Minister O'Donoghue Announces Board of Irish Institute of Sport
MINISTER O’DONOGHUE ANNOUNCES BOARD OF INSTITUTE OF SPORT
April 2, 2007.
The Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Mr. John O’Donoghue TD, in conjunction with the Irish Sports Council, has announced the board members of the new Irish Institute of Sport. Sean Kelly, Executive Chairman, will be joined on the board by high profile figures from the world of sport including Eamon Coughlan, Keith Wood and Sinéad Jennings (pictured above). Experts in various relevant disciplines and representatives of key agencies have also been nominated to the board.
Minister O’Donoghue: “The board members will support Sean Kelly and his executive team in developing an Irish Institute of Sport dedicated to supporting Ireland’s elite athletes. They have a range of skills and experience which will be of enormous benefit to the Institute”.
Ossie Kilkenny Chairman of the Irish Sports Council commented: “Sean Kelly is making major strides with his two major operational challenges; establishing a new agency from scratch and delivering outstanding support services to our elite athletes. The Council is working closely with Sean in everything that he is doing and is confident that the board appointments will assist Sean build a strong Institute for this and future generations of Irish athletes”.
Sean Kelly, Executive Chairman of the Institute, responded to the appointments “In order for the Institute to be a success it will require drive, ambition and expertise. These qualities are evident in the board members and I look forward to working with them on behalf of Ireland’s most talented sports people”.
The Irish Institute of Sport was established to produce sporting champions for Ireland. The Institute will identify Ireland’s top athletes and build individualised and intensive programmes of support around them. The Institute, led by Executive Chairman, Sean Kelly, has begun the process of delivering individualised programmes for top athletes. 2007 investment in high performance by the Irish Sports Council was announced in February and the process of appointing key personnel to the Institute is well advanced, with two further key positions to be announced shortly.
John Treacy, Chief Executive of the Irish Sports Council, said; “In 2006 we saw a number of world class performances from Irish sports people and 2007 has started encouragingly. In this exciting environment Sean Kelly and his Institute team have begun the delivery of direct services to athletes and progress will continue to be seen in their work through 2007”.
Irish Institute of Sport: Board Members
Sean Kelly, Executive Chairman
Maurice Ahern, Irish Sports Council, Dublin City Councillor
Peter McLoone, Irish Sports Council, General Secretary; IMPACT Union
Rory McCabe, Barrister
Eamon Coughlan, Former Olympic Athlete
Keith Wood, Former International Rugby Player
Sinead Jennings, International Rower
Siobhan Treacy, Chartered Physiotherapist
Tom Reilly, Sports Scientist
Dr Aideen Henry, Sports Medicine Specialist
Gary Owens, Businessman, Chairman; Athletics Ireland
Paddy Heffernan, Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism
Stephen Martin, Olympic Council of Ireland
Anne Ebbs, Paralympic Council of Ireland
Caroline Murphy, National Sports Campus Development Authority
Further Information
Sinead McElroy , Irish Sports Council, 01-8608800, smcelroy@irishsportscouncil.ie
Ian McClure, O’Herlihy Communications, 01-6602744, imcclure@ohcpr.ie