Inside Track: Louth’s Lyn lands top LGFA post

It’s almost certain that when Lyn Savage lined out for Louth in the 1998 All-Ireland Junior final, played in Croke Park, she couldn’t have pictured herself one day occupying one of the many offices in the GAA headquarters.

Louth played Roscommon in the decider, and by coming in with a 4-8 to 2-9 victory, brought the title back to the county for the first time. Lyn Savage played in goals, and though beaten twice, played a big part in the making of history.

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Promoted as a result of the win, Louth made in back-to-back All-Ireland wins, beating Wexford in the intermediate final at Athy.

Lyn was among the subs for this one, but in the same year, wearing the Cooley colours, she was in the forwards when the peninsula side won the Leinster Intermediate title, before going on to contest the All-Ireland final, in which they were narrowly beaten by Naomh Abhan, from Cork.

Last week, the Louth girl was named new CEO of the Ladies Gaelic Football Association, having prior to that filled the role of national development officer. She succeeds Helen O’Rourke, who was in the position since 1997.

Lyn’s progress to the LGFA’s top position came via a spell with Dublin GAA as game promotions officer. After that, she took over as the LGFA’s national development officer.

She takes over as CEO in March of next year, and will immediately become involved in the amalgamation of her association, the GAA and the Camogie Association.

While it operates out of Croke Park, the LGFA, like the Camogie Association, is a separate entity.

A committee was set up a number of years back, and under the chairmanship of former President, Mary McAleese, and its recommendation was that there should be a merger.

This was agreed by the three bodies, but while it was to become law next year, it could be 2027 before there is a charter.

Lyn Savage comes from a Castletowncooley steeped in the GAA. Her late father, Jim Savage, was on St Patrick’s first Louth junior championship-winning team in 1960, and later served as a club chairman.

An uncle, the late Gerry Carroll, was also a championship winner with Pat’s, and figured on the Louth team that won the Leinster Under-21 title in 1970 – while a first-cousin, Michael Savage, was understudy for a time to Dublin’s long-serving goalkeeper, Stephen Cluxton.