Governance & Transparency

Anne Heraty was appointed to the Board of Barretstown in September 2019 and was appointed as Chair in January 2023. She is the founder and former Chief Executive Officer of CPL Resources plc which she established in 1989 and played a key role in developing to become Ireland’s leading employment services company. In 1999, Anne floated CPL Resources, becoming the first female head of an Irish listed company. Anne won the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2006, was named Business & Finance “Business Person of the Year 2014,” and Irish Times Business Person of the year 2021. She sits on the boards of Kingspan Group plc, IBEC, Sherry Fitzgerald and is Chair of the judging panel of the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Awards. Anne is a founding member of Endeavour in Ireland. Anne is Chair of Barretstown’s Nominations & Remuneration Committee.

Patrick was appointed to the Board of Barretstown in June 2020. Since 2014, Patrick has worked as Business Development Director with Manguard Plus and has been involved in the financial services sector both in Ireland and London for many years. Patrick has been associated with Barretstown since 2014 when his daughter Alice became a camper. Since 2016, he has represented Barretstown at the National Cancer Strategy Forum. Patrick is Co-Chair of Barretstown’s Childcare Advisory Committee.

Liam Kavanagh was appointed to the Board of Barretstown in June 2020. Liam is a Chartered Director and Fellow of the Chartered Association of Certified Accountants . Liam acts as a consultant and non-executive director to a number of private companies. He is the former Managing Director for The Irish Times Group and a former President of Dublin Chamber of Commerce. He currently serves as an external member of the Finance Committee of Trinity College Dublin. Liam is a member of Barretstown’s Finance & Audit Committee.

Colm McDonnell was appointed to the Board of Barretstown in February 2017. Colm is a Partner and is also the COO of Deloitte’s Risk Advisory business in North South Europe, a business of over £1B in annual revenues. Colm has been with Deloitte for over 30 years and in this time, has gained invaluable insight and knowledge across all business sectors. Colm supports clients in risk management, information and cyber risk, regulatory compliance and internal audit through business process and technology specialism. Colm was a Council Member of Dublin Chamber of Commerce from 2009 to 2019, serving as Treasurer from 2011 to 2016. Colm is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Ireland and is a member of the Institute of Internal Auditors, the Association of Compliance Officers in Ireland, and the Information Systems Audit and Control Association. Colm is Chair of Barretstown’s Risk & Governance Committee.

David McKeown was appointed to the Board of Barretstown in November 2018. He is CoCEO of his family business, Kilsaran International, which he has been involved in for over 20 years. Prior to his appointment as Co-CEO, David spent 8 years as Group Sales Director. Kilsaran International is Ireland’s largest family owned construction material supplier with over 28 locations serving all aspects of the Irish Construction Industry. As well as a strong Irish presence, Kilsaran International has a well-established customer base in both Northern Ireland and Great Britain. David is Chair of Barretstown’s Development Committee.

John O’Brien was appointed to the Board of Barretstown in May 2017. Since 2014, John has been Managing Director of his family-owned business, O’Brien Fine Foods. Before joining the family business, John worked as a trainee accountant with Patrick McDonnell & Co in Newbridge. In 2003, he joined the finance department of O’Brien Fine Foods before making the move to sales. Over the intervening years, John grew the business to become the leading cooked meats producer on the island of Ireland, with a growing international presence.

O’Brien Fine Foods specialise in the production of premium meats and supply both branded and private label ranges from three manufacturing sites across Ireland and the UK. Their branded portfolio includes the Brady Family, Green Farm and Bearfields of London brands. John is originally from Tipperary and now lives in Dublin with his family. He is an avid Tipperary hurling fan and supporter of Munster rugby. John is Chair of Barretstown’s Finance & Audit Committee and is a member of the Development Committee.

John Paul Scally (J.P.) was appointed to the Board of Barretstown in November 2018. J.P. is the Chief Executive Officer of Lidl Ireland and Lidl Northern Ireland. He joined Lidl as a Graduate in 2003, initially in the Construction area of the business, having qualified with an engineering degree from the National University of Ireland, Galway. J.P. subsequently held a number of roles with Lidl in Logistics and Sales Operations from 2004 until 2012. J.P. developed an understanding of the international retail landscape while sitting on the Board of Lidl France from 2012 to 2015. J.P. has been CEO of Lidl Ireland and Lidl Northern Ireland since his return from France in 2015 and oversees the 215 stores across the island with over 2 million weekly customers. J.P. is a member of Barretstown’s Development Committee.

Dr. Peter McCarthy was appointed to the Board of Barretstown in March 2021. Peter is a Locum Consultant Haematologist with a special interest in Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer at the National Children’s Cancer Service at Children’s Health Ireland at Crumlin. He is also currently completing a PhD in the genomics of childhood leukaemia at University College Dublin. Peter graduated from University College Cork Medical School in 2012. He completed his basic paediatric training at Temple Street and Crumlin Children’s Hospitals, and he completed higher specialist training in Haematology (with a focus on Paediatric and Adolescent Haemato-Oncology) in 2022. In the summer of 2010, Peter worked as an activity leader at Barretstown and he has continued to volunteer there as a Cara and in the Med Shed. Peter is Co-Chair of Barretstown’s Childcare Advisory Committee.

Tom Berrigan was appointed to the Board of Barretstown in March 2022. He is currently the Managing Director of IQ-EQ Ireland and has over 35 years’ experience in the financial services sector. Tom is a Certified Investment Fund Director and a member of the Institute of Bankers. Tom is a member of Barretstown’s Finance & Audit Committee.

Eimear Caslin was appointed to the Board of Barretstown in March 2022. Eimear is General Manager of GSK Ireland Pharmaceuticals since 2017. She has worked with GSK for over 27 years across a range of commercial roles. She is particularly passionate about culture and people development and is a strong advocate for the benefits that diversity brings to the performance and culture of an organisation. Eimear holds a Diploma in Company Direction, a MSc in Strategic Management, a Higher Diploma in Marketing Practice and a Bachelor of Commerce degree. She is a member of the Institute of Directors in Ireland, the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association’s (IPHA) Strategy Board and is a Director of GSK Ireland. Eimear is a member of Barretstown’s Risk & Governance Committee.

Louise O’Byrne joined the Board of Barretstown in March 2022. Louise is a Partner at Arthur Cox LLP. Arthur Cox LLP is one of Ireland’s leading commercial law firms. Louise is based in Dublin and specialises in Employment and Industrial Relations Law. Louise is also a member of the Employment and Equality Committee at the Law Society of Ireland. Louise is a member of Barretstown’s Nominations and Remuneration Committee.

Dr. Karen O’Neill was appointed to the Board of Barretstown in March 2022. She currently works as a Specialist Registrar in Paediatrics having graduated from Trinity College Dublin in 2017. Karen completed her basic specialist training in paediatrics across CHI at Crumlin and University Hospital Galway. She is currently undertaking an MSc in Clinical Research with NUI Galway. Karen first attended Barretstown as a camper and later worked as summer staff in 2013/4. She continues to volunteer at Barretstown as a Cara. Karen is a member of Barretstown’s Childcare Advisory Committee.

Prof. Brian MacCraith was appointed to the Board of Barretstown in September 2020. Prof. MacCraith held the position of President of Dublin City University (DCU) from July 2010 to July 2020, during which time DCU grew significantly in terms of scale, footprint, and reputation. During that period, DCU was Ireland’s fastest growing university and added 3 new campuses to its original base in Glasnevin. Brian is a member of the Royal Irish Academy (RIA), an Honorary Fellow of the Institute of Physics, an Honorary Fellow of the Institute of Engineers Ireland, and a Fellow of the Irish Academy of Engineers. Brian is Chair of the Board of the Gaelic Players Association (GPA) and of the Board of Trustees of Genio. From November 2020 to April 2022 he was the Government-appointed Chair of the High-Level Task Force on COVID-19 Vaccination. He was also Chair of the Future of Media Commission, the report of which was endorsed by Government in 2022.