*Deidre Murphy. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
DEIRDRE MURPHY is to leave her role as Head of Operations with Clare GAA.
Appointed as Clare GAA’s first Head of Operations/Chief Operating Officer in September 2022, Murphy confirmed on Wednesday morning that was stepping down from the post after three years. She will take up a role in the private sector.
Clooney woman Deirdre will finish up following Clare GAA’s Convention in December.
Clare GAA have said they will now begin the recruitment process and intend to have a successful candidate in place for “early 2026”. Murphy was selected from a shortlist of sixteen candidates in a field which included a sitting County Board officer, former officials and club officers.
In a statement, Deirdre said, “I’ve had three wonderful years with Clare GAA and worked with fantastic colleagues, club and county volunteers, managers, backroom team members, players and supporters. Some of the experience’s will count as life highlights and I am extremely grateful to everyone that has given time, coaching, funds or supported Clare GAA in any way during this time.
“We have an amazing county and Clare GAA and our clubs will always be part of the fabric of life for Clare people at home and abroad,” she stated. Deirdre confirmed she will continue to remain involved with the GAA as a volunteer with Clooney/Quin “as I progress my career in the private sector”. She added, “the job I leave behind is a fantastic opportunity and I have no doubt that the next man or woman up will continue to drive Clare GAA forward and enhance both their career and life experience in doing so”.
Achievements and work completed during her tenure include securing €3.2m to develop Caherlohan under the large scale sports infrastructure grant, the refurbishment of Clare GAA’s headquarters at Caherlohan, brokering a deal with Zimmer Biomet on the naming rights of Cusack Park, the addition of more paid staff to the books of Clare GAA and the signing of a memorandum of understanding with Clare County Council to develop the Cloister car park. Clare GAA advanced as a commercial and strategic outlet under her watch.
Noticeably debate and questioning by club delegates of the County Board decreased during her term. Her regime has at times been criticised particularly with the process for appointing Peter Keane as senior football manager along with the manner in which long-serving volunteers exited their roles over the last three years including former PRO Anne Hayes.
Chairman of Clare GAA, Kieran Keating expressed his “heartfelt gratitude” to Deirdre for her three year tenure. “She brought a wealth of experience, an abundance of enthusiasm and a willingness to work with everyone for the betterment of Clare GAA. Her influence on the structures and governance of the organisation will I have no doubt endure for many years to come and we are thankful that her next career move keeps her local to Clare, as her proximity will help to ensure she will not be fully lost to the association”.
A former secondary school teacher, Deirdre was a founding member of the Women’s Gaelic Players Association in 2015. She remained part of the WGPA board until 2019.
From 2007 to 2013, she worked as a Munster Camogie Development co-ordinator with The Camogie Association. Before becoming Head of Operations, she has been an active member of Club Clare.
During Deirdre’s four year tenure as Gaelic Games Development Officer at the University of Limerick, the college won two Fitzgibbon Cup titles, three Ashbourne Cup titles and three O’Connor Cup titles. She moved on from the role in May 2017 to become the First Year support co-ordinator at UL. While working in the college, she also obtained a Masters Degree in Work and Organisational Behaviour.
Calls for change in Clare GAA which resulted in the development of the five year Saffron and Blue strategic plan led to the creation of the Head of Operations Post.
Murphy’s duties include the management and supervision of full and part-time personnel, ensuring all approved policy matters are applied, allowing Clare GAA to meet the highest standards of transparency, integrity and accountability.
On the field of play, she is regarded as one of Clare’s greatest camogie players. She represented her county at adult level for close to two decades, making her debut in 1997 and retiring following Clare’s All-Ireland quarter-final defeat in 2014.
She was captain of the side that claimed the All-Ireland junior title in 2008 and claimed a Munster senior championship in 2012 managed by John Carmody.
In 2014, she was named as Clare’s camogie player of the decade in a concept to mark the 110th anniversary of the Camogie Association. She was nominated for an All Star award on seven occasions.
