Michael Kelly - Founder and Weeder-in-Chief
Michael Kelly is a freelance journalist, author and social entrepreneur. He established GIY (Grow it Yourself) in 2009. Michael is an Ashoka Fellow, a Social Entrepreneurs Ireland awardee and a recipient of the inaugural 2010 Arthur Guinness Fund. He is a member of the TASTE Council of Ireland. He is a contributor to The Irish Times, writing features on lifestyle issues, food, self-sufficiency, travel and health. He also writes columns for The Evening Echo and Food & Wine Magazine. His bestselling first book, Trading Paces (O'Brien Press) was published in April 2008. His second book, Tales from the Home Farm was published in late 2009. Michael is a passionate speaker on food issues, self-sufficiency, sustainability and growing your own food. He worked for ten years in the IT industry in Dublin but now lives the good life in Dunmore East, Co. Waterford with his wife and an ever-expanding coterie of farm animals.
Ciaran Walsh - Finance and Projects
Ciarán Walsh originally from Midleton Co Cork, graduated in '98 with a Degree in Business Studies from Waterford Institute of Technology. He is a member of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Irish Taxation Institute. Ciarán has been involved with GIY since the first meeting in September 2008. Ciarán is former chairman of Ferrybank Community Development Group, a member of the Ferrybank Socio Economic Development Committee and is the Founder of the Ferrybank Community Allotment Project. He lives in Waterford with his wife Collette.
Micheal O Cadhla - Impact Coordinator
Born in Waterford but now living in Mayo with his young family, Mícheál has always been committed to sustainability and moving towards self sufficiency. Leaving college with a degree in business studies he started work as a computer programmer in a bank, but soon found travelling the world in a Greenpeace ship more to his liking. Since then he has designed and built a reedbed sewage treatemnt system, co-authored a book on community campaigning, served on the board of the Irish Wildlife Trust, as well as being involved with various other community groups around the country. Now settled in Foxford with wife Cristíona and their three children, Mícheál divides his time between his job as a production scheduler, working in his own garden, and helping to develop GIY.
Lorraine Foster - Regional Champion (Leinster)
Lorraine Foster, a librarian by profession, lives in a small bungalow by the sea in Greystones, Co. Wicklow with her partner Rob and two cats. She has been on the steering group for GIY Bray since January 2010. Lorraine has been growing her own vegetables since September 2009, starting off with radishes and spinach in two raised beds. While growing in a rented suburban garden has its challenges, 2010 proved to be a fruitful year yielding tomatoes, potatoes, sweetcorn, onions, carrots and garlic amongst others. With the addition of a glasshouse and a lot more knowledge, 2011 is looking promising! Lorraine is Regional Champion for Leinster and in that role works to support existing GIY groups and develop GIY in the region.
Carmen Cronin - Regional Champion (Munster)
Carmen Cronin is a self-employed marketing and business consultant with the goal of supporting and assisting small and rural organisations. Drawing from her industry experience and eclectic enthusiasm, she aids in particular business start-ups and micro businesses to find their footing and communicate clearly and efficiently in these turbulent and challenging times. Carmen joined GIY as a Regional Champion for Connaught and Clare in 2011 and aims to convey the specific requirements and particularities of the region to strengthen the GIY movement as a whole. Carmen is a passionate gardener and surfer, enjoying a strong connection with nature at many levels.
Mick McEvoy - Regional Champion (Ulster)
Mick McEvoy was born in Omagh, Co Tyrone. He has worked worked in horticulture and conservation since 2001 after he realised life as a Surveyor wasn't for him. Mick studied and worked with the National Trust at Mount Stewart Gardens and Estate, Co Down before going to work with the Tree collections at Kew Gardens, London. Now employed as a community gardener in Belfast Mick is a strong believer in re-establishing the link between our soil, our food and our communities. Mick is looking forward to growing the GIY movement in Ulster and Northern Ireland in 2012 whilst quietly working to overcome his aversion to celery....the only vegetable he won't voluntarily eat.
Cristiona Kiely - Regional Champion (Connacht)
Cristiona spent 7 years working with Greenpeace - both at home in the Irish office, and abroad on their fleet of ships. Back on dry land, Cristiona and her husband set up and ran a food business in Waterford which quickly grew to employ 35 people in it's cafe, bakery, deli and catering business. Upon the arrival of their second child, Cristiona and her young family decided to move to Cristiona's home town in Mayo to set up a home in the countryside with a slower pace of life. They have built their own house and have a large fruit and veg garden which they hope to finally have under control in 2012! They have great hopes that the 3 children, hens, ducks, pigs and bees will help rather than hinder their progress!
