Marie Keating announced as AFL Europe Grand Final Lunch Speaker!
We are delighted to announce our third guest speaker for AFL Grand Final Lunch at The Kia Oval on the 26th September – Marie Keating!
Marie Keating grew up obsessed with sport in the small village of Killeedy in West Limerick. Early years were spent playing camogie with Killeedy, where she helped them win their first ever County Senior Championship, and she went on to wear the jerseys of Limerick, Munster and Ireland in the sport.
After travelling to Sydney in 2005 she was introduced to AFL and was selected to represent New South Wales at three National Championships, winning an All-Australian medal in 2010 and being part of the Inaugural AFL Women’s High Performance camp in 2010. As part of the program she played in a curtain-raiser exhibition match ahead of the round 12, 2010 AFL match between Melbourne and Collingwood. In 2011, she was selected as one of eight players to participate in the AIS/AFL women’s academy.
In club football Marie won 2 Sydney Women’s AFL Premierships with Western Wolves, was twice SWAFL Leading Goalscorer and was named on the Sydney Women’s AFL Team of the Decade in 2008.
On returning to Ireland in 2011 she found an emerging women’s AFL scene in Ireland and Europe and has played in 11 International tournaments with both Ireland, winning 10. Marie is also a founding member of the Cork Vikings with whom she won 4 Ireland AFL Premierships and 3 club European Cups.
She moved into coaching in 2016 with University College Cork Bombers Women’s AFL and is currently Assistant Coach to the Irish Banshees, winning all the tournaments she has competed in with both teams.
While in Australia Marie completed an Associate Degree in Visual Communications and now works as a freelance Photographer and Videographer in Ireland utilising a relaxed, non-obtrusive and artful editorial style covering weddings, portraits, commercial and schools.
Her interests in live plays and psychology occupy the rest of her time.
To hear Marie’s story in person, indulging in Australian cuisine and celebrating its culture, book your ticket now to the AFL Grand Final Lunch on the 26th September at the Kia Oval (Tickets here!)
Written by Ben Grenier
