Investment for Treaty United with former Irish international Ciara McCormack appointed CEO

"They wouldn’t have sought this but now they are super excited to be involved to be a part of the League of Ireland," says McCormack of Tricor Pacific Capital's investment in the Limerick club.

NEW ERA: Treaty United co-owner and CEO Ciara McCormack during the Treaty United FC press conference at Clayton Hotel Limerick in Limerick. Photo by Tom Beary/Sportsfile

Canadian based investment firm Tricor Pacific Capital Inc. have confirmed their investment in League of Ireland club, Treaty United.

Heading-up the venture is former Ireland international Ciara McCormack, who takes up the role of CEO at the Limerick based side that has been in operation since 2020 following the demise of Limerick FC in late 2018.

McCormack, who has featured for Treaty this season more than a decade after she last represented the Irish national side, explained how this opportunity arose.

“I reached out to the League of Ireland, maybe two years ago," began McCormack.

"My mother is from West Cork. I had this romantic notion of starting a women’s team in west Cork, but when I spoke to the league they were moving towards men’s, women’s and academy clubs, they didn’t want standalone teams.

“In Munster, they said Treaty could do with a hand on the women’s side. They didn’t know I knew Marie (Curtin) - that got the ball rolling.”

The investment opportunity, which has been in the pipeline since March, will help the Markets Field based team move towards full-time professionalism with the Shannonsiders so far only offering amateur terms to their players.

The club's name has been the subject of frustration in some quarters and while this may yet change in the future, it will continue as Treaty United for the 2024 season.

“Everything that I envisage from a branding perspective – layering the past and obviously the future – acknowledging that rich history and having that as part of whatever we move forward," continued the new CEO.

@TreatyUnitedFC CEO @ciaramccormack confirms the new owners will look at the name and branding of the club in the months ahead pic.twitter.com/0NbMdtchAO

— Treaty United FC (@TreatyUnitedFC) October 17, 2023

“I genuinely saw the opportunity here. I think it wasn’t something they (Tricor) were looking for... but the more I talked to them about the opportunity and the more they looked at it themselves the more excited they were about the possibility.

"They wouldn’t have sought this but now they are super excited to be involved to be a part of the League of Ireland.

“I see from Ireland exactly where North America was twenty years ago, I see all the possibilities and know from watching first-hand how quickly things can change if there are professional structures and people in place. It is on me to follow through on what I’ve said but I feel quite confident.

“There are so many avenues where we can make this work on a business level. You have the amazing base of volunteers who have built Treaty to what it is today.” 

Conn Murray will depart the club as chairman, with the former Limerick City and County Council Chief Executive telling local media last week; "There will be no massive changes, I believe, but it will continue to build on what is there because that is the only way that football will sustain itself into the future.” 

McCormack also confirmed that Tommy Barrett is to remain as manager of the men’s team next term for what will be his fourth season at the helm.

United can still claim a play-off spot this season should they defeat Waterford this Friday night and Athlone Town loss at home to Longford Town.