Dr. May was selected following a publicly advertised and extensive recruitment process that included an international dimension. It involved both internal and external candidates and was overseen by Lansdowne Executive Search who specialise in the appointment of senior business leaders.

As an experienced sports executive, Dr. Una May has been Sport Ireland’s Director of Participation and Ethics having previously held the role of Director of Anti-Doping. She led the creation of a world class, globally recognised Anti-Doping Programme from a greenfield base, and has also grown the grassroots local delivery of sport, through the ongoing development of the National Network of Local Sports Partnerships, growing core investment in this area.

Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media Catherine Martin TD said:

“I congratulate Dr. Una May on her appointment as Chief Executive of Sport Ireland. Una has developed a strong reputation as a dynamic and ambitious sports leader and has a track record of delivering results.  I wish her every success in bringing the mission for sport in Ireland to the next phase of development and in achieving the ambitious targets set within the Government’s National Sports Policy”.

Welcoming the appointment Minister of State for Sport and the Gaeltacht Jack Chambers TD said:

“Dr. Una May takes up this post at a critical time for Irish sport. Una will work with the Board of Sport Ireland and all stakeholders from the wider sports sector to ensure the sector’s continued recovery from the impact of COVID-19.  I look forward to continuing to work closely with Una in implementing a “Sport for All” inclusive approach across all parts of the sports sector, in achieving the targets within Sport Ireland’s High Performance strategy and in expanding the world-class facilities at the Sport Ireland Campus.”

Sport Ireland Chairperson Kieran Mulvey added:

“Dr. Una May was selected from a field of extremely experienced and capable candidates. Una brings huge experience to the role and has been a strong advocate for ethical and inclusive sport in Ireland and internationally. She has been a prominent figure in many of Sport Ireland’s key projects over the past number of years. Her deep knowledge of the sector and passion for the work of Sport Ireland has led to her engagement with almost every area of Sport Ireland’s business from Anti-Doping to Child Safeguarding, the promotion of grassroots participation through the Local Sports Partnerships and National Governing Bodies to the development of the Sport Ireland Campus. On behalf of the Board of Sport Ireland I congratulate Una on her appointment as Chief Executive and wish her every success in the role”.