Ned Quinn

With his encyclopaedic knowledge of the GAA Ned Quinn offers a detailed and varied account of the history of the Association, from before he was born to 2011. He grew up in the area of Mooncoin where the GAA was a way of life. He first played hurling with his club, and later at De La Salle College in Waterford. Ned also represented Kilkenny at minor level, and when his playing career ended he made his first steps into administration. Over the years he worked in club, school and county administration, occupying a variety of roles. He also spent some time as a selector. Ned’s involvement with the county board led to him becoming secretary and chairman. He remembers Kilkenny hurling being at a low ebb during the late 1990s and working with a new hurling manager, Brian Cody, on a plan to revive it. Kilkenny went on to achieve unprecedented success and he outlines some of the factors that led to this, shedding light on what it was like to work with Brian Cody. He also worked on the upgrading facilities at Nowlan Park and the establishment of a development squads structure within the county. Having been immersed in the GAA his entire life, Ned has the ability to call to mind countless names and to explain how each of them fit into the overall Kilkenny story, a tale of relentless achievement borne of hard work, humility and an undying love for Gaelic games.