IPPN

Published: 06 April 2016

Catríona is the Principal of Our Lady of Good Counsel GNS, Ferrybank, Waterford. She began teaching in the school in 1998 and was appointed as a Teaching Principal there in 2005. The role became an administrative one in 2007.

Having graduated from Our Lady of Mercy College, Carysfort Park in 1986, Catríona began her teaching career in a large co-educational school in Confey, Leixlip, Co. Kildare. Catríona’s experience as a young teacher in San Carlo JNS, under the guidance of an exemplary school leader, has greatly influenced her own style of principalship. 

Catríona represented Waterford on IPPN’s National Council for 4 years and was elected to the Board of Directors in November 2014. She is currently working with a small group of Board members to develop IPPN’s position on a number of key issues. Catríona is a firm believer in the value of IPPN’s Local Principals’ Support Groups as an effective means of self-care for principals, as an opportunity for Professional Development and as a forum for developing principals’ skills as reflective practitioners.

Catríona was elected as Chairperson of the Board of Directors and serves a 2-year term from September 2023 to August 2025.

Published: 31 March 2016

Pat graduated from Carysfort College with a B. Ed in 1982 and began teaching in Acres NS, Burtonport, Co. Donegal. Apart from a career break, Pat has taught in the same school to the present day. He was appointed principal in 1998. Acres NS is a 4-teacher Rural DEIS school with a learning support teacher and a resource teacher.

Pat served as the National Council representative for Donegal for a number of years. He was co-opted to the Board of Directors at the end of 2015 and attended his first Board meeting on the 12th of February, 2016. He is a great advocator of principal support groups and set up a group in North West Donegal a number of years ago. This group meet regularly and is an important life line for all who attend. Pat continually encourages principals, particularly in Donegal, to attend the annual conference and believes it is the major calendar event for a principal. He believes it informs, invigorates and provides principals the opportunity to continue learning in a brilliant social setting.

Published: 31 March 2016

Kieran McCarthy – Co-Founder and Partner of Audit & Advisory at Hughes Blake

Kieran is founding Partner and Head of Audit & Advisory at Baker Tilly Hughes Blake since 2005.

His main area of expertise is in advising entrepreneurial owner managed and family business, as well as recovery solutions for businesses. Kieran published his first book Family Business- A Survival Guide with the Chartered Accountants of Ireland in October 2014. Kieran is non-executive director to a number of companies assisting with strategic plans and governance.

Published: 02 March 2015

IPPN’s Board of Directors has the principal responsibility for the general leadership of the organisation, to achieve its mission and the legal accountability for its operations. This means that, as a group, the Board is in charge of establishing a clear organisational mission, forming the strategic plan and overseeing and evaluating the plan's success

Click on a photo to view the biopic for the relevant Board member.

Catriona O'Reilly Chairperson Our Lady of Good Counsel School, Waterford	Deirdre Kelly President-elect  St Michaels NS,   Sligo
Aoife O'Connor Board Member Scoil Naomh Colman Mac Duaigh Galway	Brian Bowden Board Member	Bryan Lynch Board Member St. Conleth & Marys Kildare
Catriona Donohoe Board Member St Michaels NS Cavan	Diarmaid Moore Board Member Milford NS Limerick	Diarmuid Hennessy Board Member  Scoil Mhuire na nGrast Cork
Eileen Pike Board Member Tullyallen NS Louth	Regina Halphin Board Member Divine Mercy SNS Dublin	Selina Carmody Board Member Wexford ETNS Wexford