Community & Voluntary
Mike Taylor (Radio Corca Baiscin)
Catriona Murphy (The Burren Centre)
Mary Coffey (Tuamgraney Development Association)
Mary Moloney (co-opted)
Business
Margaret Corry (Roxton Construction)
Denis Tuohy (Chair – Agricultural Consultant)
Local Government
Cllr Tony Mulcahy
Cllr Michael Begley
Cllr Michael Shannon
Leonore O’Neill
State Agencies
Martina Enright (Teagasc)
Triona Lynch (Secretary – LCETB)
Social Partners
Andrew Dundas (IFA)
Environmental/Climate/Biodiversity
Bridget Ginnity (Clare Public Participation Network)
Elaine Bradley (Irish Seed Savers)
Denis Tuohy
Agricultural Consultant
Denis is a member of the Agricultural Consultants Association (ACA) and the Agricultural Science Association (ASA). Denis is also a part-time suckler farmer and a member of the Whitegate branch of Clare IFA. He has also represented Clare on the IFA national Rural Development Committee for 6 years and spent 4 of those years as Vice-Chairperson of the committee. Denis also represents the farming community on the Rural Development Strategic policy committee of Clare County Council, and a subgroup member of the of the Clare Tourism Advisory Forum – Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) Green Team.
He is an active member of Scariff Town Team and enjoys participating in local rural initiatives that promote sustainable developments within rural communities and farm families.
Leonore O’Neill
Clare County Council
Leonore O’Neill serves as the Senior Executive Officer for the Rural and Community Development department at Clare County Council.
In this leadership role, she oversees strategic local initiatives, community support schemes, and rural development projects designed to enhance the economic and social well-being of the county.
Bridget Ginnity
Clare Public Participation Network
Bridget moved to Ennis in the early 90’s and since then has been involved in a range of community activities – from the school committee when her children were young to admirable organisations like Clare Haven and the Ennis Book Club Festival, where she is board member. Bridget holds a diploma in governance from the Institute of Public Administration.
Bridget derives great pleasure from being in nature, whether gardening, walking or in water with the Ennis Sub Aqua Club or Ballyalla Bravehearts. The climate and biodiversity crisis is a major concern for her and she believes our community actions can contribute to reducing our emissions, building our resilience and supporting nature as well as improving quality of life.
Cllr Tony Mulcahy
Clare County Council
Councillor Tony Mulcahy is a veteran Fine Gael politician currently serving as the Leas-Chathaoirleach of Clare County Council representing the Shannon electoral area. First elected to local government in 1999, his extensive political career includes serving as Mayor of Clare and Mayor of Shannon, as well as a five-year term as an Irish Senator in Seanad Éireann (2011–2016).
After an eight-year hiatus from frontline politics, he staged a successful political comeback in the June 2024 local elections.
A Shannon resident for nearly 50 years and a long-time local business owner, Mulcahy is also a dedicated disability advocate whose current political priorities focus on delivering affordable housing, driving economic growth at Shannon Airport, and enhancing local community, elderly, and sporting infrastructure.
Mary Coffey
Tuamgraney Development Association
An Adjunct Associate Professor attached to the Department of Radiation Therapy, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin. She established the School of Radiation Therapy at St. Luke’s Hospital in 1982, and established the first European Committee for radiation therapists. She was a member of the Irish Department of Health and Children’s working party which developed the national plan for radiation oncology in Ireland.
She has four children and twelve grandchildren. She is in the local ICA and enjoy learning new crafts and participating in different activities. She is in a couple of book clubs and love reading a wide range of genres, also going to concerts and the theatre.
She joined the PPN Secretariat as she feels community involvement in local and national government is essential.
She is excited to be a part of this group who she believes does amazing work in the community.
Mike Taylor
Radio Corca Baiscin
Mike has an extensive level of experience in corporate governance, public relations, and fundraising. He currently sits on the Advisory Board of FASD Ireland and a number of other non-profit organisations both locally and nationally.
A consultant in strategic counsel by trade, Mike studied Law, Political Science and Sociology at NUI Galway and currently works in the public sector.
Mike lives in Kilkee where he spends a lot of time working in the community through Loop Head Together and in his role as a Peace Commissioner.
Andrew Dundas
IFA
Andrew Dundas is a prominent dairy, suckler, and beef farmer based in Ardnacrusha who served as the County Chairman of the Clare Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) from 2012 to 2016. In addition to managing his family farm, he is a dedicated community advocate who serves on CLDC’s board and the board of the Sixmilebridge Mart.
In recent years, he has been highly active in promoting agricultural sustainability, representing local farming groups in green energy initiatives and collaborating on IFA roadshows to showcase renewable solar technology for farms.
Mary Moloney
Community/Voluntary
Mary has recently retired after over 40 years service in the Department of Social Protection. She held a number of senior management roles across the Department’s functions including Employment Services, Intreo, Community Welfare Service and Community Employment programmes in Clare, the Mid West and Kerry.
Experience includes leading large multi-functional teams and she has a track record on implementing change management initiatives.
She lives in Ennis and enjoys walking throughout Co Clare, reading, GAA and travelling.
Elaine Bradley
Irish Seedsavers
Elaine Bradley is the Executive Director of Irish Seed Savers Association. Formerly the CEO of Volunteering Ireland (now Volunteer Ireland) she has worked as an organisational development specialist in a wide range of settings, delivering projects for the European Commission, the UN, and for a range of human rights, social justice and civil society organisations. Before taking up her role in ISSA Elaine was immersed in academia – lecturing in Trinity College in the Dept. of Sociology while undertaking Doctoral research.
Elaine is a qualified permaculture designer and a 2nd Dan Black Belt in Aikido – skills that come in handy from time to time.
Margaret Corry
Roxton Construction
Margaret is a prominent business representative and community leader in County Clare, serving as a sector representative on our board via her background with Roxton Construction. Based in the Corofin and Roxton area, she is deeply integrated into the region’s agricultural and business networks.
Outside of her corporate and development roles, she is a dedicated equestrian, competing as an active show-jumping rider registered with ShowJumping Ireland (SJI) and serving as the club secretary for the Burren Riding Club.
Triona Lynch
LCETB
Tríona is an experienced educational leader who serves as an Adult Education Officer and Further Education and Training (FET) Manager for the Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board (LCETB). Based primarily at the Ennis Campus in County Clare, she plays a vital role in coordinating local community education, adult literacy, and skills development programmes designed to prepare learners for the workforce.
Over the years, she has been a key driver of multi-agency alliances and regional initiatives—such as the Adult Literacy for Life strategy and the National FET Learner Forum—ensuring that learning opportunities are accessible and directly tailored to the social and economic needs of local communities.
Martina Enright
Teagasc
Martina Enright is an experienced agricultural expert who serves as an Environment, Technology, and Drystock Advisor for Teagasc (the Agriculture and Food Development Authority). Based at the advisory office on Station Road in Ennis, she provides vital technical, financial, and environmental guidance to farmers across County Clare. Alongside her routine advisory work, she serves as the Clare County Coordinator for the Options for Farm Families Programme, managing initiatives that focus on farm business diversification, alternative rural enterprises, and sustainable income generation for local agricultural households.
Cllr Michael Begley
Michael is a veteran Independent (Non-Party) politician who has represented South East Clare on Clare County Council since 1991. A native of Clonlara, he made history in June 2018 when he was unanimously elected as the first-ever representative from his home village and the wider Southeast Clare area to serve as the Cathaoirleach (Mayor) of Clare. Currently representing the Shannon electoral area, Begley’s extensive local government experience includes multiple terms as the Cathaoirleach of the Shannon Municipal District, most recently re-elected to the chair in June 2026.
Known for his commitment to sustainable local campaigning—such as avoiding plastic posters and canvassing by electric bike—his core priorities centre on community development. Over his lengthy career, he has driven key local infrastructure advancements, including the Springfield Flood Defence system, the Clonlara Town and Village Renewal project, and local community childcare, sports, and recreation facilities.
Cllr Michael Shannon
Councillor Michael Shannon is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician representing the Kilrush Local Electoral Area (LEA) on Clare County Council. A native of Quilty and closely involved with the Kilmurry Ibrickane area, he made local history as the first-ever councillor from Quilty to be appointed to a leadership role in the district.
Following his tenure as Leas-Chathaoirleach (Vice Chair) for the 2025–2026 term, Shannon was elected in June 2026 as the Cathaoirleach (Chairperson) of the West Clare Municipal District. Based out of Ballymakea, his political work heavily emphasises rural community development, backing regional voluntary groups, and securing necessary upgrades and investment for West Clare’s local infrastructure.
