GAVIN McWHIRTER UK Manager Software, Services, Life Sciences and Consumer, Enterprise Ireland in Britain Gavin McWhirter has no Irish roots. He says: “I was born in England, and have a Scottish father. However I am a loyal servant of the Irish state!” NICOLE MANNION First Secretary, Irish Embassy Nicole Mannion is First Secretary in the Political Affairs sector at the Irish Embassy, London. JANET MATTHEWSON CEO, Young Barnet Foundation Funded by John Lyon’s Charity and City Bridge Trust, the Young Barnet Foundation has been established to support young people throughout Barnet. Janet Matthewson was born in England of Irish parents. Her father was Brian Harte, a well-known figure in GAA circles. ALANNA MAXWELL Third Secretary, Irish Embassy Alanna Maxwell is Third Secretary in the Irish Community and Cultural sector at the Embassy of Ireland in London. MARY MURPHY Co-ordinator Derby Rose Centre Mary Murphy, originally from Waterford but brought up in Tralee, has been in England for 53 years. She has been organising the Derby Rose of Tralee selection process for 33 years. MIKE MURPHY Executive Director Co-operation Ireland GB Born in London, Mike Murphy is the son of parents from Cork and Galway. He was with the Ogilvy Group before joining Co-operation Ireland in 2005. PAT MURPHY Founder Nottingham Irish Studies Group From Cork, Pat Murphy founded the Nottingham Irish Studies Group in 1991. He runs history sessions for the NISG, and is currently undertaking research on the Irish War of Independence. PATRICK MORRISON Chair, Irish in Britain Patrick Morrison, who grew up in the Irish community in Britain, is chair of the Irish in Britain as well as Development Officer for Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann.
DIPLOMAT: Ambassador O’Neill MAIREAD NI CHEOININ Director, Fundraiser A native Irish speaker, Mairead Ni Cheoinin is Corporate Fundraising Manager at Seafarers UK, a leading charity in the maritime sector. She attended Ashton Comprehensive in Cork, followed by a degree course in Maritime Studies at Cardiff University. Until earlier in 2017 Mairead Ni Cheoinin was a Non Executive Director of TG4, the Irish language television channel. CHRISTINA NOBLE Children’s rights campaigner, charity worker and writer and organiser Dublin-woman Christina Noble founded the Christina Noble Children’s Foundation in 1989. Based in London, the charity helps alleviate child poverty in Vietnam and Mongolia and aims to give all children the right to a happy and safe childhood. DERMOT NOLAN Administrator Dermot Nolan is the Chief Executive of Ofgem, the Government regulator for the electricity and downstream natural gas markets in Great Britain. He joined the organisation from the Commission for Energy Regulation in Ireland. DEIRDRE O’BYRNE Chair of Nottingham Irish Studies Group, Lecturer in Irish Literature, Loughborough University Deirdre O’Byrne, from Co. Carlow, presents Irish legends in schools, festivals, libraries etc throughout Britain. DONAL O’CONNELL Attaché, Embassy of Ireland, London Donal O’Connell is an Attaché at the Irish Embassy with special responsibility in the Passport Services.
PR’S RISING STAR: Hannah Saunders
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FRANCES O’GRADY General Secretary, British TUC Frances O’Grady was born in Oxford. She became General Secretary of the TUC in 2013 when she was assessed as the 11th most powerful woman in Britain by BBC Radio 4’s Women’s Hour.
JIM O’HARA Chair, Irish Cultural Centre Hammersmith Jim O’Hara, born in Belfast and studied at Queen’s University, Belfast, was a history lecturer in various universities in Britain. In 1990 he established, and became Director of, the Irish Studies Centre at St. Mary’s University College, Strawberry Hill, Twickenham.
HANNAH SAUNDERS PR, Company Founder Hannah Saunders in the founder of Hannah Saunders PR, a full service public relations agency working in the fashion and lifestyle sectors. She is also personal PR to a number of high profile names in music and sport including the Soprano Laura Wright and rugby player Peter Stringer.
ADRIAN O’NEILL Irish Ambassador to Britain Adrian O’Neill is the 17th and current Ambassador to Britain, taking up the post in 2017. Born and raised in Dublin, he is a Trinity College Dublin graduate, and has previously served in Boston, Washington and Madrid.
CAROLINE SAVAGE Attaché, Embassy of Ireland, London Caroline Savage is the Attaché for Economic & Trade Affairs at the Irish Embassy in London.
DANNY O’SULLIVAN Chair, Kerry Association London Danny O’Sullivan immigrated to London in the early seventies at the age of 16. He took over Chair for the Kerry Association London in 2013 after having been an active member of the Association ever since it began. TERRY O’SULLIVAN First Secretary, Embassy of Ireland, London Terry O’Sullivan is First Secretary with responsibility for Customs and Revenue. MATTHEW O’TOOLE Consultant, political adviser From Co. Down, Matthew O’Toole is a senior consultant at Powerscourt, a strategic communications consultancy. He previously worked in Number 10, latterly as chief press officer for Europe and economic affairs. O’Toole has also worked in a media relations role at HSBC, and for HM Treasury and the Ministry of Justice. LEMBIT ÖPIK Director of Communications Motorcycle Action Group Born in Bangor, Co. Down to Estonian immigrants, Lembit Öpik served as Lib Dem MP from 1997 until 2010 for Montgomeryshire. He is currently Director of Communications at the Motorcycle Action Group. PAULINE ROCHE Managing Director Pauline Roche, a graduate from the National University of Ireland, Galway, is managing director of the RnR Organisation, a company that provides technical support for voluntary and community organisations. GENA ROSE General manager, Irish World Heritage Centre The Irish World Heritage Centre is a major hub for the Irish community in the northwest of England with a diverse programme of traditional cultural activities covering Irish music, dance and Irish language groups. CONOR RYAN Political adviser Dublin-born Conor Ryan is Director of Research and Communications at the Sutton Trust. He has a BA and an MA in Political Science from University College Dublin. He was formerly senior adviser to Tony Blair and David Blunkett on education.
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DON SEXTON Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Ireland, London Don Sexton is Counsellor for EU & External Relations at the Irish Embassy in London. BARBARA STANLEY Founder, Barbara Stanley Gallery Barbara’s interest in art began in the West of Ireland. London-based she promotes the work of Irish artists, and also provides a consultancy service to collectors. CHRISTIE POWER Manager, Leeds Irish Centre Christie Power from Tipperary has been in Leeds for 43 years. He remains at the helm of Leeds Irish Centre, presiding over a membership in excess of 1,100. JACK TROW Chair, Irish Heritage Foundation Scotland Chair of the Irish Heritage Foundation Scotland which promotes Irish culture and the Irish community in Scotland. GARETH WALLACE Administrator, political adviser From the North of Ireland, Gareth Wallace is Executive Director of the Conservative Christian Fellowship. He was formerly Policy Adviser for the Salvation Army. Wallace served as Deputy Chair (Political) for Vauxhall Constituency Conservative Association. He has previously worked for the Home Office and for former Conservative Leader William Hague. CATHERINE WILEY Founder Catholic Grandparents’ Association Catherine Wiley, from Castlebar in Mayo, founded the Catholic Grandparents’ Association in 2009. Catherine, who left Ireland aged 15, now splits her time between Walsingham, Norfolk and Westport. MARTINA WINTOUR Chair, Jersey Irish Society From Co. Mayo, Martina Wintour emigrated to Jersey in 1977. She has been at the helm of the island’s successful Irish Society which has recently celebrated her 40th anniversary. PAT WRIGHT Community worker Pat Wright is active in community affairs in Birmingham. She is currently a freelance consultant for Community & Charity Support Services in Birmingham.
THE VOICE OF THE IRISH IN BRITAIN SINCE 1970
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