Cathy Gallagher

Cathy joins the University with 17 years’ experience of higher education sport, founded in her involvement in a number of student sports clubs when studying her BSc and MSc Finance at Queen’s University Belfast.

Having initially worked for the National Governing Body for third level sport in Ireland, Cathy was part of the Senior Management Team in Queen’s Sport up until 2008, with a key responsibility for strategic Sports Development and Business Planning. During this time, the University opened £7m of new sports facilities, the outturn of which created a step change in the sporting offer for students and the wider community. After spending a year in Dublin City University managing the Student Sport Programme, Cathy joined Trinity College Dublin in 2011 as Development Manager. She had a lead responsibility for strategic development and authored the recently published Strategy for Sport at Ireland’s premier university.

Significant interventions also included the establishment of a Performance Sport structure, management of Capital Development projects, creation of a new Medical Care Programme for sports students, securing high level sponsorship for Trinity Sport and enshrining strategic working relationships internal and external to the College.

Cathy has led the Irish delegation to the World University Games as Head of Delegation in 2011 (Shenzhen), 2013 (Kazan) and 2015 (Gwangju). She has also been part of the Irish team to 4 previous Games and was National Team Manager for the Northern Ireland Universities for 10 years. Cathy was appointed to the Board for the World Police and Fire Games 2013 hosted in Belfast and has represented on numerous provincial and national committees for sport.

Cathy is originally from Tyrone in Northern Ireland and played Gaelic Football to inter county level. Having graciously retired, Cathy enjoys keeping fit as well as spending time with her fabulous 17 nieces and nephews.