Irish Gymnastics is pleased to announce that Kathryn Catney has been appointed as the new Marketing & Events Manager for the organisation.

Following a thorough recruitment and interview process over the past few months, Kathryn will take up the new position in August. The interview panel for the position consisted of...

- Roddy Guiney - Chairman Wilson Hartnell Public Relations (Ireland's No.1 ranked PR & Communications firm)
- Marie Ahern - Head of Irish Sports Council's National Governing Body Unit
- Ciaran Gallagher - Irish Gymnastics Chief Executive Officer

Kathryn is a fully qualified journalist graduating from Manchester based News Associates, one of the UKs busiest and most respected press agencies. While at News Associates she specialised in media law, public affairs, news writing & sub editing. Since graduating in 2008 Kathryn has written a vast array of articles on a variety of topics for local, national and international press outlets including the Belfast Telegraph, Sunday World, Glamour Magazine (UK),  More than the Games (UK) & Sports Beat (Intl).

Specifically in terms of gymnastics, Kathryn has acted as gymnastics correspondent for 'More than the Games' at the 2009 Glasgow Grand Prix, 2009 World Artistic Championships, 2010 European Artistic Championships & 2010 European Tumbling Championships. Kathryn has also acted as national federation journalist for Irish Gymnastics at the same events (with the exception of the 2009 Grand Prix), writing articles for the Irish Gymnastics website, ezine & magazine while also issuing press releases to national media.

Prior to taking up position at Irish Gymnastics Kathryn has worked as a manager in one of the UKs largest hotel chains and was highly involved in the development, implementation and roll-out of various marketing and events strategies of which the key aim was to boost restaurant and room sales within this difficult economic climate, ultimately successful campaigns.

2011 also saw Kathryn take up a voluntary position in one of Northern Ireland's leading political parties as a Campaign Officer with specific responsibility for the development and implementation of a social media engagement strategy for a select number of candidates within a key constituency.

A former gymnast herself, Kathryn competed at national level within the British system in the discipline of Women's Artistic, she is a qualified coach and has tutored on various coaching courses focusing on areas such as anatomy and physiology due to her  graduate status with BSc (Hons) in Genetics from Queens University Belfast. Kathryn has also acted as events organiser for the Northern Ireland Women's Tehnical Committee and has a general passion for all things gymnastics.

Commenting on her appointment Kathryn had the following to say...

"I am delighted to be joining Irish Gymnastics at such an exciting time in the sports development. Over the past years as a fan of the sport I have watched the organisation build a solid reputation and look forward to seeing it realise its full potential to provide a world class service to its members. Having been involved with gymnastics my whole life I have an immense passion for the sport which I will channel into my new role as Marketing & Events Manager."

Commenting on the appointment Ger Rellis, President Irish Gymnastics, stated...

"I am happy to welcome Kathryn to the staff team at Irish gymnastics, she joins us at an incredibly exciting period in our development. This position is key for our organisation as we build on the great work carried out over the past few years and prepare to take gymnastics as a sport to the next level in Ireland."

Ciaran Gallagher, Chief Executive Officer, commented on the new appointment...

"Our membership have been extremely patient over the past number of years as we have been building the foundations of a solid organisation that can ultimately deliver for the sport of Gymnastics in Ireland - for this i thank them. Now that we are nearing the end of this period of preparation, the position of Marketing and Events Manager will be key in the roll out and implementation of all the exciting programmes, initiatives and events that have been & continue to be developed quietly in the background by the staff. The next number of years will see big change for our sport in Ireland and on behalf of all the staff i welcome Kathryn to the team and look forward to working with her."