Joan O'Flynn (Siobhán Ní Fhloinn) was the 28th president of the
Camogie Association
The Camogie Association ( ga, An Cumann Camógaíochta, formerly ga, Cumann Camógaíochta na nGael) organises and promotes the sport of camogie in Ireland and around the world. The association has close ties with the Gaelic Athletic Associati ...
.
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).
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
Cork or CORK may refer to:
Materials
* Cork (material), an impermeable buoyant plant product
** Cork (plug), a cylindrical or conical object used to seal a container
***Wine cork
Places Ireland
* Cork (city)
** Metropolitan Cork, also known as G ...
when they won their first Cork county championship, with
London
London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...
when they resumed inter-county camogie in 1987 and
Celbridge
Celbridge (; ) is a town and townland on the River Liffey in County Kildare, Republic of Ireland, Ireland. It is west of Dublin. Both a local centre and a commuter town within the Greater Dublin Area, it is located at the intersection of the ...
,
Co Kildare
County Kildare ( ga, Contae Chill Dara) is a county in Ireland. It is in the province of Leinster and is part of the Eastern and Midland Region. It is named after the town of Kildare. Kildare County Council is the local authority for the county, ...
where she returned to live in 1994, where she played on their first Kildare championship winning team.
Administration
She was chair, secretary and PRO for
Co Kildare
County Kildare ( ga, Contae Chill Dara) is a county in Ireland. It is in the province of Leinster and is part of the Eastern and Midland Region. It is named after the town of Kildare. Kildare County Council is the local authority for the county, ...
Camogie Board, a member of Leinster Council, and chair of the National Strategic Plan committee for six years and a member of Management Committee for three years before she defeated
Antrim's Catherine O'Hara
Catherine Anne O'Hara (born March 4, 1954) is a Canadian-American actress. She is known for her comedy work on ''Second City Television'' (1976–84) and ''Schitt's Creek'' (2015–2020) and in films such as '' After Hours'' (1985), ''Beetleju ...
in a vote at Congress 2009 in Athlone to become the sport’s first president-elect.
Development plan
A strategic review of the Association undertaken during
Liz Howard
Elizabeth Howard (Éilís Níc Iomhair) is an Irish camogie player who was the 27th President of the Camogie Association.
Background
Howard, from Deerpark, Carrick-on-Suir, County Tipperary, is the daughter of Limerick hurler, Garrett 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. A new Constitution for the Association were developed and ratified at a special Congress in
Croke Park
Croke Park ( ga, Páirc an Chrócaigh, ) is a Gaelic games stadium in Dublin, Ireland. Named after Archbishop Thomas Croke, it is referred to as Croker by GAA fans and locals. It serves as both the principal national stadium of Ireland and he ...
in May 2010. Camogie teams were also given greater access to inter-county grounds and camogie allied itself with a campaign to increase the coverage of women’s sport across all media.
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.
Her brother Denis was a referee and is PRO of his native club, and her Presidency coincided with another East Cork native
Christy Cooney
Christy Cooney ( Irish: Críostóir Ó Cuana, born 1952 in Youghal, County Cork, Ireland) is a Gaelic games administrator, who served as the 36th president of the Gaelic Athletic Association. He was elected president at the annual GAA Congress o ...
’s tenure as GAA President.
Career
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.
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
External links
Joan O’Flynn interview in Evening Herald 9 February 2010
{{DEFAULTSORT:Oflynn, Joan
Presidents of the Camogie Association
Gaelic games players from County Cork
Cork camogie players
Living people
Year of birth missing (living people)
Alumni of University College Cork
Alumni of University College Dublin