John O'Flynn was born in Vancouver, BC in 1964 and attended St. Patrick's Elementary, Vancouver College and graduated from the Seminary of Christ the King in Mission, BC.

His parents introduced him to Ireland's national games of Gaelic Football and Hurling with the members of the Vancouver Irish Sporting and Social Club. He had the opportunity to play Gaelic Football in a number of North American County Board Championships. John attended the founding meeting in Toronto of the Canadian County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association in 1987 and currently serves as Secretary. He has presented workshops on Gaelic Football to teachers and summer camps that introduce the games to youth.

John O'Flynn resides in the District of North Vancouver with his wife, Kathleen, and is father to Matthias, Kristiann, Kelleigh, Emily and Michael. A graduate of Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, he has taught in both denominational and non-denominational schools in Richmond, Powell River, Vancouver, West Vancouver and North Vancouver. He is a frequent contributor to the monthly Celtic Connection with sports and biographical articles.

BOOKS:

The History of the Gaelic Athletic Association in Canada
(Trafford Publishing, 2008) 9781425163778 $21.90

[BCBW 2012]