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The Newtownards man became the first Irish cyclist to win a world track title in 117 years when he triumphed in the scratch race in Belarus.
Irvine, 28, also won silver in the points race at the World Championships plus a World Cup gold in Manchester and a European bronze this year.
"This is a tremendous honour," said seven-times Irish champion Irvine.
"I want to thank BBC Northern Ireland for this award as it is fantastic recognition for everything that has happened in the past year and also for the sport of cycling which has been going through somewhat of resurgence in popularity recently.
"I'm really looking forward to the next year with the Commonwealth Games, the World Championships and hopefully the Giro d'Italia.
"With any luck I will be chatting to some of the guys from BBC Sport NI from a podium sometime next year!"
After winning his historic world gold and silver in Belarus during February, Irvine then suffered a fractured hip at a road race event in Taiwan a month later which ruled him out until August.
However, the battling Irvine regained his fitness to win bronze at the European Track Championships in Netherlands before taking victory in the World Cup points event in Manchester two weeks later.
The judging panel of Northern Ireland sports journalists chose Irvine ahead of runner-up AP McCoy and motorcyclist Michael Dunlop.
Others shortlisted for the award were boxer Carl Frampton, Ireland cricket captain William Porterfield and triathlon star Aileen Reid.
The panel of judges comprised of Shane Glynn, editor Sport BBC NI, BBC NI sports reporter Nikki Gregg, Belfast Telegraph sports editor Stephen Beacom, Kenny Archer of the Irish News, News Letter sports editor Richard Mulligan and author and freelance journalist Orla Bannon.
"Once again the judging panel had a tough decision to make this year but we felt that Martyn's achievements were just outstanding," said BBC NI sports editor Glynn.
"I'm delighted that he's been voted BBC Northern Ireland's Sports Personality of the Year for 2013.
"To become a world champion, literally within an hour of winning a silver medal in another discipline, is nothing short of phenomenal.
"And to beat the likes of AP McCoy and Michael Dunlop to this award speaks volumes about Martyn's achievements."

The winners of this year's aerial photography competition run by online site Dronestagram have been announced.
There were thousands of entries taken using drone cameras and the winners were selected by the judges - National Geographic deputy director Patrick Witty and Emanuela Ascoli, photo editor of National Geographic France - and Dronestagram's team.
Here we present the winning images from the four categories.
This year there was a special category to recognise the creativity of the Dronestagram community.

Tests have shown rat poison killed the female bird of prey, which was discovered in a quarry in Penmaenmawr in June.
North Wales Police said this was the second suspicious death of a peregrine falcon in the last few months.
The protected bird is a threat to racing pigeons and officers are appealing to the community for help.
"It is very sad that a highly protected and rare bird is being wiped out of north Wales because someone is laying poison indiscriminately for their own gain," said Sgt Rob Taylor.
"We are aware of the reasons and methods of poisoning and also the locations of our birds, so we will be working closely with the RSPB and other voluntary societies to put a stop to this practice and catch the offender."
Last month, four peregrine falcons were found dead in their remote nest at a quarry in Gwynedd.
One adult and three chicks were discovered in the nest at Dyffryn Nantlle and police suspected foul play.
World champion cyclist Martyn Irvine has been named the 2013 BBC Northern Ireland Sports Personality of the Year.
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All photographs courtesy dronestagr.am.
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A peregrine falcon found dead in Gwynedd was poisoned, police have confirmed.