Ciaran Flynn

BSc Sport & Exercise Management 2014

Ciaran Flynn completed a BSc Sport & Exercise Management Degree in 2014 and has worked in the sport industry ever since. He has held various operational roles in high performance sport with Paralympics Ireland, Tennis Ireland, Sport Ireland Institute and most recently in Horse Racing Ireland as General Manager of Navan Racecourse.

We asked Ciaran to tell us a little about his time studying at UCD and how his degree in Sport & Exercise Management has helped in his career to date.

What led you to studying the BSc in Sport & Exercise Management?

I loved and participated in a number of sports growing up and always had a passion for the sports industry. So when it came to deciding what I would like to do in University, I knew it was something that centred around sport that appealed to me. It led me to studying the BSc in Sport & Exercise Management in UCD, in the hope that it would lead me to a career working in Sport and in particular Sports Administration.

What was your favourite part of the SEM course? 

The great thing about the course is that it gives you an insight into all parts of the sports industry such as Health & Fitness, Sports Science and the Business of Sport. So you can gain an understanding of what part of the industry appeals to you most.

What advice would you give to someone considering studying this course? 

If you love sport and would like to pursue a career in sport, then I would recommend this course for you. Make contacts and put yourself out there. Sport in Ireland is a relatively small community, so get your name out there and opportunities will come up if you work hard!

What was your experience at UCD like? Any highlights? 

I really enjoyed my time in UCD. I was commuting daily which was a challenge, as well as working a part time job throughout my time in college. But it is a great university with fantastic facilities.

Did you participate in any sports while at UCD?

No, unfortunately not. As I was commuting every day, I didn’t have the opportunity to play additional sports in UCD, but I was still playing Gaelic and soccer with my local clubs.

What is your current job?

General Manager, Navan Racecourse.

How do you feel the Sport & Exercise Management degree prepared you for this role?

My degree gave me a good grounding in the areas of Sports Administration, Marketing, Finance and Facilities Management, as well as the opportunity to take on an internship at the end of Year Two. Gaining practical experience of working in a sports organisation also prepared me very well for all my roles in Sport, and in particular for my current role.

Describe your typical workday.

I am responsible for the overall management of the racecourse, which includes office-based staff and the racecourse track team. A typical workday would be checking-in with the team, ensuring all upcoming race days are planned and organised, with additional entertainment and events planned for our bigger events. I also ensure our track is presented to a high-class standard. I make sure budgets & procurement procedures are being adhered to. As the main point of contact for any queries, I deal with any issues that need to be addressed. No day is the same, which is the same for most jobs in sport, but it is all about being adaptable and being able to communicate and make decisions when called upon.

Were you always interested in the world of horse-racing?

Yes, I always had a keen interest in horse racing but didn’t have a background in the sport. In most of my roles I wouldn’t have had a major background in any of the sports, but I have always immersed myself into the organisation. And if you buy into the sport, you will go a long way!

You have also worked for Paralympics Ireland. Please share a bit about that role. Did you follow the Games in Paris this year?

I worked as Performance Operations Manager in Paralympics Ireland for 3 years, as well as taking on the role of Deputy Chef de Mission for the Paralympic Games in Tokyo 2020 (took place in 2021). My role encompassed a number of key objectives in providing the best possible service to our High-Performance Athletes & Support Team where I displayed strong stakeholder management skills by building relationships with our colleagues in Japan, as well as CEO, Board Members and third-party service providers. I led on the management of our Sports Science & Medical Provision as well as providing performance planning support to our Performance Director. I worked closely with our key funding agents such as Sport Ireland on funding submissions, while developing our programme planning and budget management of our high-performance programmes. It was great to see Team Ireland performing so well in Paris over the summer, and it was also brilliant to see the support for the athletes performing on the world stage. In Tokyo, it was a difficult experience for everyone due to Covid, so it was great for the athletes to experience full stadiums and having a proper Games adventure this time around!

What’s the proudest moment of your career to date?

Taking on the role of General Manager at Navan Racecourse has been a major milestone in my career. But being one of the leaders of Team Ireland walking the team out for the Opening Ceremony of the Paralympic Games in Tokyo will always go down as one of the proudest moments in my career.

In your career and/or personal life, who have been the most inspiring or helpful mentors/advisors that you’ve had?

In my career I have been fortunate enough to work with some exceptional people, one of them being my former colleague in Tennis Ireland Garry Cahill, who held the role of Performance Director. Garry took me under his wing and gave me great insights and exposure into High Performance Sport, and showed me that with hard work and dedication you can achieve great things. 

In my personal life I have a great support network who always back every decision I make. My wife Sarah is a great support to me as well as my two children who inspire me to work hard every day to provide a good life for them!

What is life like outside work for you? Tell us a bit more about your current life, hobbies, or what you do to relax?

Life outside of work is busy for me with two young kids! My 9-year-old girl Eabha is involved in athletics, gymnastics, dancing and basketball, so we are always busy making sure she gets to play all her sports. I play Gaelic with my local club Duleek/Bellewstown GFC. and I have a season ticket for Glasgow Celtic and travel over to Glasgow regularly to see them play.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

I was told when I was starting out to make sure to always make yourself known and for people to know who you are for all the right reasons, and I have tried to carry that through with me so far in my career and personal life!

Content added: October 2024