Our Board of Directors

Our Board of Directors in made up of people from the statutory, community and voluntary sectors, social partners, parents and childcare providers, who sit in a voluntary capacity.

They are:

Albert Perris,Chairperson

Albert has most recently been Chief Executive Officer of Respond Support, one of the largest providers of Early Years childcare and education in Ireland. He has held a variety of roles in the statutory, voluntary and community sector since 1993. He holds an M.A. in Management (Community and Voluntary Sector) from Dublin City University (DCU), a B.A. in Social Science (Care) from Dublin Institute of Technology and Certificate in Youth and Community Work from NUI. He has previously worked as National Manager of Specialist Services and as National Hostels and Homes Coordinator with the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul (SVP); Regional Programme Coordinator with Extern Ireland; Manager of Children's Residential Services with the HSE, and Project Manager of Tallaght Homeless Advice Unit. He is the author of a number of reports, including "Think Twice (Homelessness in Blanchardstown (2000)", and "Youth Homelessness in Clondalkin: A community perspective (Forum on Youth Homelessness & Clondalkin Partnership, 1999)". He was a Level 1 award winner with Social Entrepreneurs Ireland (2009), for developmental work in the area of Reminiscence Work with older people and communities in Ireland. He is currently chairperson of Coill Dubh National School, Co Kildare and has previously held a number of Board Roles with Tallaght Youth Information Centre, Bright Sparks Childcare committee and Tallaght Citizen Information Centre.

Kathleen Cash is the owner/ manager of Tir na nÓg, Athy.

Recently awarded Early Childhood Ireland, Educator of the Year 2019 for her service, Tír Na NÓg in Athy. The service has grown to meet the changing and growing needs of families and communities in the area. In recognition of the high standard of care and education of the children at Tír Na NÓg they have previously been awarded three All Ireland Centre of Excellence awards and have been recognised as a certified Montessori Environment.

Kathleen enjoys sharing her knowledge and expertise with the wider community and is involved at several different business levels. She is actively involved in the Athy Chamber of Commerce and is a member of Kildare Enterprise Women’s Network.

Anthony Egan is the representative for the County Kildare Community and Voluntary Forum on the board of Kildare County Childcare Committee

Anthony currently holds the position of Chairperson on the County Kildare Community and Voluntary Forum. The aims of the forum are to articulate and represent the diverse and common views of the community, voluntary and disadvantaged sectors through consultation and communication. The forum also has a mandate to empower community participation. They promote social inclusion and equality by influencing policy and decision -making by local authority and other statutory agencies on the economic, social and cultural development of County Kildare.
Anthony is also an active member of his local residents association.

Eilis Quinlan is a fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.

She is also a registered Auditor who runs a successful Accountancy practice in Naas Co Kildare. Eilis holds an Accredited Mediator award from the Mediation Forum of Ireland, a Certificate in Computing from D.C.U. and is also a member of MENSA.

Eilis is a past President of the North Kildare Chamber of Commerce and a Director and past Chairperson of I.S.M.E. (The Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association). Her main expertise lies in the areas of taxation advice, small company development and corporate finance. Eilis is a non-executive Director of a number of limited companies and charities, and she also sits on various committees in a bid to encourage local business growth.

Eilis is a regular contributor to National Television and radio programmes.

In 2009 Eilis was appointed by the then Minister Michael Martin to the Government’s Advisory Management Development Council. In 2010 Eilis was voted Kildare Business women of the Year, and was also runner up in the Irish Business Women of the Year, that same year.

Eilis has written the tax chapter for the book “Own our Oil, The fight for Irish Economic Freedom”, compiled by Eddie Hobbs and launched in March 2014.

In March 2015 Eilis was appointed to the Board of the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland by Minister for Finance Michael Noonan T.D. and most recently, Quinlan and Company were a finalist in the “Small Accountancy Practice of the Year” Awards.

Outside of business, Eilis enjoys many interests including horses (show jumping, racing and polo) and was a member of the Irish International Amateur Show jumping Team from 1997 to 2001, winning the Irish National Championships in 2001, after which a bad fall ended her showjumping career. Eilis played the cello with the National Youth Orchestra and the R.T.E. Symphony Orchestra.

Eilis enjoys cooking, theatre, music of all kinds, especially classical and Rod Stewart. She enjoys travelling, but most of all relaxing with friends, her husband and family, including her three grandchildren, over a Sunday roast.

Réiltín McCall is a HR Consultant, with over 20 years experience.

In addition to a B.A and M. Phil, Réiltín holds masters level qualifications in Strategic Human Resource Management and Lean Systems. She is a PRINCE2 project manager, Chartered member of the CIPD and a qualified facilitator, coach, trainer and mediator. Réiltín has over 20 years’ as a consultant working with small and medium-sized private, social and community enterprises and public sector funders. Her areas of focus are HR and people management, organisational facilitation and development, and conflict resolution.

Edel Smyth, Information Manager, Food Safety Authority of Ireland

Edel is responsible for the dissemination of food safety information to stakeholders. She achieves this through developing and managing the Authority’s information strategy and programmes; managing the information centre and advice-line; maintaining the FSAI’s website, content management system, extranet and intranet; ensuring website accessibility and search engine optimisation; and producing a stakeholder newsletter and targeted e-zines. Enhancing how the FSAI engages with its customers and improving service design and delivery is a core part of the role, building on the guiding principles of Quality Customer Service.

Edel also has full management responsibility for the Authority’s business management system (certified to ISO 9001:2015) which plays a key part in ensuring good governance, compliance, risk management and continuous improvement in the organisation. Edel has a proven track record in strategic planning and operational management and leads and develops a large team to deliver quality results.

Edel is the National Focal Point for the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and a member of the EFSA Communications Expert Network.

Before assuming the position of Information Manager, Edel held the post of Education Executive with the FSAI where she secured European funding for various educational projects and worked closely with the European Commission and with national partners to successfully deliver those projects. Prior to joining the FSAI, Edel worked as a teacher in a number of Dublin post-primary schools, and was the co-author of a Leaving Certificate textbook.

Edel holds an MBs in Business Practice (UCC) and an MSc in Food Science (UCD) as well as a H Dip. in Education (Trinity College Dublin) and a PG Dip. in Public Relations (Fitzwilliam Institute).

Kathryn Brennan, Senior Compliance Manager

As a working parent of two primary school aged children Kathryn understands and appreciates the need for good quality childcare in Kildare, which is why she was delighted to be appointed to the board of KCCC.

Having worked in Financial services for 15+ years, Kathryn currently works as a Senior Compliance Manager in Maynooth. She holds a Professional Diploma in Compliance and a Degree in Legal Studies with Business. She has previously served as a trustee on the Board of the Citizen's Advice Bureau for the London Borough of Hounslow.

Our Staff

KCCC employs five full-time and 3 part-time staff members.

Julie McNamara, CEO

Julie McNamara is the CEO of Kildare County Childcare Committee where she has worked since 2004. Julie is a UCC graduate, of the first BA in Early Childhood Studies Degree in Ireland, where she obtained a First Class Honours Degree in 2000. Julie also holds a M.Soc.Sc in Youth and Community work and a Diploma in Community Leadership.

Julie has worked in the Community and Voluntary sector since the age of 17 which has included: volunteering for Oxfam in India, Simon Community in Galway, and as a Childcare worker for the Traveller community in Cork. Julie has worked in the area of disability and coordinated a Project for young men at risk in Mallow, Co. Cork prior to returning to Kildare to take up her position with KCCC.

Julie is passionate about working for young children and families and values the rights of the child. Julie works from the principles of community development and believes everyone has the right to be heard, included and empowered. Julie believes Early Childhood lays the foundations for the rest of the life cycle and is committed to working towards ensuring young children in Kildare receive the best outcomes possible.

Julie is Mother to Aisha, enjoys her job, running, yoga, cooking, gardening, travelling, and music.

Contact Julie on - julie@kccc.ie

Marianne Casey, Development Officer

Marianne Casey joined Kildare County Childcare Committee in September 2006 as a Development Officer. Marianne completed a course in Early Childhood Care and Education in DIT and a post graduate H.Dip. in Early Childhood Education and Care in Carlow IT. She has also attained FETAC level 6 qualifications in Train the Trainer, Equality and Diversity and a Certificate in Creative Drama from DIT. Marianne also holds a qualification in High Scope Training of Trainers and is a qualified Always Children First Child Protection Trainer. Marianne has been working in the Childcare sector since her graduation from DIT and her practical experience spans over 26 years working at all levels in Community Childcare services. These include Barnardos, Fingal ICTU Centre and St. Helena’s in Finglas. Her experience includes working in Early Years childcare provision, working with children and families in their own homes, running school aged childcare and teenage programmes, parenting support and training, including support and advice to parents in recovery from addiction, management and coordination of projects and programmes as well as facilitation and training delivery.

Marianne’s role in Kildare County Childcare Committee is to provide advice and support in the development of Quality to Early Years and School Aged Childcare Services this is achieved through on site consultative visits, training workshops and developing supporting documentation to help services to engage with the National Frameworks of Aistear and Síolta. Marianne also delivers Children First Child Protection and Welfare training to Early Years providers throughout County Kildare.

Contact Marianne on - marianne@kccc.ie

Bernie Connell, Development Officer

Bernie joined KCCC in November 2019. She has a coaching and mentoring Diploma with Early Childhood Ireland (City and Guilds) and has completed a Level 8 HDip in Early Years with Carlow IT. With a degree in applied linguistics, Bernie is fluent in French and Spanish and has a background in accounts of almost twenty years.

Bernie has been a Linc tutor for the North Dublin area for the past two years. This position included mentoring students on inclusive culture, practice and pedagogy. Bernie has mentored over 200 students through the Linc (leadership for Inclusion) programme. Previously Bernie managed a large community service in Tallaght for seven years, so is well aware of the challenges facing the sector.

Bernie's role in Kildare CCC is to provide advice and support in the development of quality to the Early Years and school age childcare services in Kildare. Bernie will engage with services through workshops, training events and mentor visits and will support services on issues relating to sustainability. Bernie is an early year’s play advocate and is full of enthusiasm for her new development officer role.
Contact Bernie on: bernie@kccc.ie

Emily Moore, Programme Administrator

Emily has worked in KCCC since 2006 and has seen a lot of changes in the sector over the last few years since the arrival of the ECCE scheme in April 2009. With the introduction of the ECCE scheme in 2009 KCCC developed a closer working relationship and contact with the services providing childcare in Kildare.

Emily, in her role of Programme Administrator, offers the provision of information, support and advice on National Programmes for childcare providers in Kildare, from ECCE and TEC CCS/P. Assisting services with re-entry and new entry to contracts. A significant element of the role involves the completion of Fee policy forms and advice on all areas of PIP registrations and queries. Emily's background over many years has been with Community organisations, Office Administration and Customer Service.

Contact Emily on - emily@kccc.ie

Catherine Colleton, Assistant Programme Administrator

Catherine joined KCCC in March 2019 as Assistant Programme Administrator. Catherine has a BA (Hons) Early Childhood Education and Care and has worked in the childcare sector for 10years. She has also completed QQI Level 6 Train the Trainer and is a qualified Fitness Instructor and Personal Trainer with 12+ years experience coaching children's gymnastics.

Catherine's role in KCCC is to provide support and advice in relation to National Programmes, including AIM, to childcare providers in Kildare and also to provide support to parents.

Catherine is mother to Cora and enjoys spending time with her family, fitness and music.

Contact Catherine on - catherine@kccc.ie

Ashling Henderson, Administrator

Ashling Henderson has extensive experience in Administration, Clerical and Customer Service, she has a background in Health Services.

She holds a Higher Certificate in Science and worked as a Pharmacy Technician previous to joining KCCC.

Contact Ashling on: admin@kccc.ie

Louise Finnegan, Clerical Officer

Louise is a Clerical Officer with Kildare County Childcare Committee, joining the team in March 2019. She is a graduate of NUI Maynooth with BA (Hons) in Economics and Finance. She has worked in Banking and Fund Administration for more than 10 years and is now enjoying working with KCCC and learning about the early years sector, while providing administration support. In her spare time Louise enjoys spending time with her family.

Contact Louise on: info@kccc.ie

Jane Beatty, Communications Officer

Jane Beatty is Communications Officer with Kildare County Childcare Committee. She has extensive experience of information provision in the semi-state and not-for-profit sectors, including NCGE (an agency of the Department of Education and Science), Barnardos, OPEN and Northside Partnership. Currently studying the Masters in Child, Family and Community Studies in TU Dublin, Jane also holds a BA(Hons) in History and English and a Higher Diploma in Library and Information Studies. Jane's experience includes Information management, editing publications and writing/editing online content. Jane is interested in making information more accessible and understandable.
Jane enjoys gardening, being outdoors with her family and travel.

Contact Jane on: communications@kccc.ie

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