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Category: Introducing Our Board

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Castletown GAA Club has become the latest recipient of Community Finance Ireland’s (CFI) Community Fit Giveaway, receiving a sponsored training kit worth €1,000. The initiative, launched by CFI in late 2024, aims to support grassroots sports clubs across Ireland, reinforcing the essential role they play in their communities. Each quarter, the scheme awards €1,000 to a club in the Republic of Ireland and £1,000 to a club in Northern Ireland to assist with acquiring vital training equipment.

At a special presentation, representatives from Castletown GAA, including the under-14 girls’ team, gathered to receive the equipment from CFI’s Head of Community Finance (ROI), Barry Symes. Also present at the event were Club Chairman Paddy Flood and Máire Halvey, who highlighted the significance of the donation.

Máire Halvey, who selected the under-14 girls’ team for the prize, expressed her excitement about the impact of the giveaway:

“The Community Fit Giveaway is a fantastic initiative, and I’m delighted to nominate the under-14 girls’ team at Castletown GAA as chosen recipients. This team embodies the dedication and passion that grassroots sports are all about. The new training kit will help them feel more united and prepared, and it’s wonderful to see them benefit from this support. A huge thank you to Community Finance Ireland for making this possible.”

Community Fit Giveaway Community Finance Ireland Castletown GAA
Photographed at Castletown GAA Club, and being presented with their free training equipment are left to right: Máire Halvey, Jessica Blackwell under 14 team player & Barry Symes Head of Community Finance (ROI)

Speaking at the presentation, Paddy Flood, Chairman of Castletown GAA Club, also expressed his gratitude:

“Our club has a deep-rooted commitment to developing young players and fostering a love for the game. The Community Fit Giveaway from Community Finance Ireland allows us to provide better resources for our under-14 girls’ team. It’s not just about the training kits – it’s about the sense of pride and belonging they instil in our players. We are truly grateful to Máire for selecting our Club, to club member Eilis Kinsella Kavanagh for co-ordinating matters and to CFI for their ongoing support of grassroots sports.”

Community Fit Giveaway Community Finance Ireland Castletown GAA
Photographed at Castletown GAA Club, and being presented with their free training equipment are left to right: Under 14 Girls’ team members, Máire Halvey local volunteer, Barry Symes Head of Community Finance (ROI) and Paddy Flood, Castletown GAA Club Chairman.

Barry Symes, Head of Community Finance (ROI), reaffirmed CFI’s dedication to investing in local sports initiatives:

“At Community Finance Ireland, we believe that sport is a powerful driver of social inclusion and community development. Castletown GAA Club embodies the spirit of teamwork, dedication, and resilience. We are delighted to support them and look forward to seeing the positive impact this initiative has on their players.”

The Community Fit Giveaway has already made a tangible difference to local clubs, with Ballymoney Ladies’ Hockey Club in Northern Ireland being the first recipient. Their club benefitted from sponsored kit bags and all-weather jackets, ensuring their players are well-equipped throughout the season.
For grassroots clubs looking to benefit from this initiative, Community Finance Ireland encourages applications through their mailing list. If your sports team could use support, sign up today and be in with a chance to receive the next Community Fit Giveaway award.

For more updates, follow Community Finance Ireland on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.

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Ballymoney Ladies’ Hockey Club have become the first recipient of Community Finance Ireland’s Community Fit Scheme. Nominated by Alliance Party Councillor Lee Kane, the club has received sponsored kit bags and all-weather jackets from Community Finance Ireland (CFI).

The Community Fit scheme launched by Community Finance Ireland in late 2024 is an opportunity for CFI to give back to grassroots sports clubs who are an integral part of the social finance infrastructure. Each quarter the scheme awards £1,000 to a club in Northern Ireland and €1,000 to a club in the Republic of Ireland towards the acquisition of sponsored team kit items by means of a giveaway.

Ballymoney Hockey Club was set up by two Dalriada students Eilish Gillan and Jayne Thompson in 1984 as an outlet for girls and women who wanted to play hockey. In the intervening years the club has grown from strength to strength and the club now fields four teams and boast over 200 minis and juniors members.

Community Fit Community Finance Ireland Giveaway Sports Clubs Grassroots
Young ladies of the Ballymoney Hockey Club during a recent practice session. Photo credit: Brian Morrison.

The club has achieved major successes over the years including winning the Irish Senior Cup in 2001 and more recently the European Club of the Year in 2021. The club’s players Lynsey McVicker, Bridget Cleland, Katie Mullan, Megan Frazer have all gone on to captain the Ireland team and 13-year-old Sammy Jo Greer became the youngest goalkeeper in Ulster and Irish Hockey’s history.

Emma Creelman, Treasurer of Ballymoney Ladies’ Hockey Club, says the equipment provided by CFI was a huge help for the club. She said:

“The new kit bags and all-weather jackets will make a massive difference to the girls and women on the team. Playing hockey outdoors in the winter months can be tough going and having the new jackets in particular will help us keep warm during training sessions. It means that the money that we would have spent on these items can be redirected to other areas of the club. A huge thank you to Cllr Kane and Community Finance Ireland.”

Community Fit Community Finance Ireland Giveaway Sports Clubs Grassrooots
(L to R): Alliance Party Councillor Lee Kane, Ballymoney Hockey Club Treasurer Emma Creelman, Group Chief Executive of Community Finance Ireland Donal Traynor and Ballymoney Hockey Club Chairperson Elizabeth Moreland. Photo credit: Brian Morrison.

Donal Traynor, Group Chief Executive for Community Finance Ireland who visited the Club earlier this month to present them with their new kit items, said:

“At Community Finance Ireland, we are delighted to support Ballymoney Hockey Club with sponsored equipment that empowers them to grow their success on the field. The club’s commitment to providing a sporting facility for the local community of Ballymoney aligns perfectly with our mission to invest in sporting initiatives that drive positive social change.”

If you are involved in your local sports team and want to be considered for future Community Fit awards, sign up to Community Finance Ireland’s mailing list here to be eligible.

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Community Finance Ireland is delighted to announce the appointment of Pádraic Vallely as a trustee on its Board.

Pádraic joins the organisation with a distinguished career in philanthropy, social enterprise, and public policy.

Currently Senior Philanthropy & Development Manager and Head of Munster at Rethink Ireland, Pádraic has been instrumental in advancing social impact initiatives across Ireland.

His tenure as CEO of the Cork Foundation saw him champion social enterprise projects throughout Cork city and county.

With a decade of experience as a special advisor in Leinster House, Pádraic’s expertise spans strategy, fundraising, campaign management, and high-level negotiations.

Welcoming Pádraic to the Board, Donal Traynor, CEO of Community Finance Ireland, said:

“We are delighted to have Pádraic Vallely join our Board of Trustees. His extensive experience in philanthropy, public policy, and leadership will be invaluable as we continue to empower communities and social enterprises across the island of Ireland. Pádraic’s dedication to social impact aligns perfectly with our mission, and we look forward to his contribution to our work.”

Pádraic’s appointment underscores Community Finance Ireland’s commitment to strengthening its leadership team to better serve communities and social enterprises nationwide.

Connect with Pádraic on LinkedIn.

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Community Finance Ireland is thrilled to announce that Mairead Maher, a highly experienced marketing leader with a robust background in brand strategy, digital transformation, and growth-driven initiatives, has joined its Board of Directors.

Mairead brings over 30 years of executive experience across sectors, including media, publishing, consumer goods, and technology.

Her deep understanding of growth strategy, market alignment, and revenue-focused marketing will strengthen Community Finance Ireland’s mission to foster sustainable development within local communities.

CEO Donal Traynor commented,

“Mairead’s expertise in brand development and go-to-market strategy makes her a remarkable addition to our team. Her strategic vision  and dedication to social enterprise growth align perfectly with our goals, and we look forward to the valuable insights she will bring.”

In her role, Mairead will focus on guiding Community Finance Ireland through pivotal growth opportunities and supporting its commitment to creating lasting social impact. Her appointment reflects Community Finance Ireland’s dedication to expanding its influence by leveraging top industry talent.

Connect with Mairead on LinkedIn.

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Community Finance Ireland is delighted to announce the appointment of Katie Mooney as a trustee on its Board.

Katie joins the Board with over 22 years of experience in banking, finance, and professional services. Her impressive career spans work with entrepreneurial businesses, mid-sized corporates, and publicly listed multinationals.

A skilled leader in loan origination, project finance, governance, and portfolio management, Katie’s expertise covers a wide range of sectors, including small business, agriculture, renewable energy, and corporate enterprises.

In addition to her professional achievements, Katie previously served as a Director at KPMG, where she led complex projects and advisory work at the executive level.

Her academic and professional credentials include an Economics and Business degree from Trinity College, Fellowships at the Institute of Taxation and the Institute of Bankers, and a Diploma in Corporate Governance.

Welcoming Katie to the Board, Donal Traynor, CEO of Community Finance Ireland, said:

“We are delighted to welcome Katie to the Board of Trustees. With her extensive experience in banking, finance, and governance, Katie brings a wealth of knowledge and a deep commitment to empowering communities. Her leadership and strategic insight will undoubtedly strengthen our efforts to support local projects and social enterprises across the island of Ireland. We look forward to working together to make an even greater impact.”

Katie’s appointment underscores Community Finance Ireland’s ongoing commitment to enhancing its expertise and governance to better serve communities across the island. Her knowledge and vision will play a vital role in furthering the organisation’s mission of delivering social impact through financial innovation and support.

Connect with Katie on LinkedIn.

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We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Marianne Roux to Community Finance Ireland’s Board of Directors.

A global expert in leadership and HR, Dr. Roux has over 20 years of experience driving organizational transformation and adaptive strategies.

Her work with UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School and Roux Consulting highlights her unparalleled expertise.

We are excited to benefit from her visionary approach as we continue empowering communities across the island.

CEO Donal Traynor had this to say on her appointment:

“We are delighted to welcome Dr. Marianne Roux to the Board of Community Finance Ireland. Her extensive expertise in leadership, HR, and organizational transformation, coupled with her passion for empowering communities, makes her an exceptional addition to our team”.

Dr. Roux’s innovative approach to navigating the future of work and her commitment to sustainable outcomes align perfectly with CFI’s mission to support social enterprises and community projects.

Everyone at CFI look forward to her valuable contributions as we continue to create lasting positive impact across Ireland and beyond.

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Amanda Zahringer is the Board Chair of UCIT Ireland t/a Community Finance Ireland. She utilises her legal, financial and philanthropic expertise to ensure that Community Finance Ireland can create a world-class community finance system that works towards ensuring that positive social impact is felt – not just dreamt. This is her story…

“I was deliberately and intentionally exploring board roles a few years ago because I’m a huge believer in paying it forward. I received a scholarship at 16 which changed my trajectory and worldview, it gave me an entirely ‘new possible’ and ignited my drive and ambition. To quote a good friend, ‘when you have more than enough, extend the table, don’t build a bigger fence’. I am exceptionally fortunate to be surrounded by brilliant and passionate people who are continually extending and even creating new tables.

So, in search of a role where I could create powerful change at scale, I turned to the leaders around me who encouraged me to take on board roles. I contacted Boardmatch, and the journey began.

I gave them a list of extremely focused requirements. I told them I needed purpose, I wanted to leverage my unique skill set and it was critical that our values were aligned. And then I waited for the right role to come up. Eventually, the perfect match came about.

I truly believe there is a board role for everyone, from the neurodiversity advocate to the art teacher, the finance director, the fashion designer to the corporate lawyer. You just need to find something you’re truly passionate about. Then you do your due diligence, understand the commitment, and lean in knowing you’ll find the right one.

I found what some like to call, my ‘unicorn role’. I started my career as a corporate lawyer, led billion-dollar transactions across the world, had C-Suite roles and global roles, but my work as a board member and Chair has been my biggest challenge and biggest reward.

Sitting on the board of this social enterprise, I’m so fortunate because I am always surrounded by people who are continually extending that table, no matter what the challenges. I feel a great sense of responsibility, ensuring the right people are in place to create solutions to our world problems through our exceptional organisation and people. As a board member, I know I’m working to make sure that magic happens; that true, positive change is progressing.

This role is where I can empower others to be big, bold and brave with their moves. It’s kept me sharp, and it’s kept me humble. I have a huge sense of pride for the projects we work on, ensuring change-makers can continue paving the way. When you empower a community to lead progress and increase that prosperity circle for themselves, I don’t think there can be any greater thing in life.”

This piece resulted from Amanda Zahringer’s interview with We Act on 15th November 2022. Find out more about We Act here and to find out more about Community Finance Ireland visit our website or follow us on Twitter.