A former Laois footballer has been appointed as an Engagement and Development Officer (EDO) by the Gaelic Players Association (GPA).
The GPA say that they have appointed eight people to the roles ‘in a refresh of its approach to engaging with its membership’.
Portlaoise’s Kieran Lillis has been announced for the East Region along with former Louth Ladies player Sarah Quinn.
The EDOs will look after four regions broken down geographically as North, South, East and West.
They will focus on ensuring squad needs in their areas are catered for across the GPA pillars – Representation, Welfare, Development and Equality.
The EDOs will report into the GPA’s Player Development Team led by Head of Development and Wellbeing Jennifer Rogers, herself a former Westmeath footballer and All-Ireland winner.
Welcoming the appointments, Jennifer Rogers said: “The GPA ensure that an extensive list of supports and services are available to all of our 4,000 members as part of our BEO360 Player Development Programme.
“The programme aims to support the person behind the player, away from the field of play, be that through educational opportunities, business supports, career advice and mentoring and wellbeing services such as our counselling service.
“The new EDOs will be tasked with driving further engagement with BEO360 which has already provided support to 450 players in 2025 and 1365 over the last 3-years.
“The EDOs will also act as our primary point of contact with squads on matters related to player welfare as well as all matters where they want to have their opinions represented and voices heard.”
The GPA’s BEO360 Player Development Programme is funded through Le Chéile, a joint commercial partnership between the GPA and the GAA.
The 8 individuals, who have taken up the positions are all former inter-county players:
North Region: Matthew Donnelly (former Antrim Hurler) and Sarah Marley (former Armagh footballer)
South Region: Podge Collins (former Clare dual player) and Laura Linnane (former Clare camóg)
East Region: Kieran Lillis (former Laois footballer) and Sarah Quinn (former Louth footballer)
West Region: Adrian Varley (former Galway & New York footballer) and Sinéad Tighe (former Leitrim footballer)
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