Again this year, we have a really interesting line-up of speakers which we hope you will enjoy. There is a strong sports theme running through the speakers and you might wonder why? When we started out organising the event we set out to find speakers to motivate people in what can be said are "challenging" times and the names that people came up with it were all to do with sport - probably as a member of our team suggested because sport is the area which continues to give people a lift even in challenging times!
We have a mix of very practical informative presentations from both Niamh Brenan, Adult Guidance Counsellor with the VEc and Mairead Flemeing, Managing Director of Brightwater Recruitment and TV personality with the Apprentice and Ireland AM. They will give detailed information on courses, CV and interview skills, areas of movement in jobs and much more. We then have two speakers Gerry Duffy and Mick O' Dwyer who will hopefully provide inspiration as to how to use the practical information gathered to achieve your goals and get taking those next few steps to success as YOU define it yourself.
Running alongside the presentations we have the opportunity for 10 - 15 people to get one to one coaching with Brian Dolan, Business Mentor and Professional coach. You can book your session with Brian when you register with Leitrim County Development Board, the event organisers, on your way in.
Speaker Profiles
Mick O' Dwyer
Mick O’ Dwyer is best known for his sporting success as a manager of winning provincial and All-Ireland senior football teams. What might be less well known is Mick’s business background in a more of sectors. We have asked Mick to share his experience of succeeding both in business and in motivating teams through recessions and booms.
Mick O'Dwyer was born in Waterville in June, 1936, perhaps the greatest player and coach in the long history of the GAA.
Attending St. Finins National School and the Technical School, ‘Micko’ played as a Kerry Minor in 1954, Junior in 55 and 56, and started his Senior career in 1956. From then until he retired from playing in 1974, Mick won every honour in the game. His first Senior success came in 1959 when he won National Football League and All-Ireland medals playing from the left half back position. He captured his 2nd senior All-Ireland medal in 1962 - again at left half back - but when Kerry next played in an All-Ireland final, Mick played as a left half forward.In 1970 he won his 4th All-Ireland medal and toured around the world with the Kerry team, culminating with 7 games in Australia where he scored 9 goals and 30 points. Mick played his last All-Ireland final in 1972, losing out to Offaly in a replay. He was moving towards the end of a great playing career and retired from inter-county football in May 1974.
Appointed manager by the Kerry County Board in 1975, what was to come was to surpass anything that even a Hollywood scriptwriter would dream up. In 1975 he trained Kerry's U21 and senior teams to win All-Ireland titles, defeating Dublin in both finals. In fact from 1975 to 1981 inclusive, Micko trained an AII Ireland winning team every year.
1975 - Senior and U21
1976 - Under 21
1977 - Under 21
1978 – Senior
1979 – Senior
1980 – Senior
1981 – Senior
Under his management every record in the book was shattered. Five of his players won the magical 8 Senior All-Ireland medals. Four of his players won 8 Texaco Awards, his players won 71 All Star Awards and his players brought more gold to Kerry in All Ireland medals that would put a smile on the treasurer of Fort Knox.
In his playing career Mick O'Dwyer won the following: 4 All Ireland Senior, 8 National League, 1 Railway Cup, 3 Kerry Senior Championships medals, 1 Texaco Award.
In his managerial career with Kerry he won the following: 8 All Ireland Senior, 3 All Ireland U21, 3 National Leagues, 6 Railway Cup, 8 Texaco Awards. Karl, Robbie and John O'Dwyer, sons of Mick and Carmel O' Dwyer have all worn the Kerry jersey in different levels over the years.
The O’Dwyer story continued as Mick moved to Kildare, whom he managed for two separate spells. During the second stint he led the Lilywhites to the Leinster senior crown in 1998 and on to the All-Ireland final where they were defeated by Galway. From Kildare he then took charge of Laois, stunning the country as his young side reached the 2003 League final and then clinched the county's first Leinster senior football title since 1946.
Gerry Duffy
Aged 43, Gerry has been employed in a wide range of fields during his business career. An author, motivational speaker and a qualified fitness instructor, Gerry has been self-employed for the last 9 years. back in 1995 he dropped over 4 stone in weight as he recognised that he had a significant wight problem. This resulted in him taking up running at the age of 27. His sporting CV is filled with accomplishments that many would deem impossible. he firmly believes that human beings can do so much more than give ourselves credit for and is keen to lead by example.
His book, WHO DARES, RUNS went into the Top 4 list of best selling books in Ireland within 6 weeks of its release in 2011.
His list of notable achievements to date include:
3 Ironman Distance Triathlons (2.4 mile swim, 112 mile ccycle, 26.2 mile run)
1 DOUBLE Ironman Distance Triathlon (4.8 mile swim, 224 mile cycle, 52.4 mile run)
In the Summer of 2010 along with Ken Whitelaw, gerry ran 32 marathons in just 32 days, raising over €500,000 for Irish caharities on the way.
One DECA Enduroman Distance Triathlon (24 mile swim, 1160 mile cycle, 262 mile run).
Gerry has an inane ability to help people set realistice goals even though his achiements may seem out of the reach of most of us!
Mairead Fleming – Deputy Managing Director
Mairead is a Drama graduate from Trinity College and has over 15 years’ experience working in recruitment both in the UK and Ireland.Her experience covers both permanent and contract recruitment. Mairead has recruited staff at junior and senior levels for various disciplines across a wide range of sectors.
Mairead joined Brightwater in 2003 to manage the busy temporary and contracts division and within a year, was overseeing all five accountancy divisions. She was promoted to Operations Director in 2006, was appointed to the Board in 2008 and became Deputy Managing Director in 2009. She now has full responsibility for the Accountancy & Finance, Banking, Sales & Marketing, HR, IT, Legal and Insurance Divisions. Mairead is also the public face of Brightwater, appearing on TV3 in Ireland AM’s Jobs Club and also appears on the very popular TV3 show ‘The Apprentice’ and ‘The Apprentice You’re Fired’.
Niamh Brennan
Niamh Brennan qualified as a Guidance Counsellor in UCC in 2004. She worked in a secondary school in Dublin before taking up her role as Adult Education Guidance Counsellor/Co-Ordinator with Leitrim VEC. She has been involved in the development of the Adult Education Guidance and Information service since it’s inception in January 2007. The work involves supporting adults who are returning to education or training and helping them to make informed decisions for their future. Niamh is a member of the Institute of Guidance Counsellors and sits on the National Executive for the Adult Education Guidance Association of Ireland.