{{update|date=October 2015}} The '''Soccer Writers Association of Ireland Personality of the Year'''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.swai.ie/?q=node/101|title=SWAI Award Winners}}</ref> is an annual award for the person considered to have made the most positive impact on the domestic [[League of Ireland]] season.
Instigated in 1961 - when [[Drumcondra F.C.|Drumcondra's]] Dan McCaffrey was the winner - it is one of the few awards that can be given to either a player or manager. In fact, the recipient in 1964 was [[Football Association of Ireland|FAI]] secretary [[Joe Wickham]].
The award is organised by the Soccer Writers' Association of Ireland.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.swai.ie/|title=Soccer Writers' Association of Ireland Website}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Men's Personaility of the Year |url=https://www.soccerwritersireland.ie/personaility-of-the-year |access-date=2026-01-17 |website=SoccerWritersIreland |language=en}}</ref>
== Selection process == The winner of the SWAI Personality of the Year is chosen by members of the Soccer Writers' Association of Ireland. The selection process considers performance, influence, and contributions to the league over the course of a season. Both on-field excellence and off-field leadership are taken into account when determining the recipient.
== Notable winners == {{list missing criteria|section|date=August 2025}} Some of the notable winners of the award have included: * [[Johnny Giles]] (1978) – Former Republic of Ireland international and manager. * [[Jim McLaughlin (footballer)|Jim McLaughlin]] (1979, 1984, 1989) – One of Ireland’s most successful club managers. * [[Pat Fenlon]] (2004, 2006) – Multiple-time League of Ireland-winning manager.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2005-01-16 |title=Fenlon named Personality of the Year |url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2005/0116/189184-fenlonp/ |language=en | website = rte.ie}}</ref> * [[Damien Duff]] (2024) – Former Republic of Ireland international turned manager.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Men's Personaility of the Year |url=https://www.soccerwritersireland.ie/personaility-of-the-year |access-date=2025-07-01 |website=SoccerWritersIreland |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Locke |first=Cian |date=2024-12-06 |title=Damien Duff crowned Soccer Writers Ireland Men's Personality of the year |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/arid-41531792.html |access-date=2025-07-01 |website=Irish Examiner |language=en}}</ref>
==Winners== {| class="wikitable" |- !Year !Winner |- |1961 || Dan McCaffrey (Drumcondra) |- |1962 || [[Tommy Hamilton]] ([[Shamrock Rovers F.C.|Shamrock Rovers]]) |- |1963 || [[Willie Browne]] ([[Bohemians F.C.|Bohemians]]) |- |1964 || [[Joe Wickham]] (Secretary, FAI) |- |1965 || [[Seán Thomas]] (Bohemians) |- |1966 || [[Liam Tuohy (footballer)|Liam Tuohy]] (Shamrock Rovers) |- |1967 || [[Al Finucane]] ([[Limerick F.C.|Limerick]]) |- |1968 || [[Johnny Fullam]] (Shamrock Rovers) |- |1969 || [[Mick Leech]] (Shamrock Rovers) |- |1970 || [[Peter Thomas (footballer born 1944)|Peter Thomas]] ([[Waterford United F.C.|Waterford]]) |- |1971 || [[Mick Meagan]] ([[Drogheda United F.C.|Drogheda]]) |- |1972 || [[Dave Bacuzzi]] ([[Cork Hibernians F.C.|Cork Hibernians]]) |- |1973 || [[Alfie Hale]] (Waterford) |- |1974 || Paul O'Donovan ([[Cork Celtic F.C.|Cork Celtic]]) |- |1975 || [[Johnny Fullam]] (Bohemians) |- |1976 || [[Brendan Bradley (footballer)|Brendan Bradley]] ([[Finn Harps F.C.|Finn Harps]]) |- |1977 || [[Mick Smyth]] (Bohemians) |- |1978 || [[Johnny Giles]] (Shamrock Rovers) |- |1979 || [[Jim McLaughlin (footballer)|Jim McLaughlin]] ([[Dundalk F.C.|Dundalk]]) |- |1980 || [[Eoin Hand]] ([[Limerick United F.C.|Limerick United]]) |- |1981 || [[Turlough O'Connor (footballer)|Turlough O'Connor]] ([[Athlone Town F.C.|Athlone Town]]) |- |1982 || [[Tommy McConville]] (Dundalk) |- |1983 || [[Noel Larkin]] (Athlone Town) |- |1984 || [[Jim McLaughlin (football manager)|Jim McLaughlin]] (Shamrock Rovers) |- |1985 || [[Pat Byrne (footballer)|Pat Byrne]] (Shamrock Rovers) |- |1986 || [[Liam O'Brien (footballer born 1964)|Liam O'Brien]] (Shamrock Rovers) |- |1987 || [[Mick Byrne (Irish footballer)|Mick Byrne]] (Shamrock Rovers) |- |1988 || [[Terry Eviston]] (Dundalk) |- |1989 || [[Jim McLaughlin (football manager)|Jim McLaughlin]] ([[Derry City F.C.|Derry City]]) |- |1990 || [[Damien Byrne]] ([[St Patrick's Athletic F.C.|St Patrick's Athletic]]) |- |1991 || [[Peter Hanrahan]] (Dundalk) |- |1992 || Pat Byrne ([[Shelbourne F.C.|Shelbourne]]) |- |1993 || [[Pat Morley (footballer)|Pat Morley]] ([[Cork City Football Club|Cork City]]) |- |1994 || [[Stephen Geoghegan]] (Shamrock Rovers) |- |1995 || [[Liam Coyle (footballer, born 1968)|Liam Coyle]] (Derry City) |- |1996 || [[Brian Kerr (Irish football manager)|Brian Kerr]] (St Patrick's Athletic) |- |1997 || [[Peter Hutton (footballer)|Peter Hutton]] (Derry City) |- |1998 || [[Pat Dolan]] (St Patrick's Athletic) |- |1999 || [[Paul Osam]] (St Patrick's Athletic) |- |2000 || [[Dermot Keely]] (Shelbourne) |- |2001 || [[Glen Crowe]] (Bohemians) |- |2002 || [[Paul Doolin]] ([[University College Dublin A.F.C.|UCD]]) |- |2002-03 || [[Glen Crowe]] (Bohemians) |- |2003 || [[Alan Mathews]] ([[Longford Town F.C.|Longford Town]]) |- |2004 || [[Pat Fenlon]] (Shelbourne) |- |2005 || [[Damien Richardson (footballer)|Damien Richardson]] (Cork City) |- |2006 || [[Pat Fenlon]] (Shelbourne) |- |2007 || Paul Doolin ([[Drogheda United F.C.|Drogheda United]]) |- |2008 || [[Owen Heary]] (Bohemians) |- |2009 || [[Liam Buckley]] ([[Sporting Fingal F.C.|Sporting Fingal]]) |- |2024 || [[Damien Duff]] (Shelbourne)<ref>{{cite web | title=Watts takes PFAI award, Duff wins manager gong | website=[[RTÉ.ie]] | date=23 November 2024 | url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2024/1123/1482622-watts-takes-pfai-award-duff-wins-manager-gong/ }}</ref> |}
== See also == * [[League of Ireland]] * [[Football Association of Ireland]] * [[PFAI Players' Player of the Year]]
==References== {{reflist}}
[[Category:Association footballers in the Republic of Ireland]] [[Category:Republic of Ireland association football trophies and awards]] [[Category:Association football player non-biographical articles]]