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. See below for information on our staff members also.

They are:

Edel Smyth, acting Chairperson

Edel has recently joined the Health and Safety Authority, taking on responsibility for the Authority’s Information and Quality Services. This involves the cross-functional management of the ICT, Research, Quality Assurance and Data Protection units, with the aim of building the required synergies to deliver strategic and valuable data for the Authority and its stakeholders.

Prior to joining the HSA, Edel worked with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland, responsible for the dissemination of food safety information to stakeholders. Edel also had responsibility for the Authority’s business management system which played a key part in ensuring good governance, compliance, risk management and continuous improvement.

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 co-author of a Leaving Certificate textbook.

Living in Kildare and a mum of three, Edel has a particular interest in the quality of childcare in the area, and therefore is delighted to be a Board member of the KCCC.

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).

Kathleen Cash

Kathleen Cash is the owner/manager of Tir na nOg, Athy for which she was awarded the Early Childhood Ireland, Educator of the Year 2019. 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.

David McCarthy

David joined KCCC in May 2021 as Financial Director and is a member of the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee within KCCC.

David has 17 years experience in the financial services sector, having worked as Senior Manager in Business Banking in AIB Bank, to heading up the Hospitality Sector for AIB Bank, and then from 2021 moving into a new role as Regional & Sectoral Head of Business Banking in Permanent TSB, with overall responsibility for Dublin North, North East and West of Ireland regions as well as Hospitality & Tourism, Transport & Logistics, Healthcare and Manufacturing & Food sectors.

David holds a BA In Music and Philosophy, an MA in Computer Music, and an MA in Digital Media Technology. He is also a Qualified Financial Advisor, with a Diploma in Financial Services and a Diploma in SME Credit from Institute of Bankers.

David lives in Kildare and has 3 children, one of whom passed away in 2017 having been born with a neurological condition and hence linked in with multiple services within the community. It is this experience that spurred David to take up a position on the board of KCCC.

Kathryn Brennan

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.

Kathryn has 15+ years working in Financial Services. 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.

Yvonne Darragh

Yvonne Darragh was the owner of Playworld Day Nursery in the centre of Clane village. She ran her service for over twenty-six years. The service grew and at one point had three outlets in the village. Yvonne trained in Child Development, Early Childhood Curriculum, Special needs Assisting and Child Psychology. She incorporated all the government schemes for children including NCS, ECCE, CCSP, CCSR-T, TEC, AIM and Better Start in the daily running of her service. She has worked in the community and voluntary sector which has included volunteering for the Simon Community in Dublin.

Yvonne served on the board of management for the Clane Village Centre for a number of years. She held the positions of Secretary and Treasurer on several occasions.

Yvonne lives in Clane and has one son. She is honoured to join the Board as Director of Childcare Services.

Anthony Egan

Anthony Egan is the representative for the County Kildare Community & 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.

Our Staff

KCCC employs five full-time and two 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

Ashling Henderson, Administrator

Ashling has worked with KCCC since 2017. She has over 15 years administration experience and prior to working in KCCC she worked in Health Services. She holds a Degree in Business Management, a Certificate in Company Secretarial Law & Practice and a Level 8 Certificate in Data Protection.

Contact Ashling on: ashling@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: louise@kccc.ie

Emily Moore, Development Officer

Emily has worked in KCCC since 2006 and has seen a lot of changes in the sector in that time, her role here in KCCC is Development Officer working with all the childcare services in Kildare to offer support and information to administer the National Childcare Funding programmes on behalf of the DCEDIY and Pobal. A significant element of the role involves the contracting, compliance, Fee policies, PIP/Hive registrations and further support regarding registered Early Years Services to comply with the 2016 Regulations. Emily also offers advice to parents and the general public on a variety of issues relating to the Early Learning and Care sector. Emily's background over many years has been with Community organisations, Communications and Customer Service.

Contact Emily on - emily@kccc.ie

Catherine Colleton, Development Officer

Catherine is Development Officer with Kildare County Childcare Committee, having worked with KCCC since 2019. Catherine has a BA (Hons) in Early Childhood Education and has 10 years’ experience working in the childcare sector, both as a practitioner and in management roles. Catherine also has a QQI Level 6 Train the Trainer Qualification, is a fully qualified fitness instructor and personal trainer and has 12+ years’ experience coaching children’s gymnastics. Catherine’s ‘on the gound’ experience provides her with the knowledge to support and advise service providers, staff and parents within the early years sector.

Catherine enjoys spending time with her family, fitness and music.

Contact Catherine on - catherine@kccc.ie

Amy Dempsey, Development Officer

Amy joined the KCCC team in January 2020 as Development Officer. Amy has a BA (Hons) in Early Childhood Studies and an MA in Child, Family and Community Studies. She also holds a QQI Level 6 Training Delivery and Evaluation. Amy has been working in the childcare sector for 12 years, with experience working as a practitioner and also in management positions. She also worked abroad for 4 years in the U.A.E and China as a kindergarten teacher. In her spare time, Amy enjoys travel, cooking and reading.

Contact Amy on - amy@kccc.ie

Jane Beatty, Development Officer

Jane has worked with KCCC since 2016. She has extensive experience 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. Having completed the Masters in Child, Family and Community Studies in TU Dublin most recently, Jane also holds a BA(Hons) in History and English, a Higher Diploma in Library and Information Studies and a diploma in Horticulture. Jane's experience includes Information management, editing publications and writing/editing online content. Jane is interested in children's rights, and in working with families and with childcare professionals to ensure the best early care and education for children.

Jane enjoys gardening, being outdoors with her family and travel.

Contact Jane on: jane@kccc.ie

Our Members