Sarah Keane

UCD Alumni Award in Law 2025

BCL 1995, LLM 1996

As the first Chief Executive Officer of Swim Ireland, a position she has held since 2004, Sarah Keane has played a pivotal role in the modernisation of the organisation and the development of swimming, water polo, diving and other aquatic disciplines in Ireland. In 2017 she became the first female President of the Olympic Federation of Ireland (OFI), and was reappointed in 2020. She stepped down from the role in December 2024 after leading the OFI to Ireland’s most successful Olympic Games ever in Paris 2024. Sarah is actively involved in global and national sports governance and sits on the government appointed Leadership Group for the implementation of the National Sports Policy. She is a committed advocate for Gender Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and is currently Chair of the first European Aquatics DEI Committee. A qualified solicitor with a degree in law, a masters in commercial law and diplomas in corporate and financial management, Sarah was an Associate Partner in Matheson law firm. She was appointed to the Central Bank of Ireland Commission in 2020 and continues in that role today.