The All Stars Awards, currently sponsored by Vodafone, are given annually since 1971 by the Gaelic Athletic Association to the best player in each of the fifteen positions in Gaelic football and Hurling in Ireland. Additionally, one player in each code is selected as the player of the year. Equivalent awards exist for Ladies football[1], Rounders and Camogie[2].
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Since the 1960s there had been a tradition of annually selecting the best player in each position, in football and hurling, to create a special team of the year. Between 1963 and 1967 these players received what was known as the Cú Chulainn award. In 1971 these awards were formalised into the annual All-Star Awards.
The All-Stars team comprises the best player in each position, regardless of club or county affiliation. The composition of the All Star teams are decided by a small panel of sports journalists from the national media. The awards are presented at a gala banquet in November following the end of the championship season. Both men's teams are honoured with a special holiday where they play an exhibition game. Since 1971 over 1,000 players have been honoured with All-Stars Awards. Damien MartinKieran Mullins of Offaly was the first ever recipient of the award, while in 2004 Paul Galvin of Kerry became the 1,000th winner of the award. Carlow is the only county in Ireland not to receive an award in either sport.
In 2011 it was announced that the GAA All Stars Awards and the GPA Awards would merge under the sponsorship of car manufacturer Opel. The move announced by Christy Cooney in September 2011 will see the achievements of players recognised jointly for the very first time.[3][4]
Tommy Walsh Kilkenny has won nine Hurling All Star Awards in five different positions; a record unlikely to be equalled or surpassed. i.e. at left corner back (1), at right half back (5), at left half back (1), at midfield (1) and at left half forward (1).
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For a complete listing of all winners see the following articles
Sixteen sets of brothers have won All Star Awards in hurling. They are:
One set of twins have won All Star Awards in hurling:
Ten sets of brothers have won All Star Awards in Gaelic football. They are:
One set of brothers has won All Star Awards in Hurling and Football (ironically with two different counties)
Seven father and son pairings have won All Star Awards. Six of these were in football:
There are two hurling father and son pairings:
One player, Ray Cummins of Cork, holds the unique record of winning a hurling and a football All Star in the same year (1971).
Three other players share the distinction of winning All Star awards in both hurling and football, but they did not win the accolades in the same year. These players are:
Due to the pressures of the modern games it is unlikely that these players' feats will ever be repeated.
People who have received five or more awards since their introduction in 1971.