Coach of the year Michael O'Neill was presented the award by golfer Graeme McDowell and Olympic champion Denise Lewis to a huge ovation from the Belfast crowd.

O'Neill said: "To be here on this stage as the manager of my country and to be going to France is very special for me.

"I would like to congratulate all the other nominees, it is very humbling to get the award."

He said much more too. But we can't type it all up in time.

Come on Michael. We've got two more awards to do before nine.

Somebody take that mic quick.

Michael, seriously...

Calm down, Timmy. Win the Euros?

Huge roars from those in Belfast as Michael O’Neill’s name is read out. And rightly so… the 46-year-old guided his nation to their first major tournament in 30 years. Thirty years! I bet Michael was wearing flares and drinking B52s in trendy bars back then.

I know he would only have been 16… but let’s go with it for the sake of the gag.

And, more importantly, well done to Michael and his Northern Ireland team. Bring on Euro 2016, eh?

Image source, .

The BBC Sports Personality of the Year coach award goes to Northern Ireland football manager Michael O’Neill.

It's time to crown our coach of the year...

Image source, .

From World Cup flops in 2014 to the 'unbeatables' in 2015, it has been a decent year for England.

Roy Hodgson's men won every game in Euro 2016 qualification and they will be joined in France by Northern Ireland, Wales - both for the first time - and the Republic of Ireland.

Ivory Coast won the Africa Cup of Nations in January and their captain Yaya Toure was named BBC Africa Player of the Year later in the year. 

Olympic bronze medallist Jonathan Brownlee dominated the early season Auckland and Gold Coast World Series events before suffering a stress fracture in June. His Olympic champion brother Alistair initially continued the World Series success, but was forced to undergo surgery for a long-standing ankle problem in August.

The British women – Non Stanford and Vicky Holland – ensured GB finished year impressively though, winning respective silver and bronze medals at both the World Series Grand Final and Olympic test events.

All four athletes have been provisionally named in the British Triathlon squad for the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Frank Keogh
BBC Sport in Belfast

Television presenter Eamonn Holmes is proud to see the show in his home nation of Northern Ireland but less happy with the form of his beloved Manchester United.

Belfast-born Holmes wants to see manager Louis van Gaal axed in preference for assistant Ryan Giggs

"There's a difference between not losing and playing the United way," he told me.

"Truthfully, people want to continue the way Fergie had the team set up. I think you have to at least give Ryan Giggs a chance. I would definitely give Ryan the rest of the season."

West Belfast youth football coach Damien Lindsay is the BBC Get Inspired Unsung Hero award winner for 2015.

Lindsay has played a huge role in his local community in his work with the St James Swifts Football Club.

Damien founded the St James Swifts Club with the aim of helping to keep young people off the streets in a deprived part of his native city.

Lindsay has spearheaded the club's fund-raising efforts as well as his coaching and current chairman roles.

"There are people in our team who would have been in jail were it not for Damien," said club member Joseph McCall.

"At one of our first ever training sessions, people came on to the pitch and shot at us and at that stage, we were wondering how it was going to work and who was going to want to work with us.

"But Damien just kept at it and we've come a long way."

Image source, .

We have another winner.

The BBC Sports Personality Unsung Hero award is won by Damien Lindsay, of Northern Ireland.

Voting for BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2015 is open. If you want to vote online, find out here, or you can cast your vote via telephone.

Simply call the mobile or landline numbers below, followed by the two-digit number for the contender you want to vote for. For Mobile call: 62282 -- Landline call: 09015 22 82 --

Lizzie Armitstead: 01

Lucy Bronze: 02

Jessica Ennis-Hill: 03

Mo Farah: 04

Chris Froome: 05

Tyson Fury: 06

Lewis Hamilton: 07

Andy Murray: 08

Adam Peaty: 09

Greg Rutherford: 10

Kevin Sinfield: 11

Max Whitlock: 12

Calls to the short number from your mobile cost 15p, calls to the long number cost 15p plus your network's access charge. Please ask the bill payers permission.

So, another award for Dan Carter to complete a memorable year which saw him shine as an integral part of the New Zealand team that beat Australia 34-17 to win the World Cup in October.

He beat Novak Djokovic, Katie Ledecky, Usain Bolt, Jordan Spieth and Serena Williams to the award in a public vote.

Carter is the all-time leading points scorer in Test history and was also voted rugby union's World Player of the Year for a third time in 2015.

Well done Dan.

Image source, PA

The BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year winner, Dan Carter, joins Gabby Logan on stage.