Belfast boxer Paddy Barnes has described himself as “a proud Irish sportsman” after accepting an MBE in Queen Elizabeth II’s New Year’s Honours list.
Barnes has twice won Olympic bronze medals for Ireland and claimed gold for Northern Ireland in the 2010 and 2014 Commonwealth Games.
The light flyweight was enveloped in controversy following this year's medal ceremony in Glasgow when he said Northern Ireland's unofficial anthem Danny Boy was not his.
The 27-year-old said tonight: "I am a proud Irish sportsman, a proud sportsman from Belfast and I take great pride in representing everyone in Ireland, north and south, in whatever way I can.
"If my achievements in boxing can inspire others and people can be united through sport, then my efforts will have been worthwhile."
Barnes, who has his sights firmly fixed on the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, added: "I am pleased to have been recognised in the Queen's honours list for 2015 for my contribution to the sport of boxing and for my contribution to work in this community.
"This recognition also acknowledges my success in the Commonwealth Games in 2010 and 2014 in India and Scotland respectively.
"I am pleased to accept it on behalf of boxing, my community, coaches, friends and family, who have supported my career from the first frustrating youth defeats to medal success on Olympic and Commonwealth stages.
"I would like to thank all those who have supported me in any way over the years and, as always, I will do my utmost to honour the faith and belief that you have had, and continue to have in me.
"I wish everyone a happy and successful 2015."
Meanwhile, FIFA vice-president Jim Boyce, who received an OBE, dedicated his award to the people who kept football going in Northern Ireland during the Troubles.
Boyce, who was severely injured in a Belfast car bomb in 1972, is a former Irish Football Association president and current head of FIFA's referees' committee. He steps down from the vice-presidency in May.
He told Press Association Sport: "It's a tremendous honour and I must pay tribute to my devoted wife Hazel and daughters Joanne and Lisa.
"But most importantly I would like to dedicate this honour to the people who kept football in Northern Ireland going through the many, many difficult years - be they players, officials, coaches or spectators."
Boyce was directly affected by the violence when he was injured by the explosion in 1972. He was off work for a year with a leg in plaster for almost all of that time.
He added: "I view myself as one of the lucky ones. I have always been someone who thought politics and religion should play no part in sport and I am very glad Northern Ireland is now a very different place than it was then."
