LIFE IN SPORT with Evanne Ní Chuilinn Evanne Ni Chuilinn

Bernard Jackman is Evanne's guest in Episode 7.  A former professional rugby player, Bernard has gone on to a successful career in coaching, and beyond.  He was head coach at Grenoble in France and more recently, Dragons in Wales.  He has written an insightful autobiography about his time as a rugby player, and speaks very eloquently about the importance of planning for life after sport.  This weeks' episode is for anyone involved in coaching, at any level - or for current rugby players who are beginning to think about life after retirement.  Bernard completed a Masters in Sports Management at UCD in 2011, is a regular media pundit for live rugby across radio and tv.  Since his top tier coaching days, has carved out a "third career" as an Account Manager, at Refinitiv.

Sinead Gordon is Evanne's guest in Episode 6.  Sinead's career is a rollercoaster ride around the world, where she perfected her trade in Event Management at some of the world's biggest sporting events.   Following a 4 year career at Basketball Ireland, Sinead was appointed Technical Operations Manager for Basketball at the 2012 London Olympics and Paralympics.  As well as a number of key roles at various federations and international competitions from Ireland to Azerbaijan, Sinead was Operations Manager for the Invictus Games in Sydney, and Event Director for the European Para Swimming Championships in 2018.  She speaks in detail about the reality of life on the road, making sure venues are competition-ready for elite level athletes. Sinead is now Director of Governance and Strategy at Sport Ireland, and speaks about how good governance lays the foundations for any successful Sports Federation, or organisation.  

This week, Evanne speaks to Team Operations Manager with the British and Irish Lions, Gemma Crowley.  Gemma began her career with Munster Rugby and a Cork LSP, before honing her managerial skills with the Irish Women’s Rugby 7s and also the 15s as they prepared for the 2014 World Cup.  She was a pool Manager for the men’s Rugby World Cup the following year, and then spent a stint with Manchester City.  Gemma has worked for Rugby Travel Ireland for two year and has held two different positions with the Lions across two tours.

Ciaran Gallagher is CEO of Gymnastics Ireland, and a Olympic Federation of Ireland Board member.

Ciaran  is a former competitive gymnast, who represented GB at International level. During his time at University, he spent a lot of time and energy coaching younger gymnasts at his club in Belfast.

He was originally engaged by Gymnastic Ireland as a consultant, helping to develop a strategic plan to reorganise the federation. He then spent 3 years as National Development Director before being appointed CEO in 2009.

Evanne speaks to Sinéad Galvin of Galvin Sports Management about her career, which transpiring from marketing and PR to setting up her own agency five years ago. Sinéad represents Ellen Keane, Thomas Barr, Rhys McClenaghan - and a whole host of what she describes as ‘remarkable people”.

Evanne Ní Chuilinn speaks to the CEO of the Welsh Football Association Noel Mooney about his Life in Sport.  What began as a wish to become a professional footballer, Noel's career has taken many turns since, and it's his passion for football which has seen him reach the heights he has.  He recently moved from a role with UEFA, where he was tasked with supporting all of European national associations in their strategic planning - and before that he held a role with the FAI in marketing and supporting League of Ireland football.