News
Death of Kieran Dowd, former Head of UCC Sport

It is with deep sadness that we announce the sad passing of our former Head of Sport, Kieran Dowd.
Kieran was the inaugural Head of Sport in UCC, taking up the position in September 1972, travelling from Belfast to take up the position.
Kieran will be remembered for developing UCC Sport into what it is today. He fought for many years to improve facilities, the indoor facilities in particular. Some of you might remember the original indoor facilities in the Lee Maltings – now transformed into the Tyndall Institute. These facilities were not in keeping with sports facilities of a 3rd level institution!! The Mardyke Arena, the indoor sports facilities will be Kieran’s lasting legacy in UCC. His dream became a reality when the Mardyke Arena opened its doors in 2001, 3 years before he retired in 2004. He had the privilege of working from there in his final years as UCC Head of Sport.
Kieran developed UCC sport from humble beginnings -from a few sports clubs to almost 50 sports clubs today. With few staff, a small budget, & inadequate facilities, he strove to make improvements for all. He was seen to be coaching several sports clubs in his early years & had success with them as coach - winning Sigerson Cups, & Collingwood Cups to name but a few.
His support to thousands of students playing sport will not be forgotten during his time in UCC. He assisted & advised many students who would go on to have successful careers as amateurs & indeed as professional sports persons.
He set up the UCC Sports Star Awards, & the Sports Scholarship Scheme and they continue to be an integral part of student sport in UCC today.
Kieran also looked after UCC staff and organised many staff events such as treasure hunts, staff trips & outings including barbeques, ski trips, soccer tournaments, etc.
Kieran lectured in the then HDip in Education course in UCC preparing students who aspired to teach PE as part of the curriculum if the chance arose.
He was part of the consultation group tasked with getting approval from the HEA to set up the B.Ed in Sports Studies Course in UCC and once approval was given, he was part of the group tasked with putting the programme/curriculum of study together.
In addition to developing UCC Sport, Kieran was also very active in developing 3rd level soccer holding several positions on the Irish Universities Football Union (IUFU). He was also coach to the IUFU men’s soccer team.
He was one of the founding members of CUSAI and was their inaugural Chairperson – Colleges & Universities Sports Association of Ireland. It is now known as Student Sport Ireland (SSI), and again he held several committee positions within both organisations including that of Honorary President of SSI, a role he held from 2015 until 2019.
He oversaw the first Irish student delegation to the World Student Games in 1987and Ireland continues to be represented on this world stage today.
Kieran also found time to be an active member of the Cork City Sports Committee holding several committee positions culminating to that of President. The annual Cork City Sports International Athletics meet took place at the Mardyke Sports Grounds for 57 years from 1953 to 2010. Kieran ensured the grounds were in pristine condition for this event. One of the highlights of the sport during his time was the World Record created at the Mardyke in the Hammer event by Russian Yuri Sedykh in 1984. The World record was broken 6 times on the night between Yuri & his Russian compatriot Sergey Litvinov to the delight of a capacity crowd.
A former member of the Board of Cospoir in the 1970s,Kieran was also appointed to the Irish Sports Council by the then minister for Sport, Cork man Bernard Allen in 1992
Kieran also coached the Irish Schoolboys & Northern Ireland Schoolboys teams on different occasions, the first person to coach national teams within the FAI & the Northern Ireland FA.
Kieran sadly passed away on Friday 17th January following a brave battle with illness.
Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Una & 6 children Garin, Kieran, Jackie, Connor, Nickie, & Lyndel and extended family.
The funeral arrangements are available on https://rip.ie/death-notice. The funeral mass is on Wednesday 22nd January at 12 noon at the Sacred Heart Church, Western Road.
Ar dhéis De go raibh a anam.
Christine O Donovan Deputy Head of Sport & Physical Activity