Executive Board 2009/2010
Honourary president
Professor Jim Phelan BAgrSc, MAgrSc, PhD
Assoc. Prof. of Agribus. Ext & Rural Dev
College of Life Sciences,
School of Biology & Environmental Science
Agriculture & Food Science Centre
Belfield Dublin 4
Born County Laois Ireland, educated at St Mary's Knocbeg College and UCD. Worked in ACOT prior to Joining UCD in 1982.
Teaching areas include research methods and rural development. Served as Head of Department of Agribusiness and Rural Development from 1994 to 2003. Appointed Dean of Agricultural Sciences 2007. Keen interest in development in Africa, particularly Tanzania and have been involved on several missions in that country.
Vice presidents:
Michael Kenny, NUI Maynooth,
Lily Mulhall, UCD,
Mary O Shaughnessy, UCC,
Maureen Mescall UCG.
Hon. chair
Jim Maguire. Bailieboro. Co Cavan.
Hon. vice chair
Neville Armstrong, Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh. Neville is currently Manager of Kesh Enterprise Co. Ltd, a social economy business in North Fermanagh working in enterprise development, tourism and rural childcare. He is a Masters Graduate in Rural Development from Queens University, Belfast and is currently researching rural crime in the border counties in preparation for doctorate. A former Vice Chairman of the Rural Community, Neville is married to Alison and has three children and lives on the family farm near Kesh.
Honorary Secretaries
Dermot Leavy B.Sc.(2006) Dermot Acts as chair to the Westmeath Community Development Partnership and Kinnegd Community Chilldcare ‘Cairdeas’, along with serving on many Boards including Westmeath County Development Board, Westmeath County Childcare Committee, Westmeath Employment Pact and Westmeath Environment SPC. Dermot was Chairperson of Irish Rural Link from 2002 to 2006.
Kathleen Grennan, Rosemount, Co. Westmeath
John Moran, Tubber, Co. Offaly.
Honorary Treasurer
John Durkan, Devlis, Ballyhaunis, Co. Mayo
Assistant Treasurer
Helene Dooley, B.Sc. Helene has been involved in the area of rural development since the early ‘90s and is currently a consultant specialising in financial planning for social enterprises and rural and overseas development. Helene lives in Ballyboughal, in north Co Dublin
Profile P.R.O.
Nicholas Duff. B.Sc Previously the voice of farming programmes on LMFM Radio. A strong commitment to rural development and associated issues. A strong Macra na Feirme activist.
Assistant P.R.O.
Bernard Joyce. B.Sc. Bernard has spent a number of years working in Rural & Community Development. He works part-time as a Music Therapy teacher and as an Associate Trainer/Consultant in Communications with Irish Rural Link. Bernard has been a keen interest in the area of Rural Sustainability and is one of a team of Community Powerdown Trainers specialising in rural areas.
