Hockey Ireland

Rachel Barry

Director, Nominated by Connacht Branch

Aisling Keogh is from Galway City and has been working in the HSE for over 20 years, now working on Capital Projects and Equipping. Aisling has been involved with hockey since the age of 7 and has volunteered and participated in every aspect of the sport. She was nominated to participate in the Women in Sports Leadership Course in 2020 delivered by Leadership experts and Swim Ireland which included women across all sporting bodies.Aisling loves nothing more than to give back to the sport she loves and a sport that gave her so much. Aisling took the decision to retire from FIH, National and Provincial umpiring in 2017. She is a National and European recognised Umpire Coach and Technical Officer having completed the necessary training as well as being a National Umpire Assessor and Umpire Coach.

Aisling was Chair and President of the Connacht Branch Committee from 2017 to 2020 thereafter embarking on a 2 year facilities campaign “Misneach Le Cheile” in an effort to put the spotlight on women in sport gaining equal access to multi sports community facilities in the West of Ireland. She and her team following a very successful campaign secured a regional sports capital grant for a facility on the West side of the City which is progressing as well as the inclusion of 2 hockey pitches in the Galway City Development Plan and another project for a pitch in County Galway. Aisling also joined the Hockey Ireland’s Board of Directors at the same time. In those 3 years as a Board member she has been Chair of the Governance Committee, and a member of the HR and Communications Committee.

Aisling re-established Connacht Hockey’s social media and website presence in the last ten years and continues to volunteer passionately for the sport she loves.