Executive Committee

Patrick Hickey
President Olympic Council of Ireland,
IOC Member,
President of the EOC

A former Irish judo champion and manager of the Irish Olympic team at the Los Angeles Olympics (1984), he was Ireland’s Chef de Mission at the Seoul (1988) and Barcelona (1992) Olympic Games.

He succeeded Des O’Sullivan as President of the OCI in 1989 and was elected Irish member of the International Olympic Committee in 1995. From Dublin, Pat is probably the top ranked Irish administrator in the world of international sport and, as well as being a prime mover in the IOC, he is President of the powerful European Olympic Committees organisation.

William O’Brien
1st Vice-President
(Archery)

From the sport of archery where he served as General and International Secretary as well as President, this quintessential Dubliner was archery’s delegate to the OCI for twelve years before becoming Deputy Chef de Mission for the Sydney Olympics.

In 2004 William successfully guided the Irish team’s challenge at the Athens Olympics in his role as Chef de Mission. He is currently an OCI member of the 2008 Olympic Performance Planning Committee.

John Delaney
2nd Vice-President
(Soccer)

Chief Executive of the Football Association of Ireland.

Dermot Sherlock
Honorary General Secretary
(Boxing)

A former British and Irish Universities boxing champion, Dermot represented the Irish Amateur Boxing Association on the OCI, traveling as Irish team transport manager to the Seoul Olympics.

He was elected Honorary General Secretary of the Council in 1992. Dermot is a member of the EOC Evaluation Committee, assessing bids for future European Youth Olympics. A Dubliner, he is also keen golfer.

Peadar Casey
Honorary Treasurer
(Rowing)

From Rosslea, Co. Fermanagh, Peadar seved the Irish Amateur Rowing Union in a variety of positions for 30 years, joining from the famous Garda Rowing Club.

He was Honorary Treasurer of the Irish Amateur Rowing Union 1971 – 1992 and the Irish Amateur Rowing Union Administrator from 1989 – 2002. Peadar was elected as a member of the Olympic Council in 1989 and appointed Honorary Treasurer in 1997.

His Olympic career has been equally distinguished – Irish Olympic rowing team manager in ’76 and ’80, Deputy Chef de Mission in Atlanta and Chef de Mission in Sydney, as well as important positions on the Seoul and Barcelona Olympic teams.

Dermot Henihan
Committee Member
(Rowing)

This Limerick City man was Manager of seven Irish Olympic Rowing World Championship Teams, bringing home many gold and silver medals.

He was Manager of the Irish Olympic Rowing Team in Atlanta and Training Camp Manager in Sydney. He held the crucial position of Chef de Mission for Beijing 2008 having served as Deputy Chef de Mission in Athens.

Bobbie Begley
Committee Member
(Athletics)

Bobby, a retired businessman, is a former President of BLE (Athletics), and lives in Mullingar.

Billy Kennedy
Committee Member
(Cycling)

This Carrick-on-Suir native has been a cycling stalwart for years – as an Irish title winner and Irish international, as well as a cycling promoter and administrator at all levels.

His Olympic career has included important roles with the Irish teams in Atlanta, Seoul and Sydney and he has attended the IOC Olympic Academy in Greece.

Susan Ahern
Committee Member
(Volleyball)

Susan represented Ireland in volleyball and was President of the Volleyball Association of Ireland from 1999-2003, overseeing a time of rapid organizational development.

A Sports Lawyer by profession working for an International Federation, she was elected to the OCI Executive Committee in 2005. Susan will be participating in the WADA Independent Observer Programme at the Beijing Games.

Tom Rafter
Committee Member
(Fencing)

Tom is currently President of the Irish Fencing Federation, has been on the OCI Executive since October 1996.

He was Chef de Mission for the 2003 European Youth Olympics and is deputy Chef de Mission for the 2008 Beijing Games. He represented Ireland in two World Fencing Championships and numerous Grade A events.

Mary Baneham
Committee Member
(Basketball)

Sonia O’Sullivan
Committee Member
(Athletics)

Sonia was one of the world’s leading female 5000m runners for most of the 1990s and early 2000s. Her crowning achievement was a gold medal in the 5000m at the 1995 World Athletics Championships. She won silver medals in the 5000m at the 2000 Olympic Games and in the 1500m at the 1993 World Championships.

She has also won three European Championship gold medals and two World Cross-Country Championship gold medals.

Kevin Kilty
Committee Member
(Shooting)

Kevin became the performance director for the Irish Clay Pigeon Shooting Association in 2006 upon his retirement as an international shooter. He was appointed shooting team leader and coach for the Beijing 2008 Olympics and he continues in this role for the London 2012 Olympics.

Kevin has the distinction of holding an ‘A’ class coaches licence and is the head shotgun instructor for shooting’s international federation, the ISSF. Kevin is also the chairman of the ISSF’s coaches committee where he represents the interests of shooting coaches within the international federation.