Heery honoured for outstanding contribution to Irish athletics

By Brendan Mooney

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

MICHAEL HEERY has been honoured by Athletics Northern Ireland for his contribution to the sport of athletics during his six years as President of the Athletics Association of Ireland.

While he will be remembered for the manner in which he oversaw the major structural changes in the administration of Irish athletics, his genial disposition played a major role in forging strong links with his counterparts in Northern Ireland and, for that alone, last week’s award was well deserved.

"To be honest I was humbled by the whole thing," he said. "I got a call from the President of Athletics Northern Ireland, Brian Downing, asking me if

I could attend their board meeting but I had no idea what for. Needless to say

I was taken aback but it was a great honour for me and I was privileged to accept the award which I understand is the first of its kind."

While he served as President of AAI for six years, he has been at the coalface of Irish athletics since 1997 when he was elected President of the NACAI.

He led that association into talks with BLE which led to the amalgamation and served as a Vice-President of the new organisation for two years.

But the big test of his leadership came when the new structure was put before the clubs for approval. He chaired the marathon special congress in Portlaoise at which the changes were discussed and then presided over the historic congress in Tipperary Town at which they were approved.

It was a traumatic time for the grass roots membership, asked to break with the past and its traditions to drive the association into the 21st century.

"I think I would have to admire the way the clubs, in particular, handled the situation and the fact that we are still reaping the rewards of that decision is indicative of the fact that it was the right decision.

Athletics will continue to progress into the future as a result."

His relationship with Athletics Northern Ireland has helped expand the sport across the political boundary which split the sport for so many years.

"It is true to say we have progressed a long way in recent years," he said.

"I know Athletics Northern Ireland is affiliated to UK Athletics but this year most of the officers attended our annual Congress and took part in the discussions.

"As well as that, championships were held in all nine counties of Ulster this year. We have been holding the All-Ireland indoor championships at the Odyssey Arena on a regular basis, Belfast also hosted this year’s national cross-country championships, under-age championships were held at the Antrim Forum and a session of the juvenile championships will be held at the new arena in Magherafelt next spring.

"And, coincidentally, the weekend before I got the award I attended the launch of Coaching Ireland — a new coaching structure that will be run on an all-island basis — which I would regard as another major step forward.

"Athletics Northern Ireland is affiliated to UK Athletics but I have always tried to impress upon them that our door is open. I would like to think there is a lot of trust between us."

This appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Tuesday, September 30, 2008