Ard Chomhairle Team

Iain Cheyne, President

I’ve been involved with GAA Rounders for nine years and currently serve as Uachtarán. I first got involved at national level because I believed I could be useful and make a positive impact – and I’ve been proud to play a part in the sport’s continued growth ever since.

One of the highlights of my time so far has been working with Darryl Dolan to transform the Senior All-Ireland Finals – bringing in music, streamers, fire, and professional recordings to give the day the full GAA Final treatment it deserves.

Looking to the future, I see Rounders evolving into a provincial structure as more clubs come on board. In some counties, we already have enough activity to warrant county committees, which is a hugely exciting sign of progress.

Something people might not know about me? Before all this, I used to live stream major Poker events like the Irish Poker Open and WPT Barcelona – back when live streaming was just starting to take off.

Michael Dowling, Vice President

I’m the past president of GAA Rounders, and this year my role is to offer the benefit of experience gained over many years at the coalface of the sport. My journey with Rounders began back in the 1980s through the Laois Community Games, when Tom O’Donoghue from Killenard introduced me to the game. I caught the bug instantly – and the rest, as they say, is history.

After enjoying plenty of success in both Community Games and GAA Rounders, I felt it was time to give something back and help grow the game. I genuinely believe the GAA hasn’t yet realised the full potential of Rounders, and just how many people it could bring into clubs across the country.

One of the proudest achievements during my presidency was the expansion of the sport. When I started, there were three adult All-Ireland competitions – by the time I left, there were eight. That growth was a testament to the hard work of a brilliant Ard Chomhairle.

Personally, I hope to see a huge rise in participation and interest in Rounders before I go to the big leagues in the sky! Organisationally, I’d love to see the AC grow more professional, with paid Development Officers promoting the sport nationwide.

And finally, a lesson I’ve always carried with me: if at first you don’t succeed, try and try again. It took five years of learning and setbacks before I saw success in Rounders – winning a Leinster U13 Boys title in 1990 and reaching the All-Ireland final. That was the moment Rounders earned my full attention.

Shirley Lennon, National Secretary

I joined the Ard Chomhairle as Assistant Secretary in December 2023, became National Treasurer in July 2024, and now serve as National Secretary.

Having played Juvenile Rounders, I’m delighted to be back with my childhood club, Skryne. The sport has always brought me joy, and the fact that I’ve returned after a long break – and still love playing – shows just how inclusive and welcoming Rounders truly is.

After attending the 2023 AGM and offering to help, things moved quickly! I was part of the team that organised all nine All-Ireland finals last year. It was a huge undertaking, but seeing everything run smoothly and the teams enjoying their day made it all worthwhile.

I’d love to see more players and passionate individuals get involved at Ard Chomhairle or committee level. The more diverse voices we have from clubs across the country, the stronger and more vibrant our sport will become.

Ann-Marie Brennan, National Treasurer

I’ve been involved with GAA Rounders at national level for over five years, previously serving three years as the Leinster Representative on Ard Chomhairle. I first got involved through refereeing, which I’ve been doing for over 15 years, and it inspired me to contribute more to the sport off the pitch.

I originally took on the role of Treasurer in 2023 and, after a 12-month break, I’ve recently returned to the position. One of my proudest milestones was refereeing my 10th All-Ireland Final in 2024. I was also part of the team that developed a new referee course to support and guide the next generation of officials.

My hope for the future is to see Rounders continue to grow steadily, with the introduction of provincial championships feeding into a stronger, more competitive All-Ireland Championship structure.

Craig Davis, Children’s Officer

I have been GAA Rounders’ Children’s Officer for the past 18 months and currently lead the development of Juvenile Rounders nationally. Originally from Wales, I have been playing Rounders for seven years and am a member of Galway City Rapparees.

In addition to my roles off the pitch, I am also an active referee, striving to bring fairness and a strong understanding of the game to every match I oversee.
Passionate about growing the game from the ground up, my goal is to see Rounders played in every GAA club and school across the island of Ireland. My hope is that this child-first approach will help to lay strong foundations for the sport’s future.

Joseph Naughton, Communications Officer

Appointed in November 2024, I’m currently serving as the Communications Officer for GAA Rounders. I’ve been involved in the sport since 2022 and was proud to part of setting up Galway City Rapparees from scratch — which is now one of the top four clubs in Ireland in terms of membership.

As a rugby and GAA journalist by trade, I’m passionate about telling the stories behind the sport and raising its profile through modern, engaging media. One of my main goals as Communications Office was to deliver a new, user-friendly website that reflects the energy and ambition of Rounders in Ireland today.

Rounders has so much potential to offer people a game they can play from 10 to retirement, it offers the opportunity to play on mixed teams and has grades to suit all abilities. Let’s hope I can get the word out there.

I’m excited to help grow the sport nationally by highlighting the incredible people and progress happening in every corner of the country.

Big Pittsburgh steelers, Connacht Rugby and Horse Racing fan.

Arleen Ramsey, Ulster Representative

I’m proud to represent Ulster on the Ard Chomhairle, a role that grew from a deep-rooted love of Rounders. I’ve been involved for nearly five years, playing with Wolfe Tones GAC and taking part in G4MO (Gaelic for Mothers & Others).

Rounders is a real family affair for us—my husband John plays too, and this year one of our children joined the team after turning 16. Sharing the sport we love together has been incredibly special.

What I cherish most is the sense of community, the laughs, and the lifelong friendships the game brings. I love travelling and meeting new people (though I’ll always prefer sunshine over the cold!).

Looking ahead, I’d love to see Rounders reach more clubs, more communities, and more families – celebrated as the inclusive, joyful sport it truly is.

Mark Jennings, Connaught Representative

I’ve been playing Rounders since 2020 and am currently in my third year on the Ard Chomhairle – one as an ordinary member and now two as Connacht Representative. My aim has always been to help develop the game in our province and build it into something really special.

One of my proudest moments so far has been being part of the Breaffy Men’s Team that reached the 2024 All-Ireland final, especially after a few tough years on the pitch.

Looking ahead, I’d love to see Rounders gain a wider audience and proper recognition as a serious, structured sport—not just something people remember from school. On the AC side, I’d like to see more support with funding, admin, and the day-to-day running of things. We’re all volunteers, and there’s only so much time we can give.

And finally – if I didn’t have my sayings and one-liners, I’d be nothing!

Jack Cheyne, Leinster Representative

I have been the Leinster Representative on the GAA Rounders Ard Chomhairle since November 2024. I got involved nationally through my experience refereeing and playing, and the many connections I’ve made across the Rounders community.

My proudest achievement so far has been organising a Referee Training Course to help equip new referees for Junior matches, especially in the growing South East region.

My dream for the future is to see County Rounders teams established – I’d love to represent Longford myself. From an Ard Chomhairle perspective, I hope to see the organisation continue growing, becoming strong and independent enough to fully run its own operations.

Outside of Rounders, I also play softball with KCB.

Michael Sheahan, Munster Representative

Based in Askeaton, Co. Limerick, I represent Munster on the GAA Rounders Ard Chomhairle. I first got involved in the 1980s through Community Games and have maintained that connection ever since, helping to establish six adult clubs and three juvenile clubs in Limerick over the past decade.

I became involved nationally to ensure Munster had a voice at Ard Chomhairle level, with a focus on developing Rounders across all Munster counties. I also coach at St. Kieran’s GAA Rounders Club and work with primary schools and developing clubs.

As Rounders continues to grow, I believe regional structures will be needed to support clubs and attract more volunteers. Looking even further ahead, I see real potential to expand Rounders internationally through the global GAA network.

Michael Meaney, Central Council Delegate

I currently act as the liaison between GAA Management and GAA Rounders, a role I took on at the request of the Uachtarán of the GAA as part of my three-year term on Coiste Bainistíochta.

Though I’ve never played Rounders myself, I bring a strong administrative background from Carlow GAA, having served as Chairperson, Treasurer, Leinster Council Delegate, Chair of Coiste na nÓg, and Chair of the CCC. I now represent Carlow as their Central Council Delegate and was elected to represent Leinster on Coiste Bainistíochta – my first introduction to GAA Rounders, and one I’ve thoroughly enjoyed. I am also a member of the Football Review Committee, working on changing and enhancing the playing rules of Gaelic Football.

Looking ahead, I’d like to see Rounders continue to grow at a manageable pace and become a fully integrated part of the wider GAA family – offering games for all and contributing meaningfully to our local communities.

My role is to support that vision and help build the connections needed to make it a reality.