Liz Howard
Elizabeth Howard is an Irish camogie player who was the 27th President of the Camogie Association.
Background
Howard, from Deerpark, Carrick-on-Suir, County Tipperary, is the daughter of Limerick hurler, Garrett Howard, and Josephine from Newtown, Nenagh. Garrett won five All Ireland medals and was awarded the Bank of Ireland All Time All Star Award. Under the guidance of her parents, she and her sisters started a Camogie club in Feakle, County Clare.Career
During the presidency of Miriam O'Callaghan, Howard, Sile Wallace, Jo Golden, and Sinead O'Connor developed the Strategic Plan 2004–2008; this was the template to grow and develop Camogie. O'Callaghan asked Howard to get back involved with Camogie. Following her election as president, Howard initiated an in-depth review to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the Camogie Association. This was carried out by Atlantic Sports Management and funded by the Irish Sports Council. The review led to a six-year National Development Plan, which was launched at Annual Congress in Newbridge in March 2010. This led to a new Constitution for the Camogie Association, and was ratified at a special Congress in 2010. She focused on raising the profile of the Association, promoting the stars of the game, developing the game and growing the sport by working with Sinead O'Connor, Chief Executive of the Association. Using her HR experience, a vibrant and professional full-time Development and Administrative team were recruited. RTÉ came on board to include Camogie on The Sunday Game. TG4 televised the Junior All Ireland Final for the first time and general media coverage grew. She was involved in replacing the O'Duffy Cup with a new one. At the end of her presidency, she said that the sport can grow even more.She worked closely with the GAA. Her previous role as Tipperary GAA PRO benefited Camogie, as she was able to network with her contacts, with the particular support of Liam O'Neill and Nickey Brennan agreeing to twin the All Ireland Senior and Junior Camogie finals with the U 21 All Ireland Hurling final in Croke Park - an arrangement that lasted from 2006 to 2009. This helped raise attendances to record levels, peaking at 33,154 for the 2007 final between Wexford and Cork.
New sponsorship deals were signed with Gala, O'Neills and Coillte. Bursaries for Third level players were launched. With the Chief Executive, she forged links with the Irish Sports Council and initiated links with Sports Partnerships and Local Authorities.
In 2007, she suggested that Camogie be renamed 'Women's Hurling', which did not materialise.