Torpey, the Clare based sports engineering company, has been named the Best Sports Business at the prestigious Irish Sport Industry Awards, marking a significant milestone in the company’s continued growth and innovation journey.
The award recognises Torpey’s leadership in performance-driven sports equipment, its commitment to sustainability, and its expansion into international markets.
The Irish Sport Industry Awards are organised by the Federation for Irish Sport and were held in Dublin at the College Green Banking Hall on the 19th May. The annual awards celebrate excellence across Ireland’s sports sector, highlighting the industry’s contribution to economic growth, innovation, and global connectivity.
Special guest speakers on the night included Minister for Sport and Postal Policy, Minister Charlie McConalogue TD and a fireside chat with Minister for International Development and Diaspora, Minister Neale Richmond TD on “Sport as Ireland’s Global Soft Power”.
Mary O’Connor, CEO of the Federation of Irish Sport addressed attendees stating:
“ Ireland is a nation where sport and physical activity are deeply woven into our national identity. Today, the Irish sports industry stands as a powerful economic engine, a global innovation hub, and a vital cornerstone of our social fabric. We gather tonight to formally recognise this immense impact and to map out our future through targeted innovation, public-private investment, and unprecedented global connection. “
Seán Torpey, MD at Torpey, said of the win: “From a small sports performance brand based in the heart of the West of Ireland, this recognition means a huge amount to us. In terms of innovative engineering and manufacturing to retail and commercialisation, our team punch above their weight in many aspects of the industry and we feel this award is reflective of that. “
This win comes off the back of the teams’ recent appearance at the prestigious Smarter Sports Award (STA) at Fulham FC, London where they were nominated in the Smarter Ball and Racquet Innovation category for their Kláw Performance Glove. The Smarter Sports Awards, formerly The Sports Technology Awards, are recognized as the global gold standard for innovation in sport. For 12 years, the Awards have honoured the outstanding solutions that redefine the sector. Although Torpey did not secure the award, being nominated alongside globally recognised sport brands provides strong validation of the strides the company is making in innovation across hurling and wider bat-and-ball sports.
Torpey has built a strong reputation for combining traditional craftsmanship with advanced engineering, most notably through the development of its Bambú hurley, a sustainable alternative to ash that now represents a significant proportion of the company’s sales. Alongside its innovation in hurling, Torpey has expanded its product portfolio and international reach, positioning itself as a forward-thinking Irish brand shaping the future of sports equipment design.
