New President Joan O’Flynn

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JOAN O’FLYNN

Joan began her playing and camogie administrative career with Fr. O’Neills in Ladysbridge/Ballymacoda parish in East Cork. When she moved to London the late 1980s she joined the London-Irish camogie club and was a member of the first London representative team in 1987.

Since moving to Kildare she has played an active role in camogie at all levels. She is a member of Celbridge Camogie and GAA club.  She has served as County Chairperson, Secretary and PRO of Kildare Camogie Board from 2000-2008. Joan was also the Kildare representative on Leinster Camogie Council for a number of years. At national level, she was Chair of the National Strategic Plan Committee for the past six years and was part of the Camogie Association’s Management Committee since 2006.

In 2004, Camogie Centenary Year, Joan authored Soaring Sliothar, a history of Kildare camoige. She will be the first representative of Kildare Camogie to serve as National President of the Camogie Association.

Joan maintains strong links with her GAA roots in East Cork. Her brother Denis is a referee and is PRO of his native club, while her Presidency coincides with another East Cork native Christy Cooney’s tenure as incoming GAA President. Both families are connected through their late fathers, Seamus Ë Floinn and Paddy Cooney, who were well known administrators at East Cork and County Board levels.

Joan commented, “”I am honoured and excited to lead Cumann Cam¾gaÝochta na nGael for the next three years. Camogie is a thrilling and exciting game and, under the recent stewardship of Liz Howard, we continued to make great strides in developing and promoting our sport at all levels. We want to build on the progress already made. I want to develop our thriving club scene and expand playing opportunities for players of all ages and abilities.

“”I look forward to strengthening co-operation with all codes and organisations in the family of Gaelic Games. When we combine our efforts in key areas, such as fixtures planning, games development, children’s welfare, club administration and promotion of our games, the results can be greater for all our organisations and we can do this while also retaining our uniqueness.””

Joan works as Communications and Programme Manager with the Combat Poverty Agency, a government advisory body. She is Editor of Action on Poverty Today and her publications’ work includes editor of Rich and Poor Perspectives on Tackling Inequality in Ireland and authoring People, Poverty and Participation.

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