Ireland’s golden girl Katie Taylor was honored with the Irish Tatler Woman of the Year award this weekend in Dublin. Taylor became the pride of Ireland this summer when she brought home boxing gold during the Olympics.

The Irish Independent
reports on the honor awarded to Taylor, as well as the other Irish women who were recognized at the annual event. The star-studded event was held at the Four Seasons hotel in Dublin.

"I love these awards because they are just so inspiring," organiser Norah Casey, publisher of Tatler and star of Dragons' Den and RTÉ's new show, Today, told the Sunday Independent.

"And what could be better in the current climate than celebrating the best women in Ireland? I have been doing these awards for 12 years now and the calibre of winners just gets better and better," added Casey.

"Of course, this year we had an embarrassment of riches with Katie Taylor's incredible success in the Olympics and Bethany Firth -- Ireland's first Paralympic gold winner and all the other wonderful women who were part of the Paralympic team that did Ireland so proud.”

While Katie Taylor took home the big honor for the evening, a score of other Irish women were also recognized. The Special Achievement Award went to the the female members of Team Ireland who competed in the Paralympics: Catherine Walsh, Fran Meehan, Helen Kearney, Catherine O'Neill, Geraldine Savage, Eilish Byrne, Orla Barry and Bethany Firth. Bethany also won the Sport Award.

Aine Lawlor, of Morning Ireland, RTÉ Radio's daily alarm clock for the country, won the Media Award; RTÉ presenter Jennifer Maguire the Entertainment Award, singer Maria Doyle Kennedy the Music Award and Emmeline Hill won the Entrepreneur Award.

"Aine Lawlor is an inspiration," Casey said. "The bravery and determination she has shown in the face of her cancer, coupled with the professionalism and quality of her work over the past year has been amazing.”

Dr. Rhona Mahony, Master of the National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street, was presented with the Public Life Award. Denise Charlton, chief executive officer of the Immigrant Council of Ireland, picked up the Special Recognition Award, and former Judge Catherine McGuinness won the Hall of Fame Award.

"We started over a decade ago with a handful of nominations in the women in business category -- it's now our largest -- and this year we've added in the women entrepreneur awards for the first time. We have brilliant women in music, media and entertainment and what stands out for me is the sheer tenacity and courage of Irish women who have overcome incredible challenges," she said.

"Women in the professions are beginning to come to the fore and that's why we are honouring a titan of the judiciary -- Catherine McGuinness, a woman who has made a lasting and significant contribution to Irish society."