Johnny Giles was raised in Ormond Square just around the corner from the school. He was a professional footballer most notably with “Super Leeds” United in the 1960s and 1970s with whom he won a lot of trophies including two Division One League Titles, two UEFA (Fairs) Cups and an FA cup. Johnny also played international football for Ireland winning 59 caps and for a time was their player-manager. He is currently a football analyst with RTE Sport.
Finbarr Flood was born in Dublin’s Oxmantown Road in 1938. From his roots in inner city Dublin through to his contacts with many of the principal players in Irish public life, Finbarr Flood has garnered and retained great respect in his many fields of activity, including in his long career in Guinness, his chairmanship of the Labour Court and his sporting success as a professional footballer.
Finbarr Flood joined Guinness as a messenger boy at the age of 14, while developing a parallel career as a talented footballer. His astute reading of the game of commerce and the changing technological environment saw him move up through the ranks in Guinness until in 1989 he was appointed Managing Director. In 1994. After retiring from he was appointed Deputy and later Chairman of the Labour Court, where he was associated with the resolution of many high-profile disputes. On retirement from the Court, he went on to write his auto-biography “In Full Flood” which was published in 2006. His association with football continued throughout, and in 2007 he was appointed Chairman of Shelbourne . He also chaired the Regeneration Boards at Fatima Mansions and at St. Michael’s in Inchicore, and was the first Chair of the Grangegorman ‘Labour and Learning Forum’ established in his native Dublin 7.
Seán Cromien was a senior civil servant who played a crucial role in rescuing the state from bankruptcy in the period after 1987 throughout his career and life he demonstrated a profound commitment to public service and the welfare of the State. As secretary general of the Department of Finance in the period 1987 to 1994 he was one of the key figures who helped to steer the country out of the deep recession which had dogged it during the 1980s. He was also the lead author the 2000 Cromien Report which provided a review of the Dept. of Education’s operations, systems and staffing needs. At various times he served as a director of the Central Bank, a member of the National Economic and Social Council, the advisory committee of the National Treasury Management Agency and the boards of the World Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Seán also had a passion for nature as a keen amateur naturalist, cataloguing species of Irish plants and animals. He served as president of Dublin Zoo, where he helped to lead a redevelopment programme, making the zoo what it is today. Sadly Séan passed away in August 2018 and more details about his remarkable life can be found here and here.
Michael Stone is the Group CEO of Designer Group.Michael founded Designer Group in 1992 after an extensive career with the ESB. His vision is instrumental in the development and advancement of Designer Group to its current position as one of Ireland’s leading Engineering Contractors. The Group is also a well respected name within the Engineering sector in the UK. Michael is the former Head of the Construction Industry Federation (CIF). He has a keen interest in Gaelic games and is an active member of the St. Oliver Plunkett Eoghan Ruadh GAA club.
Noel King was born in Dublin in 1956. He had a long and distinguished career as a professional footballer and manager in the League of Ireland winning League Titles and FAI Cups as both player and manager. From 2000 up to 2010 Noel was manager of the Ireland Women’s football team. He was then appointed manager of the Ireland U21 football team which he held until late 2018. He is currently Player Identification Manager with the FAI. In 2013 Noel also had the honour of serving as the interim manager of the Ireland Senior Football team leading them in two matches against Germany and Kazakhstan
Playwright and author Brendan Behan was born in Holles Street, Dublin in February 1923. A writer in both Irish and English some of his notable works include The Quare Fellow, The Hostage and Borstal Boy. Behan’s uncle was Peadar Kearney [q.v.], author of “The Soldier’s Song” which was translated as “Amhrán na bhFiann” by Liam Ó Rinn. More on the life of Brendan Behan can be found here
