Rowing Ireland is delighted to announce several new appointments across key areas of the organisation. Each new team member brings a unique blend of expertise, professionalism, and passion for sport, and their arrival marks a significant step forward as we continue to grow and strengthen our High-Performance programme, support clubs, members governance and planning.
Safeguarding and National Rowing Centre Coordination
Caitlin Daffarn will take up the role of Safeguarding and NRC Coordinator from 8th August 2025. Caitlin brings valuable rowing knowledge and strong administrative experience to the team, and we are excited to welcome her into this important role.
Governance and Planning
Matt McKerrow will join as Head of Governance and Planning on Monday, 21st July 2025. Matt brings a wealth of experience from his time with Sport New Zealand and as former CEO of both Triathlon Ireland and Cycling Ireland.
Supporting Matt in this area, Megan O’Callaghan will take up the role of Governance and Planning Assistant. Megan brings a strong background in sport, including governance experience in fencing, and will work closely alongside Matt and Aoife McKeon to further strengthen our governance and strategic planning structures.
Indoor Rowing Development
We are pleased to announce that Emma Fagan will join Rowing Ireland in September as our new Indoor Rowing Coordinator. Emma’s deep passion for sport and background in athlete engagement will be instrumental in growing participation and developing indoor rowing initiatives nationwide.
Wellness and Staff Support
We have also extended an offer for the role of Wellness Coordinator, and we hope to confirm this appointment shortly, pending finalisation of contract details.
In addition, we look forward to welcoming back Ceara O’Connor (Women in Sport officer) from maternity leave in August.
High Performance Coaching and Operations
We are equally delighted to welcome new coaching expertise into our High-Performance programme:
Ed Hartery, joining from the University of Limerick, is already embedded in the team and contributing to the development of our athletes.
Denise Walsh, a former international rower with extensive experience at the elite level, joined the programme in April 2025.
Daniel Blaser, who has previously worked with Swiss Development and Basel Rowing Club, joined the team during the Irish Rowing Championships earlier this month.
Ciara Harte will now take up her position full-time as High-Performance Operations Manager, further supporting the delivery of our performance goals.
Speaking on the appointments, Rowing Ireland CEO Michelle Carpenter said:
“We’re delighted to welcome such a talented and diverse group of professionals to Rowing Ireland. These appointments reflect our commitment to excellence across all areas of the organisation — from safeguarding and governance to indoor rowing and high performance. Each new team member will bring valuable insights, fresh energy, and expertise as we continue building a stronger future for Rowing Ireland in supporting clubs and our key stakeholders as we drive the organisation forward to excel in every way.
