President – Jenny Milliron O’Neil
Lifting History:
I had just turned 17 and was just diagnosed with an auto immune disorder. I decided that my body worked for me, not the other way around, and quickly came to appreciate that exercise was empowering and alleviated both physical and mental symptoms, providing mental models that transfer to every area of life. I’ve been a lifting enthusiast ever since.
Favorite Lift/Lifting Memory
I have so many amazing memories; this sport has opened so many doors for me! I’ve been honored to represent my native state of Michigan at national championships and even more honored to represent my home country of Ireland at international competitions. I get emotional when I think about seeing many of the girls that I’ve coached achieve their goals as well as win national and international titles. I also tear up when thinking about learning to bench in a shirt with the great Gene Rychlak, (the first man to ever bench 1,000 pounds). I credit the great Louie Simmons with my all time world record in deadlift because he more or less dared me to do it so I had to do it that day, and feel so honored to have had that interaction! I laugh thinking about how Andy Bolton told me I did not hit him hard enough in the pre lift hype before we both deadlifted at an expo. But hands down my favorite moment was actually at the world championships in Serbia in 2016 when I bombed out. Lifting tells you so much about yourself and those around you, and you learn even more when you lose than when you win. On this occasion I learned exactly who my true friends were, as well as exactly what was important to me.
Achievements:
ATWR 557lb DL at 147lb BW, Current European and World Champion, a bunch of national, European and World championships and records. Currently a Category 2 International Referee and the GPC International Secretary of the Board.
Other Interests:
When not lifting or doing the admin involved in her national and international GPC responsibilities, Jenny works full time for a national charity, part time as a consultant and also enjoys painting, yoga, researching social policy pursuant to a PhD, and playing with her dog Sam.
Vice President – Dave McGuinness
Lifting History
I Started training with my dad when I was a teenager and he noticed that I had a strong bench… kinda went from there.
Favorite Lift/Lifting Memory
When he was younger Dave did all 3 lifts, but due to injury has focused on Bench Press. He said his favorite memory was standing on the podium in Slovakia in 2012, but that was before his dad started lifting and they competed together at the world championships in 2023, and that memory has to be right up there!
Achievements
Dave is a category 1 International Referee and holds several national and world records and we’ve lost count of how many world championship titles he’s won.
Technical Officer – Darren Bennett
Lifting History
Although involved in lifting and athletics my whole life, I first competed in 2012 in the GPC.
Favorite Lift/Lifting Memory
“Right now the deadlift is the only lift I don’t hate.”
Achievements
Darren competes both raw and equipped, and currently holds 18 national records, as well as several European and World Records, and has won 12 World champion titles. Darren is a Category 1 International Referee and when a weight is called, he can tell you what plates to load on a bar faster than any other man alive.
Other Interests
When not training with his son and team, Darren also enjoys travelling with his wife and 3 children, playing with their dog Milo, building and collecting gym equipment, and collecting and restoring vintage automobiles.
Treasurer – Frank McGivney
Lifting History
There was a local gym run by Bernie Fennessy (one of the original founders of powerlifting in Ireland) around the corner from me in Clonmel. Due to being crossed eyed and dyspraxic, I was brutal at every other sport, so I thought something performed in a singular plane had the best chance of me not totally wrecking the joint.
Favourite Lift/Lifting Memory
Has to be seeing my son compete for the first time and setting four national records in the process. Proud doesn’t even come close! Before Luke started lifting, I would have told you about how there used to be a lad by the name of Chris who had down syndrome and he used to train with the lads in limerick and seeing the joy in his face lifting and the way all these big bad hearty dangerous looking boyos made him a part of the gang was the best memory.
Achievements
Back in the day, Frank squatted 400 kg with a few ace bandages around his knees for wraps, and still holds a national record or two (3 to be precise). Not bad for an auld lad. Frank is a Category 2 International Referee and the GPC International Treasurer.
Other Interests
Frank runs a busy accountancy firm in Cavan, and also enjoys travelling with his wife and 2 children, reading, writing, building Lego models, solving puzzles and the occasional Brazilian Jiu Jitsu class, and walking the dog called Patch.
Regional Representative – Richie Penkert
Lifting History
Richie won’t tell us how long he’s been lifting because then we’d figure out how old he really is.
Achievements
Richie holds several national, european and world records and is also an International Referee.
Other Interests
Richie is a father of four, grandfather of three and enjoys travelling with his family, soccer (whomever Leeds are), rugby and spinning around on his motorbike.
Regional Representative – Konrad Dabrowski
Lifting History
Konrad started lifting in 1998.
Favorite Lift/Lifting
Konrad says his favorite memory is bench pressing 250 kg raw. For many of his teammates, it was seeing him represent Ireland at the World championships in 2023 and win gold in two different events.
Other Interests
Konrad is that guy in the back of the room making everyone laugh so he’s great to have around if you’re nervous at a competition. He also enjoys hiking and hill walking.
Regional Representative – Liam Beville
Favourite lift: Deadlift.
First Competition: A Push/Pull event organised between 3 Limerick Clubs in 1986. This followed a Push/Pull Limerick Championships event in 1987 for Novice Powerlifters where I won the 75kg weight Division and Overall Best Lifter award
Achievements:
I achieved many Irish and Celtic Nations titles as well as representing my country in World and International competitions throughout my career as an elite Powerlifter.
Ranked number 1 Irish Deadlifter of All Time since 1992 where I did 310kg ( Irish and Celtic Nations record) at bodyweight of 75kg. This is unequalled and is 220 Wilkes points which is the best deadlift ever by an Irish man. Done in an IPF International competition ( no categories such as Raw, Single Ply, Multi Ply, Can’t believe its not butter ply etc. only weight divisions as you were either a Powerlifter or not.) Also competition started 30 minutes after weigh-in ended. Also no bench shirts ( Benched 140kg Raw same day ). Also no single lifts so you had to get a total in to break a record. I also did 682.5kg total that day ( Squat: 232.5kg, Bench: 140kg and Deadlift: 310kg ) which was an Irish Total record. 1992 saw me the undisputed King of Deadlift but also the number 1 under 75kg Powerlifter.
In 1988 I broke my first Irish Junior record at my first full Powerlifting competion which was IPF Irish Junior Championships in Waterford. In the 67.5kg Weight division I did a 227.5kg Deadlift breaking old record by 5kg.
I would go on to do my first 4 times bodyweight Deadlift in the 67.5kg weight division in the Celtic Nations Championships in 1989 doing 272.5kg Deadlift. I would regularly lift in 67.5kg, 75kg, 82.5kg and 90kg weight divisions going up and down at will. I would do over 4 times bodyweight in Deadlift also at Celtic Nations Championships in Wales where I did 310kg Deadlift at bodyweight of 75kg in the 75kg weight division
After 1992 I again gave up Powerlifting, second time doing this. I returned in 1995 and again gave up in 1998 and again returned in 2006 for a last hoorah after getting a hip replacement. I entered the GPC World Championships in Gent, Belgium for what was to be my last competition before retiring and getting a full knee replacement that I had always needed since an accident in 1983. I took bronze medal. In 2018 I returned to Powerlifting and competed at the AWPC Worlds in Raw Deadlift at bodyweight of 65.5kg in 67.5kg weight division ( I dieted down from 92kg ) and won gold and set a World Record at 53 years of age.
Since returning to Powerlifting I have an ATWR in 55-59 age group in 90kg weight division of 285kg in Deadlift. I have both GPC Raw and Equipped World Records at 90kg weight division in Masters 4 category and I am now seeking both Raw and Equipped World GPC records at 82.5kg in my final year of Master 4 category being 59 years of age this year. Since my last return to Powerlifting I have set and broken 4 World Records in Deadlift across 4 weight divisions in 3 Federations.
Much more to come. Watch this space!
Update! On 13th April 2024 at the Nationals I achieved the 82.5kg World Record to complete my full set of 4 world records across 4 weight divisions currently held at same time