“There’s a real team spirit at Kirby,” says Darren Dineen, Supply Chain Graduate and wheelchair hurling champion

Under the leadership of Darren Dineen, Munster’s wheelchair hurling team won the All-Ireland championship and a national league title. We speak to him in this #PeopleFirst as he settles into his second season as a player after handing over the captaincy in 2025, and eight months into the Kirby graduate programme.

Joining us from the Technical University Shannon (TUS), Darren now plays a key role in our procurement team, working with colleagues across the company to order materials and services for projects in Ireland.

“Day to day, I manage purchases – buying materials for locally based jobs and small works projects. It’s a real mix-and-match role, and every day is different,” says Darren, who studied a four-year Business with Computing bachelor’s degree.

When asked what attracted him to apply for the graduate programme at Kirby, he said: “I knew people who had done placements with Kirby, and they had nothing but good things to say. There’s a really great culture and good craic in the Limerick office, everyone is invested in making sure the teams succeed.

“Kirby lives and works by its core values and stands by them. There’s a real team spirit here. It’s a great environment to work in.”

Since joining, he’s gained a strong following across the company, with teammates cheering him on in his sporting endeavours. Barry Murphy, Senior Kirby HR Business Partner and Limerick hurler, attended a wheelchair hurling session in Athenry back in December and had the chance to play a game with Darren.

Barry said: “It was a lot harder than I expected – the level of coordination, strength and control needed is unbelievable. The experience really heightened my respect for the people playing wheelchair hurling. Their skill and resilience are something to admire.”

Barry Murphy All-Ireland Hurling Champion and Darren Dineen All Ireland wheelchair Hurling Champion — Barry Murphy, Senior Kirby HR Business Partner and Limerick hurler, (left) attended a wheelchair hurling session in Athenry, Galway, with Darren (right).

In October, Darren was asked to represent his country at the European Wheelchair Floorball Tournament, held in The Netherlands. “Our Wheelchair Hurling Camogie players exemplify the spirit of determination, teamwork, and pride in representing Ireland,” said GAA President, Jarlath Burns, of the tournament.

Darren Dineen on the International Irish Floorball team — Darren represented Ireland in the European Wheelchair Floorball Tournament, held in The Netherlands. Pictured (left to right) are James McCarthy, Cian Horgan, Ellie Sheehy, Maurice Noonan and Darren.

It was Darren’s parents who first encouraged his sporting career. Diagnosed with cerebral palsy at the age of two, he took up wheelchair hurling in 2011 and hasn’t looked back.

The 24-year-old is now applying his skills in teamwork and leadership to his career, with his first six months focusing on training on Kirby’s systems, procedures and ways of working, and its projects.

Darren was one of two to join Kirby from his course at TUS last year, with our programme offering graduates the chance to work on projects, ranging from data centres to life sciences and renewable energy, both in Ireland and across Europe, while implementing cutting-edge technological advancements.

The programme offers the opportunity to kick-start careers in engineering and gain exciting international experience with excellent opportunities for career development and progression.

“I have found so many similarities with playing sport. At Kirby we wear one jersey, we are a team. It’s an environment where you can flourish, and I hope to do so for many years to come,” Darren finishes.