Ms Fiona O'Driscoll

Originally from Knockadoon, Ballymacoda in East Co. Cork, this honours UL graduate is truly at the top of her game. As an immensely talented camogie and football player, Fiona O'Driscoll BA '95 is the holder of no less than six All-Ireland Senior Medals. Today, she has taken her sporting career a step further by becoming one of the most successful female GAA Coaches . 

Fiona arrived in UL in 1991 to pursue a Physical Education & Chemistry teaching degree, graduating in 1995. While a student on campus, she indulged her love of both football and camogie, a time during which she played on three O'Connor Cup UL Football winning teams from 1993 to 1995. Significantly, Fiona captained the UL team to their first intervarsity camogie title in 1995, thereby launching a long tradition of Ashbourne Cup success for UL. 

Unsurprisingly, this All-Stars high achiever was named National Camogie Player of the Year 2002 following her performance in the All-Ireland Final in which she scored a hat-trick leading the Rebels to a 4-9, 1-9 win over Tipperary. Numerous honours as an Intercounty Player with Cork and as an Interprovincial Player with Munster of both football and camogie have also followed, leading to her being named as a Member of the All-Stars Camogie Team (1993) and All-Stars Football Team (1994 and 1995). Fiona (35) is currently on a career break from her teaching post at Colaiste Choilm, Ballincollig, Co. Cork to work with Let's Go! Summer Schools Ltd. while also focusing on camogie. 

Today, she pursues her love of the game as Coach and Trainer of Cork Senior Camogie Team. In the role since 2005, she has led her home county to All Ireland glory in 2005 and again in 2006 and in the process has become the first female Coach to all-Ireland camogie winners in over 20 years. While her team were defeated finalists in 2007, Fiona is already preparing for next season. 

When not coaching or playing, Fiona has served on the administration side as President of National C.C.I.A. (Governing Body of Third Level Camogie) 1995-1998 and is currently Chairperson of the National Camogie Coaching and Development Committee (2006-2008). 

By those who know her best, Fiona is described as “extremely accomplished and passionate about camogie”. 

The above text is an extract from the 2007 UL Alumni Awards Souvenir Booklet.