the Granville Hotel.

The martial artist secured his fourth successive senior national title, before going on to represent Ireland at the European Karate Championships in Armenia in May as part of a five-strong Irish team.

Speaking when accepting the award, Dean said: “Growing up, I always wanted to win something like this and it’s a real honour to win a prestigious award. It’s been a brilliant year for me so far. I was shocked when I heard that I had won, I’m delighted.”

Dean O’Mahony was crowned the May winner of Waterford Sports Awards and he is pictured receiving his award from Philip Erskine, Granville Hotel and Neil Gough, WLR, also included were judge Catherine Power and Chairperson Jordan Norris, Dean’s parents Olive and Derek O’Mahony and Pat Rockett and his wife Jean from Pat Rockett Martial Arts. Photo: Noel Browne.

Dean will travel to Switzerland for training camps with a number of former Olympians in the weeks ahead, before hoping to be selected for World Championship Qualifiers in Paris and the World Championships themselves in Cairo, Egypt – as well as competing in Austria and Malaysia.

He was the youngest ever black-belt in Ireland a world champion at just the age of 8, but Dean is now hoping to translate a life of dedication into senior international success in the years ahead.

“I’ve been training with Pat Rockett since I was 3, he drove me all over the country and now I’m driving him to competitions, it’s really come full circle. Without my parents and Pat and the support of everyone in my club, I wouldn’t be where I am. I want to be one of the best in the world, I love this sport and I love what I do. My head is down and I’m really focused for the next few months.”

Each month, an outstanding sports star will be crowned the winner of the monthly WLR Granville Hotel Waterford Sports Awards.

The 12 monthly recipients will then gather for a black-tie Gala Banquet at the Granville Hotel in January 2026, as the overall WLR Granville Hotel Waterford Sports Star of the Year and next entrant to the Waterford Sporting Hall of Fame will be revealed.

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