Joanna Byrne Removed as Drogheda United Co-Chairperson
Drogheda United’s civil war has deepened with the removal of Sinn Féin TD Joanna Byrne from her position as co-chairperson of the League of Ireland club. The decision was made by the club’s United States-based owners, Trivela Group, on Monday, March 23, 2026.
Background and Recent Developments
The removal follows a period of tension stemming from Byrne’s statement regarding the Republic of Ireland v Israel fixture in the UEFA Nations League. Last month, the club’s board of directors reportedly indicated her position was untenable following the statement. Despite this, Byrne maintained she had no intention of resigning from her voluntary role with the Boynesiders. The Journal reported on this stance last week.
Trivela Group’s Statement
Trivela Group confirmed the removal in a statement, asserting their authority as the sole shareholder of Drogheda United FC. The statement read, “Joanna Byrne has been removed by Trivela Group as a director of the club.” The board now consists of Benjamin Boycott, Marc Koretzky, Barton Lee, and CEO Rian Wogan, with Boycott serving as the sole chairperson for the time being. The club intends to appoint a local director and co-chair in due course. Trivela Group expressed their gratitude for Byrne’s “longstanding and ongoing dedication to the club and its success.” The Independent detailed these changes.
Byrne’s Response
Byrne strongly criticized the owners’ actions, describing them as “a cold, underhand move, initiated in the dark of the night, which was planned and co-ordinated without any consultation with me.” She characterized this as typical of Trivela’s business practices. Byrne disputed the narrative of a conflict of interest between her roles as co-chairperson and as an opposition spokesperson on sport, stating she had successfully kept her political life separate from her involvement with the club for many years. The Irish Times covered her response.
Byrne also pointed out that Trivela had been consulted prior to her standing in both a local election and a general election, and were supportive at the time. She stated that the issue of a potential conflict of interest was discussed with Trivela when they took ownership of the club, and no concerns were raised then. She added that she was not asked to participate in a recent review conducted by Trivela, which concluded that her dual role was “not a workable arrangement.”
Previous Involvement and Political Career
Joanna Byrne has been a member of Louth County Council since 2016, retaining her seat in 2019, and 2024. She is also the chairperson of Drogheda United FC and a member of the FAI’s National League Committee, advocating for Drogheda on a national stage. Sinn Féin provides details on her political career.
Despite the removal from her position with Drogheda United, Byrne remains committed to the club and the League of Ireland, expressing her desire to see both flourish.