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.
We are all still recovering from a jam-packed weekend of Six Nations action. Ireland started their title defence with a marginal victory over England on Saturday, while France look strong with a resounding win over Wales in the opening match on Friday evening and could well be the team to beat this year.
While we all love the thrill of the competition on the international stage, clubs locally will be putting into place plans for the year to ensure that their playing facilities meet the needs of the club’s ambitions. Community Finance Ireland is here to help you to secure the funds you need to get started.
Our bespoke bridging and term loans ensure that your club can access funds swiftly and efficiently, turning visions into reality. With a deep understanding of both finance and grassroots challenges, we’re not just lenders; we’re partners in progress.
What Type of Projects Do We Support?
In our 20+ years of doing business, we have supported a wide variety of sports projects including helping rugby clubs, but also soccer, GAA, tennis, rowing, athletics, gymnastics, hockey, ice hockey, watersports, golf, basketball and other sporting clubs in accessing finance to realise projects like:
We Speak Finance, But We Hear People
We have loaned over €120m (£97m) to clients across the island of Ireland including rugby clubs like Shannon RFC in Co. Limerick . The club worked with our team to finance the construction of a ladies’ dressing rooms at club grounds.
With supporting loans ranging from upwards of £/€25k, you can be confident that if you have an idea or a dream, we know how to support your request and help get finance into your project.
If you are ready to make an application, click here. Or for more information, give us a call today: NI: 028 9031 5003 ROI: 041 6858 637.
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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.
Community Finance Ireland in association with NICVA and the International Fund for Ireland (IFI) are seeking participants for the NetWorks25 Programme, a 12-month business mentorship support programme for voluntary-led organisations in Northern Ireland and Southern border counties.
What is NetWorks25?
The overall aim of NetWorks25 is to build progressive partnerships that will deliver meaningful benefit for communities on both sides of the border and raise awareness of issues and challenges impacting communities while also contributing to wider peace-building.
The project will span a twelve month period and participant organisations will allocate two representatives who will attend:-
3x full day long workshops (weekdays) and
3x residential events (all day Friday to Saturday lunchtime) throughout the year
Dates to be confirmed in due course.
Benefits for Participating Organisations
The opportunity to network, connect with and learn from other organisations from other communities.
The creation of positive and long-lasting relationships between cross-border communities who share similar challenges and open the door for collaborative working.
Improve and understand best business practices across a wide range of areas such as financial planning and management, strategic business planning, marketing and communications, digital transformation and technology, governance and compliance and product and service development.
Learn how to access different funding streams for your organisation.
Aid the development of social enterprises or community projects, working to combat deprivation and legacy issues arising from the Troubles and other socio-economic barriers unique to living in border areas.
A chance to explore business ideas to create new sources of income generation, leading to more effective and more sustainable business practices.
Hear from some of the previous participants in this short video:
Criteria Requirements for Participating Organisations
A charity, social enterprise, community or voluntary organisation based in Northern Ireland or the surrounding border counties in the Republic of Ireland.
Be available to attend all workshops and residential events
Experience of supporting creative and innovative approaches to dealing with contentious issues.
History of implementing projects that tackle the barriers arising as a result of the border.
Previous involvement with supporting regions or communities needing particular attention as a result of historical isolation, under-investment, the impact of the conflict and/or Brexit.
Experience of contributing to peace-building and promoting good relations on a cross-border basis.
How to Apply
If you are interested in applying to the NetWorks25 Programme, please complete the online application form here. Applications take roughly 15-20 minutes to complete.
The deadline for applications is Friday 14 February 2025 at 5pm.
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.
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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Seacourt Print Workshop, a mainstay of Northern Ireland’s arts and cultural community since 1981, has unveiled its newly renovated premises in the heart of Bangor’s town centre. Situated in a former bank building, the transformed space now serves as an accessible and vibrant hub for printmaking, fostering creativity and community engagement.
Funded by a loan from Community Finance Ireland (CFI), this redevelopment marks a significant milestone for the arts charity. The updated 7,500 square-foot facility now accommodates a diverse range of printmaking techniques, including etching, screen printing, and lithography, while offering expanded services such as free monthly workshops and open days aimed at fostering inclusion.
Emma Drury, Director of Seacourt Print Workshop said,
“We’re proud to play a part in Bangor’s cultural regeneration and our central location makes us more visible and accessible, enabling us to double our programming and support the community in new ways.”
Emma Drury CEO Seacourt Print Workshop and Phelim Sharvin Head of Community Finance (NI) on site at the newly opened Seacourt Printing Workshop facility in Bangor Northern Ireland. Photo credit: Brian Morrison
Phelim Sharvin, Head of Community Finance Ireland NI, commended Seacourt for its transformative vision:
“This project aligns perfectly with our mission of driving positive social change. By supporting Seacourt, we’re helping to create a vibrant, inclusive space that enriches the community.”
The project’s success highlights the collaborative potential of social finance, arts, and community resilience.
If you want to take part in any of the upcoming events at Seacourt you will find everything you need here.
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Ballymacash Sports Academy, based in Ballymacash outside Lisburn, Co. Antrim has been able to install a new floodlit 3G pitch, car park and spectator fencing thanks to a Social Finance loan from Community Finance Ireland.
But this is just the start of the club’s ambitious developments. As Chairman Phil Trimble comments:
“It feels like the building work going up is us just getting started. There is an unstoppable force, an army of volunteers, coaches, people behind the scenes and our committee who put in phenomenal efforts to make the club what it is. It’s a brilliant place to be with a great vibe. It’s all really really positive.
In addition to providing sporting facilities on the pitch for their members, they have teamed up with local community development organisations to create a community garden and allotments which has had lasting social impact for the groups involved. One such community group led by Karl Bothwell said:
“We’ve been kindly welcomed in by the Ballymacash Sports Academy. Our young adults come here three days per week and they work at the allotments, planting vegetables and then they take the vegetables they have grown and donate them to local foodbanks and homeless charities.”
Two young adults tending to their allotments at the Ballymacash Sports Academy
Since 2016, Community Finance Ireland has supported 166 sports clubs, social enterprises and organisations from across the community and voluntary sector in Northern Ireland, with a total of £18.1 million in social finance loans, with £5.6m of that going to sporting organisations like Ballymacash.
Peter Smyth, Client Manager at Community Finance Ireland added:
“In the case of Ballymacash Sports Academy, the improved facilities has led to an increased sporting success by the club and greater usage by local schools and groups. The collective ambitions and efforts of the committee and the wider community is admirable and one that we were keen to support with social finance funding. Often capital projects like this one creates new facilities, but it also helps build momentum and shows that the club committee is delivering on the club development plan.”
During the BBC’s coverage of the Ballymacash Rangers v Glentoran match on 2 February, the broadcaster kindly featured the community’s efforts. You can play this back here at 1:13:40 in.
If you and your community facility need advice, get in touch today. We speak finance, but we hear people and we’re listening.
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Last Friday night was a night that will go down in history for Donegal boxing club Illies Golden Gloves Boxing Club. The small club based in the foothills of the Donegal Mountains in Buncrana won big at the Ulster Boxing Council IABA Elite finals.
Two of their boxers triumphed on the night with Cahir Gormley being crowned the 67kg champion and Matthew McCole coming away with not only the 71kg title but was also announced as the Best Boxer of Championship.
Illies Golden Gloves Boxing Club’s Matthew McCole is declared 71kg Champion and Best Boxer of the Championship.
Speaking about his win, Cahir said:
“It’s a big win for me. I won schoolboy titles and probably fell short around youth level, but I kept at it, kept working hard and it’s starting to pay off now. I want to be one of the best elites- that’s what I’m aiming for. We’re going to the top, this is only the start of it.”
This sense of determination and ambition is one shared throughout the club. Cahir’s teammate Matthew McCole, who was also victorious on the night, had disappointing performance at last October’s Irish elites, and wasn’t sure whether he had any future in the sport. But with the support of the Illies Golden Gloves coaches he was encouraged to continue competing. Matthew remarks:
“I boxed poor in the last Irish elites, I didn’t know what I was going to do after that. Them boys at the Illies Golden Gloves were asking me to go to the Ulsters and I was like ‘I don’t know’. We got sparring with Aidan Walsh over Christmas but, even after that, I still wasn’t sure. I could’ve taken the easy option, Jon was Irish number two at the weight last year, but I thought if I’m going to do it, I’ll do it the hard way.”
Matthew McCole, Cahir Gormley and the coaching team from Illies Golden Gloves Boxing Club celebrate their success at the Ulster Boxing Council IABA Elite Finals.
Set up in 1998, Illies Golden Gloves Boxing Club’s ambition is not just in the ring but also to develop their facilities for the wider local community. The club approached Community Finance Ireland back in 2016, when they were awarded the finance to purchase their training facilities at the Lisfannon Industrial Estate in Buncrana and to carry out works to make premises fit for purpose as an amateur boxing club.
Mary Nohilly from Community Finance Ireland who works with the club, was overjoyed with the results, saying:
“This is a fantastic result not only for the two lads taking home the titles but also for the whole team behind the scenes who have contributed to their success. A lot of work has gone into developing the club’s facilities to give the young people of Buncrana a place to train in the sport of boxing and these two titles are the result of that work paying off. A huge congratulations and hopefully a sign of more success to come!”
If your sports club has a project in mind, but needs the funding or advice on how to get started, get in touch with Community Finance Ireland today.
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Today (Friday 19 January) is National Popcorn Day. With that in mind we asked some of our team what their favourite movies of all time are. With a wide range of interests, their suggestions have a bit of something for everyone.
This weekend why not grab a blanket, stick on your pjs, grab some popcorn (salted or sweet?) and curl up on the sofa with one of these classic movies.
Or better yet visit your local independent community cinema and see one of the latest releases. It is awards season after all and there are some fantastic films to choose from.
Donal Traynor- Group Chief Executive: Forrest Gump (1994)
What Donal had to say: “Forrest Gump is a fantastic film with Tom Hanks doing a star turn in the lead role. The message at the heart of the film really underpins the theory that ignorance is bliss, and that the main obstacle to one’s ability to achieve is the internal fear of thinking what might go wrong. Just do it!”
Lita Notte- Head of Marketing and Communications: As Good As It Gets (1997)
What Lita had to say: “As Good As It Gets is a Manhattan love story with hilarious characters and one of the most memorable scripts ever. Some of my favourite lines are when Jack Nicolson says: “You make me want to be a better man”, or when Helen Hunt’s character says, “Why can’t I just have a normal boyfriend?” or when Jack tells the cleaning lady, “Sell crazy someplace else – were all stocked up here…”. There are just so many great lines. A genius script played brilliantly by the full cast.”
Nick Heath- Front Office Administrator: High Fidelity (2000)
What Nick had to say: “My favourite film will often depend on my mood day to day, but one I love is High Fidelity. The film is very relatable and having worked in a few record shops myself, most of the scenes in Championship Vinyl I have actually experienced in real life. For me, John Cusack is a total bromance material, if given the choice I’d have him play in me in my biopic. And then there’s the soundtrack- so many great songs from The Jam, Velvet Underground, Aretha Franklin, the Kinks and Bob Dylan. Finally, Natasha Gregson Wagner is completely wonderful (and Natalie Woods daughter no less).”
Emma Thompson- Finance Executive: Jurassic Park (1993)
What Emma had to say: “That is a very tough choice to choose just one. But if pushed, I think I’d go for Jurassic Park and the sequels and new Jurassic World movies (except the most recent one, Dominion was a real stinker). I love Jurassic Park for the nostalgia. I loved watching as a kid and love rewatching now as an adult. It always makes me wonder what would happen if they did manage to bring back dinosaurs.”
Barry Connolly- Chief Financial Officer: Star Trek II Wrath of Khan (1982)
What Barry had to say: “I am a huge Sci-Fi fan and in particular love all things Star Trek. Wrath of Khan is easily the best of the Star Trek films. A submarine thriller in space, with great script, acting and proper old school special effects before CGI made everything overblown. Influenced by Moby Dick, A Tale of Two Cities, and Milton’s Paradise Lost, and addressing themes such as aging, loss, and redemption, this is a much deeper film than your typical sci-fi flick. And of course: Khan!!!”
Mary Nohilly- Client Relationship Manager: Dirty Dancing (1987)
What Mary had to say: I’d have to go for Dirty Dancing. I loved the soundtrack when I was a teenager and watched it many times and would sing along to all the songs with a hairbrush! I loved how the story unfolded and the chemistry between Baby (played by Jennifer Grey) and Johnny (played by Patrick Swayze). Now when we go on campsite holidays I think back to this movie and wonder if the dancers and entertainment crew have these wild secret dance parties. I also hear there is talks of a sequel coming in Summer next year. I wonder if it will live up to the original?
Nicky McElhatton- Social Media and Marketing Manager: Juno (2007)
What Nicky had to say: “I first saw Juno in a cinema in Leicester Square in London. I hadn’t heard anything about the film before going to see it. While I waited in the dark movie theatre, they were playing these strange, but funky wee indie songs. Little did I realise that it was the soundtrack for the movie by Kimya Dawson. From that point I was hooked. The music forms such an integral part of the film and couple that with the fantastic screenplay from Diablo Cody, the effortless but hilarious acting from now household names like Michael Cera, Elliott Page, JK Simmons, Alison Janney and cracker one liners that I still quote to this day- “that ain’t no etch a sketch homeskillet! That’s one doodle that can’t be undid!” After my first watch I saw the film another three times in its initial cinema run and have watched it countless times since on DVD and streaming.”
What Pauline had to say: My favourite film is Baz Luhrmann’s Moulin Rouge! I absolutely love everything about it: the spectacle, the theatrics, the drama and the unique take on music! Luhrmann is fantastically visual and has a real unique directorial style which I have loved in all his other great film Elvis, Great Gatsby, Romeo & Juliet – you know immediately when you’re watching a Baz Luhrmann film and I just love it!
Phelim Sharvin- Head of Community Finance (NI): Carlito’s Way (1993)
What Phelim had to say: One of my favourite films is Carlito’s Way. A brilliant storyline, a bit of a love story set in a gritty/crime environment with a twist at the end. The acting is brilliant, particularly Al Pacino. I enjoy a wide range of genres from Crime, Drama, Action to Historical, tending to stay away from Fiction/Sci Fi.
Independent Community Cinema and the Arts is just one of the many sectors that Community Finance Ireland support through our Social Finance lending. For more information on Community Finance Ireland and how we can help your next community project, get in touch today.
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