Joan O'Flynn

Joan O’Flynn, Siobhán Ní Fhloinn
28th President of Camogie Association
In office
2009–2012
Succeeded by Aileen Lawlor
Personal details
Born Ladysbridge County Cork
Profession Civil Servant.

Joan O’Flynn (Siobhán Ní Fhloinn) was the 28th president of the Camogie Association.[1][2]

Background

She was the daughter of GAA administrator Seamus Ó Floinn. She is a graduate of University College Cork (BA 1983) and University College Dublin (Masters in Equality Studies (1998).[3]

Playing career

Her playing career stretched across three counties. She played with her native club Fr O’Neill’s from Ladysbridge/Ballymacoda parish in east Cork when they won their first Cork county championship, with London when they resumed inter-county camogie in 1987 and Celbridge, Co Kildare where she returned to live in 1994, where she played on their first Kildare championship winning team.[4]

Administration

She was chair, secretary and PRO for Co Kildare Camogie Board, a member of Leinster Council, and chair of the National Strategic Plan committee for six years and a ememebr of Management Committee for three years before she defeated Antrim's Catherine O'Hara in a vote at Congress 2009 in Athlone to become the sport’s first president-elect.[5]

Development Plan

A strategic review of the Association undertaken during Liz Howard’s presidency led to a new six year National Development Plan, ‘Our Game Our Passion 2010-2015’, launched at Annual Congress in Newbridge in March 2010, with the aim of increasing affiliation from 540 clubs to 750, the membership base by 40pc and attendance levels to 60,000 at the annual All Ireland camogie final.[6] A new Constitution for the Association were developed and ratified at a special Congress in Croke Park in May 2010.[7] Camogie teams were also given greater access to inter-county grounds[8] and camogie allied itself with a campaign to increase the coverage of women’s sport across all media.[9]

Presidency

The Camogie Association's first Player Welfare Committee was established in 2009 and its first Inter County Referees Assessment Programme was established in 2010. First steps to establish underage camogie internationally (particularly in Britain and US) commenced in 2010. A new All Ireland Intermediate Club Championship was inaugurated in 2010. Rules enacted included changing the name of the Association to An Cuymman Camogiocht from Cumann Camogaiochta na nGael, a rule allowing two points for a sideline cut and increasing subs from five to eight in all league games, the changing of the Gael Linn Cup to a two year cycle. After a debate, the ban on camogie players wearing shorts was retained.[10][11]

Her brother Denis was a referee and is PRO of his native club, and her Presidency coincided with another East Cork native Christy Cooney’s tenure as GAA President.

Professional Career and Writing

She worked in London as Policy and Information Worker for a charity working with vulnerable young Irish emigrants, worked for Combat Poverty Agency (1994–2009) as Head of Communications.[12] and also spent time as a Programme Manager before becoming a civil servant in the Department of Community Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs.

She was editor of the quarterly journal Action on Poverty Today for fifteen years; editor of Poverty Policy and Practice Combat Poverty 1986-2009 Institute of Public Administration (2009); Rich and Poor, Perspectives on Tackling Inequality in Ireland Oak Tree Press (2001) and author of many other social policy titles and articles.

Her history of camogie in Kildare, Soaring Sliotars, was published in 2004.

References

  1. ↑ Moran, Mary (2011). A Game of Our Own: The History of Camogie. Dublin, Ireland: Cumann Camógaíochta. p. 460.
  2. ↑ "Irish Independent Mar 29 2009". March 29, 2009.
  3. ↑ "Joan O'Flynn profile on Camogie.ie".
  4. ↑ "Experienced pair vie for presidency, Irish Independent Mar 26 2008". March 26, 2008.
  5. ↑ "Irish Times March 31, 2008". The Irish Times. March 3, 2008.
  6. ↑ Reports and interviews with Joan O’Flynn in Irish Examiner, Irish Independent March 29 2010 Irish Times March 24 2010
  7. ↑ "Download of updated 2010 Camogie Rules An Treoraí Oifigiúil in word document (464kb)".
  8. ↑ "Irish Times June 11, 2009". The Irish Times. June 6, 2009.
  9. ↑ "Joan O'Flynn address to Parnell Summer School, Irish Times, Aug 14 2009". The Irish Times.
  10. ↑ Irish Examiner: mar 31 2012: A new dawn for O’Flynn [http://www.independent.ie/sport/hurling/ladies-sticking-with-skirts-as-oflynn-backs-rules-makeover-3066426.html Irish Independent: O’Flynn presidency coincided with emergence of 40 new clubs since 2010 Irish Times: O’Flynn to sign off on a raft of changes
  11. ↑ Camogie awards two points for a sideline cut
  12. ↑ "Irish Times May 28, 1996". The Irish Times.
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