Historic moment as Longford native becomes President elect of Camogie Association

A Longford native has created a piece of Irish sporting history as he is set to become the first male President of the Camogie Association.

Lanesboro's Brian Molloy, who now resides in Galway and is the current Connacht Camogie Chairperson, was elected unopposed as Uachtarán TOFA at Camogie Congress 2023 in the Talbot Hotel, Clonmel, Co Tipperary last night.

A former student at St Mel's College, Longford, from the Leaving Cert Class of 1988, Brian, who will assume the Camogie Association Presidency in 2024, said, “I am honoured to be elected as Uachtarán Tofa and I am grateful for the trust the membership has placed in me to lead the association."

The announcement came on the first day of Camogie Association Congress, which saw over 150 representatives from every country, provincial councils and delegates from the association’s international units, along with Camogie Association Uachtarán, Hilda Breslin.

Having grown up on the Longford/Roscommon border in Lanesboro and having then lived for over 20 years in Dublin (where he met his wife Vivienne), Brian and his family moved to the West in 2006 and settled in the South Galway parish of Ballinderreen.

With two young daughters in family, Brian naturally became heavily involved in the local Camogie Club - starting off as vice-Chairperson and then subsequently taking up the role of Chairperson of the club.

He also held the PRO and County Board delegate positions, was Galway County Board PRO and then Connacht Provincial Council PRO before taking up his current role on Ard Chomhairle as Chair of Connacht Council.

He married those administrative roles with a large number of successful coaching and management roles over underage teams at all ages from u10s/U12s/U14s /U16s/U18s and completed a referee course which enabled him to step into that role (over juvenile teams) for a short period. 

Brian completed his management experience with the adult team at the Ballinderreen club.

Over this period he was lucky enough to have brought each age group (including the adult team) through to a county final - some they won and some (unfortunately) they lost.

The experience he gained across all these roles gives him great personal insight into the challenges being faced every day, at every level, in every club across the association and as Uachtaran he will look to ensure that all our volunteers get as much support as possible for the great work that they do day in day out.

Off the field Brian is very aware of the (very proper) heightened focus on good governance and strategic management at the highest level of all sporting organisations. He has built up extensive business management experience gained over 30+ years in highly regulated industries across public and private sectors.

This has positioned Brian ideally to be able to take on the role of Uachtaran at this time of significant change in our Association. He is also highly qualified in this area with a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Galway and he most recently successfully completed the Level 9 Certificate in Governance (Sport Ireland) through the Institute of Public Administration.

Brian is passionately committed to the continued development of camogie. 

He believes that there is an excellent opportunity to significantly grow club membership, within the existing traditional “Camogie counties” and through development of the game in less traditional parts of the country. Participation for all and the rapid growth of camogie at all levels will be the focus of his tenure.

Brian is very committed to the integration process and believes that the momentum that exists at the moment will result in the unification of Camogie, Ladies Football and the GAA into a singular organisation with full participation on an equal basis for women and men, boys and girls.

Following his election, Brian Molloy said, “I am honoured to be elected as Uachtarán Tofa and I am grateful for the trust the membership has placed in me to lead the association. 

"I’m very aware of the excellent work that has been achieved by my predecessors and look forward to continuing the ongoing expansion and development of camogie at all levels. 

"Camogie is one of the leading women’s sports and plays an important societal role in every community.  I look forward to contributing to the expansion of the game both here and overseas. The future is bright.”

"I am humbled to be elected as Uachtarán TOFA and the trust you have given me to lead the association from 2024." Brian Molloy. pic.twitter.com/xA0YsY5lfd

— The Camogie Association (@OfficialCamogie) March 31, 2023

Uachtarán Hilda Breslin said, “I wish to extend my best wishes and congratulations in taking up the position of Uachtarán Tofa. It is an historic occasion, as Brian is the first man to assume the highest office in our association. I look forward to working with Brian over the next year and can assure him of my full support, as he has given me as Connacht Chair.”