Over the last few days, a number of individuals in the Irish media have criticised the RTÉ Sportsperson of the Year award nominee list.
On Saturday, in his Irish Daily Star column, Eamon Dunphy wrote that the exclusion of Robbie Brady and inclusion of Conor McGregor was 'ludicrous'. Dunphy is not a fan of what he 'struggles to class as a sport'.
The Sunday Independent's Eamon Sweeney questioned why one half on Ireland's Olympic silver medal winning boat, Gary O'Donovan, was omitted from the list while his brother Paul was included. He found this most inexplicable due to the naming on the list of Paralympic tandem cycling duo Katie George Dunlevy and her pilot Eve McCrystal.
Sweeney's sentiments were echoed by Paul Kimmage, who was on The Last Word with Matt Cooper. Kimmage called the award list a 'complete joke' while also criticising the use of a public vote to decide the winner.
Following Kimmage's appearance on Today FM, RTÉ Head of Sport Ryle Nugent used Twitter to clarify a few points regarding the list.
Though it certainly is not apparent from RTÉ's press release regarding the nominees, which states: 'Katie George Dunlevy & Eve McCrystal - Won Paralympic tandem cycling gold and silver medals', Nugent says that Dunlevy is on the list as an individual.
He adds that only Paul O'Donovan being nominated and his Olympic silver medal-winning brother Gary being excluded is due to Paul's achievement at the World Rowing Championships in late August where he won gold.
Dunphy Sweeney and @PaulKimmage are clearly entitled to their opinions on @RTEsport awards short lists but none asked us about criteria
— Ryle Nugent (@ryle_nugent) December 12, 2016
or process before forming their opinions. It ain't drugs or corporate governance but if u want to have an opinion I would think ud ask
— Ryle Nugent (@ryle_nugent) December 12, 2016
It's a subjective and flawed process by its nature but let me clear one fact up - Katie George Dunlevy is listed as an individual athlete
— Ryle Nugent (@ryle_nugent) December 12, 2016
By comparison the O'D's are a pair or a team if u will. One did well in a team and as an individual this the nomination alone and as a team
— Ryle Nugent (@ryle_nugent) December 12, 2016
There followed a testy exchange between Kimmage and Nugent on Twitter.
@RyleNugentRTE @RTEsport Criteria!! You mean you actually put some thought into this?
— Paul Kimmage (@PaulKimmage) December 12, 2016
Try pulling the names from a hat next time. It will make more sense.
— Paul Kimmage (@PaulKimmage) December 12, 2016
@PaulKimmage cheers Paul.
— Ryle Nugent (@RyleNugentRTE) December 12, 2016
