13 May 2026
By Elaine Murphy
elaine@TheCork.ie
The Metropole Hotel is the sponsor for this year’s event, taking place on May 15th
Excitement is building ahead of the Cork Indoor Sports Awards 2026, which will be held at the Metropole Hotel on May 15th.
Now in its 63rd year, the awards recognise the achievements of many of Cork’s most inspirational athletes and were established to honour those involved in the participation and promotion of indoor sports.
The Metropole Hotel has once again been confirmed as the official sponsor for the awards. The indoor sports recognised this year include basketball, bowls, boxing, darts, gymnastics, handball, judo, karate, men’s rings, women’s rings, Special Olympics, and taekwondo.
The Cork Indoor Sports Awards were launched with the Metropole Hotel confirmed as the 2026 sponsor. The partnership has been ongoing for 63 years.
The Awards, which recognise the achievements of many of Cork’s most inspirational athletes, will take place at the Metropole Hotel on Friday, May 15th. The awards were launched at the Kiln, Heineken Ireland.
Pictured at the launch were Margarita Gorbatyuk, Judo; Eimear McKeon, Figure Skating; Mary O’Connor, Darts; Keith Middleton, Bowls; Max Pytel, Gymnastics; Kevin Ginn, Basketball; Stewart Joyce, Basketball; Karen Cronin, Ladies Rings; Brian O’Leary, Men’s Rings; Shane Forde, Boxing; John Hedigan and Craig Casey, Special Olympics.
Also at the launch were Tom Lynch, President, Cork Indoor Sports; Tim O’Donovan; Tim Harte, chairman, Cork Indoor Sports and Louise McNamara, General Manager, The Metropole Hotel.
Pic: Brian Lougheed
Louise McNamara, General Manager of the Metropole Hotel said: “The duration of the partnership between the Metropole Hotel and the Cork Indoor Sports Awards is a great example of the importance of businesses supporting local organisations. Sporting events and activities bring people together, foster healthy competition and promote physical and mental well-being. We recognise the countless hours of training, the sacrifices made and the unwavering passion that fuels the success of all the athletes and their coaches. We look forward to welcoming the athletes and their coaches to the Metropole Hotel for the awards in May.”
Tim Harte, Chairman of the Cork Indoor Sports Awards said; “The Cork Indoor Sports Awards is a wonderful opportunity to have athletes recognised in their chosen field and I would like to wish the best of luck to all the athletes ahead of the awards event. I’d also like to thank the Metropole Hotel for being our sponsor once again this year. In fact, our very first Indoor Sports Awards was held in the Metropole Hotel, 63 years ago.”