Disappointment in Athboy as Bernard O'Byrne misses out on OCI presidency

Athboy man Bernard O'Byrne has lost out to Sarah Keane as new president of the Olympic Council of Ireland. The head of Basketball Ireland and former FAI Chief Executive was defeated by majority vote tonight in Dublin.

The election took place tonight at the Conrad Hotel, Dublin with huge media interest in the outcome and the identity of Pat Hickey's successor.

PJ Nolan the farmer from outside Navan and who is well known in cycling circles was among the nominations for the OCI Board in tonight's elections. 

 

Nolan, who served as the President of Cycling Ireland from 2000 to 2004, has long been associated with Navan Cycling Club and his family have a long and rich association with the sport. He has also filled in as a cycling analyst for RTE during the past five Olympic Games.

Nolan is also well known in farming circles and worked with RTE presenting the Farm News as well as other assignments. He also worked with the Farmers' Journal for a time before returning full-time to his dairy farm outside Navan. 

O'Byrne, who lives in Athboy, was in competition for the presidency from rivals Willie O'Brien (acting president) and Swim Ireland head Sarah Keane. in the end, of 43 votes O'Byrne received just 2 votes with, 29 to Keane and 12 for O'Brien.

The meeting heard from treasurer Billy Kennedy that was spent €638,0000 on advice and various expert firms in the wake of the Pat Hickey arrest.