There’s been a changing of the guard at the Ladies Gaelic Football Association recently as the organisation bid farewell to President Pat Quill and gave a warm welcome to incoming President, Marie Hickey.
This week, we caught up with the Laois woman who will be at the helm of one of the fastest-growing sports in the country to find out exactly what her hopes and plans for the LGFA are in the coming years.
Now living in Co. Kildare, Marie explains how her love for the GAA all began.
“From a young age I was absorbed in a family with deep GAA roots so it has always been a very important part of my life,” she began.
“I realised at a young age that I wanted to participate so I was involved in the first team in my area. From there, we went on to win the junior championship in Laois with Crettyard and I later won it with Ballylinan.”
Marie Hickey presented with presedential medal by Pat Quill.
Her love of the game didn’t stop at playing however, as Marie later went on to hold the role of chairperson of Ballylinan, Laois Ladies County Board and the President of Leinster Council.
“I then became President of the LGFA in March of this year, so I am really just settling into it now,” she explained. “It has been busy but really absorbing so far!
“It is an elected position that you hold for three years. I was elected at our Annual Congress in Wexford last year, each of the three candidates addressed the Congress setting out our vision for the presidency and it was then voted on and thankfully I was selected as the Uachtaráin Tofa (President Elect).
“I served as the President Elect for a full year before taking over as president in Clare last month. To date, it’s been a fantastic experience. There has been great support and good will from all counties. I have been welcomed to all functions and games that I have attended,” she continued.
Coláiste Íosagáin SS Stillorgan captain Hannah Ni Dhea and Marie Hickey.
“My hopes for the years to come is to increase the number of supporters attending our games and hope that this will continue to improve.
“I also hope that players will get better coverage of their skills and talents in national media and that we will see the number of volunteers participating in LGFA activities nationwide increasing,” she said, adding that she works full-time as a secondary school teacher in St Kevin’s CC in Clondalkin where she teaches Science, Biology and Maths.
“It is a very busy schedule,” she admitted. “And I will be on the road a lot so it will be hectic, but I’m looking forward to the experience
“It’s busy and we are at the stage of League semi-finals already. I’m hoping for a competitive championship campaign at all levels of competition.
“Our strategic plan set out the aim of having an attendance of 40,000 at the All-Ireland final in Croke Park in 2016, which is a big aim. So with that in mind, the target will be to break 30,000 this September.
Maire Hickey has high hopes for the years to come.
“The highlight of my own career to date? To be honest, I am still coming to terms with being President of the LGFA! There have already been some great moments but there are many more to come!
“If I could offer any advice to young players out there it would be that being involved in a team sport is very rewarding both socially and physically. It helps you to gain so many skills and friendships which last a lifetime.”
So as for the season ahead, what are her predictions?
“Cork are obviously very strong, Dublin have been getting closer all the time, Monaghan Galway and Kerry are also strong contenders at senior level,” she mused.
“Junior has new teams this year from Britain so that competition will be very interesting and intermediate has more teams than ever, I expect it to be very competitive at all levels. It should be a fantastic year.”
