IRISH SPORTS COUNCIL Ossie Kilkenny Appointed as New ISC Chair

John O'Donoghue TD, Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism today (Thursday, 8th September 2005) announced the appointment of Mr Ossie Kilkenny as the new Chairman of the Irish Sports Council.

The Irish Sports Council was established in 1999 as the statutory agency for sport in Ireland. The Sports Council is responsible for planning, leading and co-ordinating the sustainable development of sport in Ireland. Since its foundation, the Council has been allocated increased amounts of Government funding from €6m in 1999 to in excess of €34m this year.

Mr. Kilkenny is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and a Senior Partner in the firm of O.J. Kilkenny & Co. with offices in Dublin and London. He served as Chair of the Irish Film Board from 1999 to 2005. He is a board member of Special Olympics International since 1998 and Chairman of Finance and Audit Committee of Special Olympics International. He is also a member of Sports Committee responsible for selection of all venues for Special Olympics worldwide including Ireland, China and Japan.  He competed in athletics at national level schools and has personally sponsored numerous athletes and other Irish sports persons over 25 years.

Minister O'Donoghue said "I am delighted that Ossie Kilkenny has agreed to become Chair of the Irish Sports Council. Ossie has a very strong and distinguished background in sport, which makes him the ideal person for this role. I am sure he will bring the same level of commitment to this position as he did during his tenure as Chair of the Irish Film Board."

Minister O'Donoghue also praised the outgoing chairman Mr Pat O'Neill.  "I want to express my appreciation to Pat O'Neill for his immense contribution to Irish sport during his time as Chair of the Council.  Since 1999, sport has undergone radical changes within Ireland. The Council’s record of innovation during Pat O'Neill Chairmanship is impressive: the Anti-Doping Programme, the Code of Ethics and Good Practice for Children’s Sport, the High Performance Strategy, strategic planning throughout the sports sector and the establishment of Local Sports Partnerships are all impressive and successful initiatives. "

ENDS