Niall O'Carroll departs Irish boxing for key Rowing Ireland role

O'Carroll succeeds Antonio Maurogiovanni in the job. 

Niall O'Carroll was a member of An Garda Síochána for 18 years before specialising in sports psychology and leadership development. Pic: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

Rowing Ireland has confirmed the appointment of Niall O'Carroll as its new head of high performance. O'Carroll joins Rowing Ireland from the IABA where he was chair of the board of directors. 

He succeeds Antonio Maurogiovanni, whose contract was not renewed last year, in the role. Maurogiovanni had worked with Rowing Ireland for seven years. He is now France's lead coach. 

A member of An Garda Síochána for 18 years, O'Carroll went on to specialise in sports psychology and leadership development, working with athletes and organisations around the world. He will lead the performance programme while working with head of governance and planning Matt McKerrow under CEO Michelle Carpenter. 

"His proven track record in leadership, governance, and high-performance sport will be a tremendous asset to Rowing Ireland," said Rowing Ireland chair Barry McWilliams. 

"Building on the historic triumphs of Shanghai, we now prepare the road to Los Angeles 2028, energised by the belief that Niall’s vision and commitment to excellence will help guide our athletes and teams to even greater achievements.”

Carpenter added: “Niall O’Carroll joins Rowing Ireland at a pivotal time for our sport. His experience in performance and cultural development will add real strength to our existing structures as we build towards Los Angeles 2028. With Dominic Casey and our coaching team continuing to drive excellence on the water, and our staff and volunteers underpinning that effort, I believe we are well placed to nurture the next generation of athletes and ensure lasting success for rowing.”