ACE Coaches
LIAM COONEY
ACE COACH
CHAIRPERSON
JUDITH McGUINNESS
ACE COACH
CATHAL O'DONNELL
ACE COACH
CHILD PROTECTION OFFICER
ANGELA KEARNEY
ACE COACH
ROBBIE FAUKLNER
ACE COACH
GENERAL SECRETARY
DAVID ROBERTSON
ACE COACH
EZEKIEL LAWRENCE
ACE COACH
SINEAD UÍ GHIBNE
ACE COACH
COMPETITION SECRETARY
PARENTS LIAISON OFFICER
ANNE MARIE GARCIA
ACE COACH
CHILD PROTECTION OFFICER
EDEL GARTLAND
ACE COACH
DEBBIE LUCEY
ACE COACH
JONATHAN MCCABE
ACE COACH
JENNIFER BRENNAN
ACE COACH
PADDY CLARKE
ACE COACH
OISIN Ó GIBNE
ACE COACH
RUARCAN Ó GIBNE
ACE COACH
PROFILES
ROBBIE FAULKNER \\ Ace Coach & Chairperson
Has been involved in athletics for over 30 years. He was a Juvenile member of Boyne AC where he won numerous Louth, Leinster and All Ireland championship medals. His main event was the 400mtrs (50.02 PB). He was a member of the 4x400mtr relay team that won the national championships and held the national record for 13yrs. He was also team captain of the u17 team that won the Leinster xcountry championships. Robbie has been coaching for over 15 years and have completed Athletics leader, Level 1 and Level 2 coaching courses for sprints and jumps. Robbie is the chairperson of Ace Athletics Club, where our aim is to encourage, support and motivate our young athletes to enjoy the sport of Athletics in a positive and fun environment.
Robbie is extremely professional, both athletes and parents are very honoured to have him as our chairperson and coach. Robbie is very approachable and nothing is ever a problem.
EZEKIEL LAWRENCE \\ Ace Coach & Vice Chairperson
Ezekiel is proud to be given the role of Vice Chairman of ACE AC and will be instrumental in the running of the club and more importantly, be a support to the development of its talented athletes. Ezekiel is originally from Nigeria and has now made Ireland his home. He is a devoted husband and father to two daughters and a son. Previous to this and owing to this love for travel and new experiences, Ezekiel lived in Hamburg and London.
His love for sport started from childhood; playing football barefoot in Lagos, and it continued on through his teenage years when he completed his first marathon at 17. His interest in athletics compelled him to take part in two further marathons in Hamburg and London. Ezekiel’s passion for athletics was re-ignited when his children showed an interest and now enjoy success in both track and field events. All three children are now involved in a number of sports including football, swimming and basketball. When Ezekiel is not on the track he keeps busy with the administration of his family business in Lagos. He is a printer by profession and at present provides a taxi service. Ezekiel prides himself on being a supporter for equal rights and justice for all.
JENNIFER BRENNAN \\ Ace Coach & General Secretary
Jennifer is a mother of 2 young boys and has been heavily involved in athletics for many years. She competed as a juvenile member of Boyne AC at county, provincial and national level but found her real place and passion in the sport back in 2011, when she first started coaching the young juveniles athletes in Dunleer AC. She is now delighted to be the secretary and one of our juvenile coaches at Ace AC and is committed to give back to our Ace children, what she herself received in abundance from the sport as a child – lifelong friendships, discipline, resilience, encouragement, belief and a deep love for the sport of athletics.
EDEL GARTLAND \\ Ace Coach & Treasurer
Is a mum to twins and has been involved in athletics since a young age. An accomplished athlete Edel was a national champion for sprint and hurdles and had her stint on the international circuit too. Edel started running with Skerries AC as a juvenile which she loved and was encouraged and coached by her late father Jim Quigley. The reason why Edel got involved with Ace AC apart from a great group of coaches is that she wanted to give her time to athletics like her dad did for her and to see the happiness in our young athletes faces.
Not sure how she landed the job as treasurer but when you have a great team behind you and plenty of laughter and support it’s makes her job easier.
JUDITH MCGUINNESS \\ Ace Coach & Covid Safety Officer
Judith took up running in 2012 after encouragement from her husband who was a coach in Boyne AC at the time. In 2014, Judith completed the Athletics Leader Course & has assisted in coaching juvenile athletes since then. In 2015, Judith also helped form a "Fit for Life Group" for Senior members & was involved in coaching this group for 4 years. She get's great enjoyment from running & she thoroughly enjoy's coaching the young, upcoming, juvenile athletes in ACE AC.
Judith is very dedicated and volunteers a lot of her time to the club, she always has a big friendly smile and a true advocate for Louth athletics.
ANGELA KEARNEY \\ Ace Coach & Competition Secretary
Angela is a mother of three junior athletes, herself an enthusiastic athlete and small business owner. She brings a wealth of experience to Ace AC from training to administration and liaises with AAI to register members in competitions and events. Angela bakes an amazing banana cake one of the advantages on being on the committee.
Angela is the race director for the clubs 5k race which is an extremely time consuming role, we all know she loves it and does a fantastic job.
DAVID ROBERTSON \\ Ace Coach & Club Registrar
Is from Edinburgh in Scotland, but he has lived in Ireland for more than 12 years. He is a lawyer who loves to run in his spare time, but who accepts that he will never be as fast as his two sons.
David is the clubs adviser any questions we need answered just ask David.
SINEAD UÍ GHIBNE \\ Ace Coach & Child Protection / Welfare Officer
Has been involved with athletics for almost ten years, as a mother of four young athletes and as a participant herself. Sinead a primary school teacher for the last 25 years, she has valued experience working with children, developing their love for sport, evoking a culture of wellbeing and instilling a sense of respect for themselves and others. Volunteering with Ace Athletics Club as Child Protection Officer, she will be able to call on her past experiences and develop new skills as new opportunities arise.
Sinead is a big part of the club along with her family, she is also very involved with the clubs 5K race and is part of the dedicated committee.
ANNE MARIE GARCIA \\ Ace Coach & Public Relations Officer
Is our PRO for Ace Athletics. She got involved with running herself only 4 years ago having been encouraged by her own children who were already seasoned athletes and fell in love with it straight away. She work's with other coaches who train the younger athletes and love to watch them acquire a love for the sport. Anne Marie believes that exercise and training is paramount for a healthy body and mind and love to watch athletes of any age train and reap the rewards. With her three young children in Ace it’s safe to say it definitely a family sport!
Anne Marie is a fantastic PRO for Ace and spends most weekends reporting on the results from the weekend activities, at time's it can be challenging but we would be lost without her. Go Ace!!!
LIAM COONEY \\ Ace Coach & Coaches Representative
Liam is a big part of Ace Athletics his knowledge as a coach is unreal, it was great to see him compete in a few road races in 2019 still has the speed. Liam is a qualified Level 2 Athletics Ireland coach with an interest in athletics from a young age were he competed mainly at middle distance and cross country. Many years of coaching experience with a simple goal of helping young athletes grow to love the sport, make great friends and hopefully realise their potential.
Liam's flexibility would put anyone to shame you just have to witness this yourself at circuit training.
JONATHAN McCABE \\ Ace Coach
Has various schools and club Leinster and All Ireland medals from 100m, 200m, long jump 110m and 400m hurdles and combined events, roughly 15 All Ireland medals. He won the senior men's All Ireland Decathlon Gold. Selected three times for the Irish Team. He has coached two athletes that went on to represent the Irish Team. and coached four all-ireland medalists maybe a 5th this year hopefully. Johnny received the Louth athlete of the year award four times, what an achievement. He won various Masters Leinster and All Irelands medals 100m, 200m 400m long jump, Combined events, 110m and 400m hurdles, Javelin and shot putt. Johnny still holds the Masters Leinster Championship records M35 for the indoor long jump and 400m hurdles.
Johnny is extremely dedicated to coaching and gives up a lot of his time to train our juvenile athletes. He has an endless amount of knowledge and has achieved so much when it comes to running. We at Ace are very lucky to have him on our team.
PADDY CLARKE \\ Ace Coach
Started running 30 years ago before that he was into playing football, he gave up football and after that started to put on the weight so he decided to do something about it and bought a pair of shoes and this started his long road into athletics. He met a lot of people who thought him how to train probably and not to burn himself out. His favourite event was 800m but he ran a lot of other races including half/ full marathons. He enjoyed racing and this is were he meet many of his friends in year 1999. Paddy suffered from back pain and after going under the knife his racing days were numbered. He started coaching it was so different than racing, here is had great success in guiding athletes into international status the like of Keith Kelly and indeed our own very successful coaches Liam, Johnny, Robbie, Colin & Debbie some of these great names won multiple all Ireland’s medals and still holds 4x400 relays record under 17.
Paddy was the manger of the national league title back in 2001 not sure about the year just to put it into context no other country or club combined has done this again to date. Paddy has achieved a lot over the years as an athlete and coach and is highly respected by everyone in the club.
DEBBIE LUCEY \\ Ace Coach / ACE 5k Race Comittee
Has had an interest in athletics all her life. She is a teacher in Balbriggan and coach athletics in her school. They compete in cross country and track and field. She is an avid supporter of Drogheda United. She love's her involvement in Ace and enjoy's working out with the children.
Debbie give's up a lot of her time both to the juvenile athletes and is very involved and key member of the Ace 5k Race committee.
CATHAL O'DONNELL \\ Ace Coach / Child Protection & Welfare Officer
Cathal has always been involved in sport, he played a lot of football but always enjoyed running, and he discovered the benefits of running for both body and soul for myself many years ago. His two kids are keen athletes with Ace Athletics and his role has gradually evolved from being an encouraging parent to becoming an active coach. Cathal is also one of two designated Child Protection Officers with the Club. Cathal is a business owner and over the years completed a few marathons, and many 5k & 10k runs - but the best thing about running for him, is in the freedom and clarity it can provide - at any stage in life. At Ace Athletics we endeavour to instil a love of running, which young athletes can take with them throughout their lives.
TARA SEMPLE \\ Ace Coach
Tara has been sporty all her life, through her sport was tennis. Tara got involved with athletics via her kids. Her youngest was always a climber and jumper so it seemed like a good fit for her. Tara arrived at Ace via her two lovely kids and has volunteered as a coach and is a big asset to the the club always has a big smile. It's a super group of people who support and encourage each other, all while having fun and making friends for life.
RUARCAN Ó GIBNE \\ Ace Coach
Ruarcan took up running when he was 10 years old and is still running competitively at a national and international level. He medalled twice at international standard and feel's like he bring's a lot of experience to this coaching team. His main events would be the 800m (1:57.34) and 1500m (4:02). He enjoys interacting with the kids/teens and love seeing them all going from strength to strength in this fantastic club.
Ruarcan is a fantastic role model for all our younger athletes., they look forward to training with him every week.
OISIN Ó GIBNE \\ Ace Coach
Oisin is 21 years old, and has been involved with Athletics since 2011. He loves everything about the sport from the training to competing, he is extremely professional, dedicated and also very talented. He is a very valued member of our coaching team he enjoys training the younger members of the club and to see them improve week in week out.
Like his older brother is a brilliant role model for our young and upcoming athletes and is always happy out.