The Board of Student Sport Ireland (SSI) is pleased to announce the appointment of Morgan Buckley as Board Chairperson, and Ciarán Ó hIarnáin to the newly created role of Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
The Board is also pleased to confirm the appointment of Competitions Manager Noel Holohan to the new role of Operations Manager.
The appointments follow a detailed review of the organisation’s governance, HR, and staff structures, and are in line with a commitment set out in the current strategic plan to align SSI administrative structures with the aims and ambitions set out in the plan.
An experienced senior leader of international renown, Morgan Buckley brings a wealth of expertise to the role of SSI Board Chairperson. With a background in strategic consulting, Morgan was appointed Head of Sport and Physical Activity at University College Cork in 2018. Previously he was General Manager Development at World Rugby for over 7 years and is a former Chairperson at the Cork Local Sports Partnership. Morgan has served on the SSI Board since 2020 and was SSI Competitions Committee Chairperson from 2022 to 2024.
Ciarán Ó hIarnáin is an experienced sports administrator and manager who has worked in the Irish sports sector for over 17 years. Prior to his appointment as SSI Development Manager in January 2011, Ciarán served in the role of Coordinator at four Local Sports Partnerships across the country. In addition to his role as Development Manager, Ciarán also serves as secretary to the SSI Board, was lead coordinator of the Irish delegation of performance athletes at 5 World University Games, and for over 5 years was SSI Company Secretary.
On his appointment as the SSI Board Chairperson, Morgan said “It is truly a great honour to be appointed Chairperson of SSI. My aim is to continue the excellent work of outgoing President Matt Dossett, working with my colleagues on the Board and Committees of SSI. Student Sport in Ireland is in a very strong and vibrant position and is increasingly recognised as a key pillar in sport by Sport Ireland and other agencies. I want to wish our new CEO, Ciarán Ó hIarnáin, every success in his new role and I look forward to working closely with Ciarán and the great team in SSI”.
On becoming SSI’s first CEO Ciarán Ó hIarnáin said “It has been a privilege to lead SSI and serve the members over the last 14 or so years. I am delighted, humbled, and excited to be appointed to the new role of SSI Chief Executive Officer. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues to grow and develop SSI as an organisation, to continue to serve the SSI membership and the wider third level sports community, and to advocate and represent Irish third-level sport nationally and internationally to the best of my abilities”.
