The constitution of the Federation is based on the following principles:
- Representative of NGBs and other organisations involved in promoting sport
- One Sport, one vote
- Democratic Structure
- Equal status no matter what size
These values are comprised in the makeup and size of the Executive Committee which is comprised of 3 officers (President, Treasurer & Secretary), one representative from each of the 6 membership categories, one representative of the Associate Members, up to four co-optees and the immediate Past President who serves in an ex-officio capacity for one year.
The current Executive Committee is:
Fergus Murphy – President
Fergus joined the Federation of Sport Executive Committee in April 2009.
Fergus is a career banker having spent considerable time in wholesale and international banking. In 2007 he spent a short amount of time with Shelbourne Developments. Before this he was Chief Executive of ACCBank plc, a company within the Rabobank Group.
Fergus joined the Rabobank Group in 1993 and fulfilled a number of positions, including Head of Asia Region of Rabobank International and Managing Director of Rabobank’s wholesale bank in Ireland. Fergus commenced his career in Irish Intercontinental Bank and spent five years with Banque Nationale de Paris (BNP) as a Derivatives trader. He is past Chairman of the Federation of International Banks in Ireland (FIBI).
Mr Murphy is still a keen tennis player having represented Ireland in tennis at under 18, under 21 and senior level. He is a keen weekend golfer playing off a handicap of 6.
Fiachra O’Mathuna – Secretary
Fiachra was elected to the Executive Committee of the Federation of Irish Sport in April 2009. He has been working professionally in sport since 2001 both in Ireland and England. He has always been involved in sport as both a participant and volunteer, including time as an administrator, coach, fund-raiser and team manager. Fiachra enjoys being active by cycling to work, walking his dog and, training for and taking part in triathlons and marathons. He also enjoys spending time with his family and friends and, his other interests include reading and travel.
Brendan Waters – Treasurer
Brendan is a Partner in Mazars Chartered Accountants where he is in charge of the Sports Advisory Services unit. He has extensive experience in this sector having worked with the GAA, other National Governing Bodies and The Irish Sports Council.
Sarah O’Shea
Sarah O’ Shea is the head of legal and disciplinary affairs at the Football Association of Ireland (“FAI”). She works across a broad range of areas including contractual matters, sponsorship, disciplinary and disputes, rules and regulations, litigation, media and is heavily involved in the new Aviva Stadium and Europa League Final 2011.
Sarah worked as a solicitor in general practice until 2006 specialising in litigation, probate and conveyancing. Sarah was accepted onto the FIFA International Master programme in 2006 and spent one year in Italy, Switzerland and the UK undertaking the full-time Masters in business, law and humanities of Sport.
Harry Hermon
Harry was educated in St Columba’s College, Dublin. After spending fifteen years in the UK working in the outdoor leisure industry, he returned to Ireland in 1999 to take up a position with the Irish Sailing Association; initially as Club Development Officer. In 2007 he was appointed Chief Executive of the ISA and now runs an organisation of 25,000 members with 15 professional staff.
Harry has written, and been largely responsible for the implementation of the last two strategic plans for the ISA, the first one focussing on strengthening the foundations of the organisation, and now the ISA’s current plan looks to grow the activities, membership and professional capacity within the organisation. Harry lives in Arklow with his wife and two teenage daughters – all of whom are keen sailors.
Sarah Keane
Sarah Keane is CEO Swim Ireland and was appointed to this position in May 2004. Sarah previously held positions in one of Ireland’s leading Irish corporate law firms. Sarah is a graduate of UCD and her qualifications include an Honours Degree in Law, a Masters in Commercial Law and Diplomas in both Corporate Management and Financial Management. Sarah is a former swimmer and international Waterpolo player and also enjoys participating in Open Sea swimming.
Ciaran Gallagher
Ciaran Gallagher was appointed as the first CEO of Irish Gymnastics Ltd in 2009. Ciaran joined Irish Gymnastics in December 2005 as National Development Officer, but has served as National Development Director since 2007. In his time with Irish Gymnastics Ciaran has led the recent modernisation drive within the organisation that has seen the profile of Irish Gymnastics grow in Irish Sport, as well as developing their Strategic Plan 2009-2012.
Ciaran took up his first post in the sports sector in 2004 as Development Officer for the multi-million Euro Northern Ireland National Gymnastics Centre which opened in 2006. Ciaran is an ex international Men’s Artistic gymnast representative of Northern Ireland. A graduate of English and Politics from Queens University Belfast Ciaran originally aspired to be a journalist, but his career pathway swayed towards sports development.
Cillian Smith
Cillian Smith was elected to the Executive Committee of the Federation of Irish Sport in 2011. He has been a Board member of the Irish American Football Association and League Secretary since 2002. Prior to this he was a team manager and player.
Cillian is a Graduate of Trinity College Dublin. He is currently working as an Assistant Principal in the Infrastructure Services Directorate of the Courts Service where he was a member of the Project Board which recently procured and delivered the new Criminal Courts of Justice building by Public Private Partnership. During his civil service career, he has worked in the Department of Finance, the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Revenue Commissioners. He has also worked for a multinational technology company.
Liam Harbison
Liam Harbison was appointed as the Paralympics Ireland’s first CEO in October 2008 following the success of the Irish Paralympic Team at Beijing 2008. Prior to that Liam was the Paralympic Performance Director since 2003 and was responsible for building the high performance system within Paralympic Sport.
His introduction to Paralympic sport began with his involvement with Cerebral Palsy Sport Ireland (CPSI) in mid nineties via research he conducted as part of his studies . As a CPSI volunteer, Liam was appointed Team Manager of the Irish Boccia team in 1997 and led an extensive programme which culminated in the winning of two gold medals by Irish Boccia players at the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games.
Liam has attended three Paralympic Games to date in a variety of roles with the Irish Team and has been appointed as Chef de Mission for the Irish Team that will compete at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.
Liam joined the Executive Board of the Federation in 2011.
Thos McDermott
Thos is co-ordinator of the South Dublin Sports Partnership since November 2007. Previous to that he spent five years as Co-ordinator of Laois Sports Partnership, one of the original group of 8 Local Sports Partnership’s (LSP) set up by the Irish Sports Council. He was instrumental in the setting up of the SIDO programme through the LSPs by employing the first pan-sport, pan-disability officer in the country in Laois. Thos also initiated the Link 2B active programme to target increased participation opportunity for those out of work.
A native of Sligo, Thos graduated from University of Limerick with a BBS in marketing and German. Soccer and Gaelic were his main pastimes and he has represented Sligo at senior level. Currently he still plays 6 a side, swims and walks and has taken up cycling more seriously, thanks to the cycle to work scheme. He also coaches his son’s U10 Gaelic football team with St Judes in Templeogue.
Iarla Hughes
Frances Kavanagh
Frances Kavanagh was elected President of the Federation of Irish Sports at the 2009 AGM. She is Director of Sport for Special Olympics Ireland and also served as Director of Sport and Competition for the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games. Frances has served on many committees and boards representing Special Olympics at national, European and international level and currently chairs the international Sports Rules Advisory Committee. Frances is a member of the Board of the Irish Sports Council.