MOUNTAINEERING - Key Persons
Social hill walking group comprising members in the 20 to 70s years of age range. We walk every Sunday starting at 10 am and walk for 3 to 7 hours depending on time of year and weather conditions. Six month programme of easy to strenuous walks planned and published in advance. Regular starting points are Glenmalure and Glendalough. Contact Alan at 085 1743480.
Job Titles:
- Professional Nature Conservation and Wildlife Projects Specialist
Alan Lauder is a professional nature conservation and wildlife projects specialist. He has worked across state and non-governmental wildlife and conservation organisations in Ireland and the UK since 1989. Hailing from Scotland, his experience in the mountains started at the age of thirteen when he went hillwalking for his Duke of Edinburgh's Award in the Southern Uplands. While he was at Stirling University in the 1980s, he took up rock and winter climbing, with occasional trips to Wales and northern England. Alan continued trad climbing into his thirties and the onset of family life. More recently, he has been balancing a lifelong interest in birds and other wildlife with hillwalking and his other outdoor interests. Alan is the Chairperson of Mountaineering Ireland's Access & Conservation Committee.
Job Titles:
- Officer for a Local Development Company
Alannah currently works as a Rural Recreation Officer for a Local Development Company in north Cork. She has a passion for introducing people to the outdoors, and loves that she has an opportunity through her work to run initiatives aimed at getting more people out and about in the local area and discovering the hills and trails in the north Cork region. Alannah is an avid trail runner and hill walker and during the winters can generally be found either orienteering, running in the hills, or logging walks for her Mountain Leader Award. She also enjoys scrambling and rock climbing during the summer. She is a member of the Cork Climbing Club, and has been involved in a number of Mountaineering Ireland programmes and events including Women With Altitude and the Youth Alpine initiative.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Climbing Committee
Alistair Wilson joined the Board of Mountaineering Ireland in early 2022 and comes from a legal background. He has been a keen rock climber for over twenty- five years and enjoys traditional climbing, bouldering and sport climbing. He has climbed extensively in the Mournes and at Fair Head. Outside of climbing, he enjoys hillwalking, canoeing and swimming.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Climbing Committee
Brian Kennan is a family man with four children in their twenties. He loves the outdoors and enjoys walking, running. cycling and motorcycling. He is a very active member of the Irish Ramblers Club and is the coordinator for their Thursday Grade 2 hikes. Brian has recently retired from a career in the technology sector and happily swapped his briefcase for a backpack. He has considerable experience in team building and in transforming organisations. He is excited to have the chance to put his organisational and leadership skills to work in support of Mountaineering Ireland's hillwalking ambitions. Brian is the Chairperson of Mountaineering Ireland's Hillwalking Committee.
Job Titles:
- Hillwalking Development and Events Officer
- Secretarial Support
Caoilainn joined the Mountaineering Ireland team in 2023 in the new role of Administrator, in which she provides administrative support to the Hillwalking Development Officer, the Access and Conservation Officer, and the Administration Officer. She is an avid hiker and is currently training towards her Mountain Leader Award. In 2022, she completed a six-month thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail in the US. When she's not out on the hills, Caoilainn enjoys climbing, sea swimming, and playing tag rugby.
Claire enjoys the outdoors, particularly hiking and cycling. She is always happy to combine hiking with travelling to new destinations! On a professional level, she works in the pharmaceutical industry and has held roles in Operations and Program Management. She is passionate about making hillwalking accessible to everyone and has been an active member of Club Cualann for over ten years.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Governance Committee
Dave Ayton and his wife Caroline live on a hill in Wicklow with their three active kids. Dave has been obsessed with climbing from an early age and he quickly got consumed with exploring traditional climbing at crags around Ireland, the UK and Europe.
He is now equally happy hillwalking, mountaineering, bouldering, sports climbing or winter climbing Dave has been a member of Mountaineering Ireland for over twenty years, gaining experience and qualifications as a climbing instructor, coach and mountain leader.
Professionally, Dave has a background as an aerospace test and development engineer and as a maths and physics teacher, and he now owns and manages indoor climbing centres.
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Chairman of the Governance Committee
David Pollard joined the Board of Mountaineering Ireland in summer 2020 and took on the role of Chairperson in April 2022. He is a member of the Access and Conservation Committee and is passionate about protecting our mountain environment.
David has been a regular hillwalker all his adult life, having first got involved at university. He is currently an active member of both Wicklow-based Club Cualann and the Dingle Hillwalking Club in Kerry. He has walked extensively in Ireland as well as in Wales, Scotland, France, Austria, Italy, Slovakia and Iceland. In addition to being a hillwalker, David is a keen cyclist and, over the years, has dabbled in various water-based outdoor sports.
He is a scientist by training and has spent most of his professional career working in the public sector.
Job Titles:
- Founder of an Outdoor Community Siúl Linn
Elaine Nic Réamoinn is a keen hill walker and founder of an outdoor community Siúl Linn, based in the South East. She is currently a trainee Mountain Leader and is excited about her training journey with Mountaineering Ireland. Elaine has hiked extensively across the Irish hills and further afield, including completing the 4-peak challenge with 53 Degrees North, the 3-peak challenge of the UK, and Mt. Toubkal in Morocco. She has many more adventures planned, including the Tour du Mont Blanc this summer. Elaine is a brand ambassador with 53 Degrees North and is an active participant of their adventure club. Elaine loves uniting people in nature and has organised singles events, parents events, LGBTQ+ events and wellbeing events over the past two and a half years.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Climbing Committee
Job Titles:
- Member of Ballyvaughan Fanore Walking Club
Gerard has been a member of Ballyvaughan Fanore Walking Club since its foundation in 2006. Based in the Burren region of Co. Clare, the club's ambition is to encourage responsible, organised hillwalking and mountaineering activity. Gerard's experience has taken him on many international expeditions, including Mt. Denali in Alaska, Mt. Aconcagua in Argentina, Mt. Manuslu and Island Peak in Nepal, Mont Blanc in the Alps. He was the club mountain leader on expeditions to Mt. Kilimanjaro, Mt. Elbrus in Russia and to Everest Base Camp. Gerard believes that there is a huge reservoir of knowledge, experience and leadership in the hillwalking and climbing community. His ambition is to support the progression of club networking, effective communications and information sharing among all stakeholders, to deliver significant benefits to our members and to our activity.
Job Titles:
- Access & Conservation Officer
Helen considers herself to be in the really lucky position of being able to combine her love of mountains with her work for Mountaineering Ireland. Her job is focused on maintaining and improving our ability to get access to the places where we walk and climb, and helping to protect the mountains we all enjoy. Outside of work, she is an active hillwalker, with a passion for wild and rugged landscapes, and a curiosity about all aspects of the mountain environment. She holds both the Mountain Leader and International Mountain Leader awards.
lan Lawler is a marine zoologist, whose primary adventure sport over the past forty years has been scuba diving. However, that changed when his daughter threw herself into climbing with the Dublin Cliffhangers Youth Climbing Club in 2017 and he had little choice but to follow. lan is now the outgoing Chair of the Cliffhangers, having taken up the position in 2018, the same year he completed the Irish Mountaineering Club new members' INTRO2TRAD programme and started leading trad.
He now leads at VS/HVS and he qualified as a rock climbing instructor in 2021. He has put his professional experience to good use in securing funding for Cliffhangers, who have been supporting high performance climbing for talented young climbers.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Climbing Committee
Jacquelyn is a climbing coach based in Ballycastle, Northern Ireland, with over twenty years of experience in the sport. She enjoys various forms of climbing, including indoor, bouldering, sport, and trad. While she is relatively new to hillwalking, Jacquelyn is exploring this latest addition to her outdoor life with regular hikes up her local hill, Knocklayd. Before her move to Northern Ireland, Jacquelyn was involved in the climbing gym industry in the United States. She is a member of the Coleraine Climbing Club. Jacquelyn is dedicated to supporting others in their outdoor pursuits while balancing the values of access and conservation. Jacquelyn joined the Board in 2023, and also serves on Mountain Training Board Ireland.
Jane has been an Outdoor Education and Science Teacher and Instructor for 30 years, and has been Mountaineering Ireland's Training Officer for the last 10 years. She is a qualified Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor, Winter Mountain Leader, Summer Mountain Leader, and Rock Climbing Instructor. Jane was a trainer and assessor of all Mountain Training Climbing and Walking Awards and Schemes for 15 years. She is the Chair of UIAA Youth Innovation Panel and she is a UIAA Youth Commission member. Jane is a member of the board of Mountain Rescue Ireland.
Job Titles:
- National Programme Manager, Get Ireland Walking
Jason is passionate about promoting Physical Activity and Health. His academic qualifications provide me with a wide skillset and expertise in Exercise, Health and Physical Activity Promotion, Community Education and Leadership and Management. In my spare time between work, travelling and family, I have a fond love for walking, research and running off road on trails and open mountains.
Jim started hillwalking when he joined Clare Outdoor Club in 2005 and he hasn't looked back since. Jim enjoys the club scene, getting out and about with friends and generally appreciating the great outdoors. He has walked extensively in all parts of Ireland, including all the "County Tops" and "600m Peaks", as well as further afield with trips to the Alps, Andes and Himalayas.? As a Mountain Leader and Mountain Skills provider, Jim delivers both formal and informal training to local clubs. He has served on the club committee in various roles over the years including a couple of years as Chair. During the week, Jim works as an Electronic Engineer. While he is settled in Ennis, most people recognise the tell-tale Mayo name that points to his home county.
Julie joined the Mountaineering Ireland team in January 2024 as our new Training Administrator. Prior to joining Mountaineering Ireland, Julie divided her time between running her own small physical therapy and pilates business and looking after her young family. She was previously employed in the IT industry. Julie has always been a lover of sport and the outdoors and keeps fit with jogging/walking, cycling and pilates. She also likes to spend time working in her garden.
Job Titles:
- Digital Engagement & Programme Officer
Laura joined the Mountaineering Ireland team in 2018 as a Training Administrator and has since taken on new responsibilities in membership support and other areas. Originally hailing from Finland, Laura was introduced to hiking after moving to Ireland in 2002. She has since tried her hand at climbing as well. Laura is a lover of dogs, photography and a Finnish delicacy of salted liquorice, which none of her Irish friends or family have yet come around to!
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer
- Member of the Governance Committee
Liam had a distinguished career in the Defence Forces, including serving as a senior officer within the Army Ranger Wing, before joining Mountaineering Ireland in 2024. Originally from Mayo, Liam holds a degree in PE and Geography teaching and a qualification in Senior Leadership and Management. He is also a qualified skydiving instructor. He is a lifelong enthusiast of the outdoors and is passionate about sharing his love for the mountains and empowering others to experience the joys and challenges of hillwalking, climbing and mountaineering.
Job Titles:
- Communications & Administrative Officer, Get Ireland Walking
- Get Ireland Walking in 2019 As the First Communications Officer
Linda joined Get Ireland Walking in 2019 as the first Communications Officer with the initiative. Her original career was in Television Production and she then moved into working in Communications in the charity section. Outside of work Linda enjoys walking, cycling and climbing.
Job Titles:
- Engineer
- Member of the Governance Committee
Martha Burton is an engineer and keen hillwalker from Co. Wicklow. Martha is from a farming background and has been interested in native wildlife, plants, and flowers from a young age. She is a Lecturer of Mechanical Engineering by profession and spends her free time hiking with friends and the Wicklow Nordic Walkers. She is currently working towards a Mountain Leader qualification, and is enjoying learning the various skills required. Martha joined the Board in 2023.
Mary has been a regular hillwalker most of her life. She is currently an active member the Wicklow-based Club Cualann. She has walked extensively in Ireland as well as abroad. In addition to being a hillwalker, Mary enjoys rock climbing. Mary McGrath is a Fellow with Chartered Accountants Ireland. She currently works as a Principal Officer in the civil service. She has previously held a number of finance and service delivery roles in the public and private sector. Mary is the Chairperson of Mountaineering Ireland's Finance, Audit and Risk Committee.
Job Titles:
- Secretary of the Climbing Committee
- Climbing Development Officer
Having started climbing at the age of 12, Michael has always felt a strong connection to the Irish climbing community. In his climbing career he has had the opportunity to develop many climbing areas around Ireland, establishing climbs of the highest quality and difficulty, and discovering new places along the way. Be it trad, bouldering or sport climbing, he aims to further support the development of all forms of climbing in Ireland.
Hillwalkers is an active hill walking climbing and rambling club in mid Tipperary. The group welcomes all lovers of the outdoors at whatever fitness level. Weekly Sunday walks meet in Cashel and usually cover the Galtees, Comeraghs and Knockmealdowns. There are walks at A, B, B+ and C levels, and Sunday rambles are held once a month. Friday evening walks take place weekly in the summer. Trips in Ireland form part of our annual calendar."
Job Titles:
- National Development Officer, Get Ireland Walking
Natalia graduated from the University of Poland with a Masters Degree in Physical Education specialising in Sport Recreation Management, Health Education, Physiotherapy and Sports Nutrition. She competed in swimming at a national level, and represented Poland in Kayak Polo at international level. Since moving to Ireland eleven years ago Natalia has taught and managed in a number of fitness related industries across the country, most recently rolling out programs as Community Sports Development Officer with Waterford Sports Partnership. She is passionate about all outdoor activities, in particular mountain running, and about leading a sustainable healthy lifestyle.
Noel Caffrey started as a very young scout, with friends, repeating and leading easy new routes in the Burren, Co Clare. He has now been involved in rock-climbing, hillwalking and mountaineering for over fifty years and is looking forward to many more years participating in the sport. Noel has enjoyed trips to the mountains of Africa, South America, Canada and Europe. Being in the mountains is a central part of his life and one he hopes to continue.
Noel says that he is now trying to retire after forty plus years in industry, so that he can spend more time on all things mountain.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Climbing Committee
Job Titles:
- National Childrens Officer
Throughout her life and career, Pamela has always had a deep love and passion for sport. She has witnessed first-hand the transformative influence of sports in fostering personal growth, teamwork, and community development. Through her voluntary roles on committees for hockey clubs in Dublin and Dubai, Pamela has gained a firm belief in the ability of sports to inspire, unite and effect positive change. She is dedicated to advocating for diversity and inclusivity within the sporting community. Pamela brings her extensive experience in governance from her roles as Company Secretary & Director of Governance at Hockey Ireland, and as Company Secretary at Louvre Middle East JLT, Dubai. Pamela also holds a Diploma in Sports Law.
On holiday in the French Pyrenees in 1990 Pat wondered where all those people were going as they disappeared up mountain trails wearing boots and carrying packs. An attempt to join them wearing trainers and without any map was not very successful - so on returning home some decent boots and basic gear were purchased. Hiking in Wicklow only occasionally over the next 15 years led to membership of Siúl Walking club in 2006 and the "real start" of his hillwalking career. Pat completed MS1 and MS2 and progressed, with his wife Nuala, to enjoy route finding and walk leading. Hillwalking has become a core part of his holiday activities in Ireland and further afield, including the Tongariro Crossing in New Zealand. Pat has served as Siul's Training Officer since 2016. Retired since 2017 from a lifetime of Senior Leadership roles in the Pharmaceutical sector, Pat is interested in "giving back" where he can.
Ravit has over 20 years of experience in designing and running training, development and change management programmes for tech multinationals. She specialises in service and experience design, which includes communication, digital and physical design, content, and events. Ravit recently completed a certification in sustainable design in the Technological University of the Shannon. She is an outdoor enthusiast whose passions include long-distance hiking, rock climbing, snowboarding, and kayaking. Ravit is on Mountain Training Board Ireland and is also Secretary of the Sneem Walking Club.
Rhys studied Outdoor Education in college and currently works as an Outdoor Learning Youth Justice Worker for Crosscare. His role consists of designing and running outdoor programmes for young people who are referred through An Garda Síochána and local authorities. Rhys has a deep passion for making access to the mountains easier for young people. He has completed the Camping Leader and Lowland Leader awards, and is currently training for his Mountain Leader assessment. Rhys is also an avid climber and recently qualified as a Climbing Wall Instructor.
Job Titles:
- Youth Development Officer Northern Ireland
Ricky has been pulling down and enjoying climbing in Ireland for nearly 30 years. He is passionate about rock climbing and our mountain environments. He likes to share the things he's learnt, and he loves seeing people enjoying their climbing. Ricky loves his role because it gives him the opportunity to work with young people and help develop the sport of climbing in Northern Ireland.
Rita Connell joined Blayney Ramblers in 1993 and has been their Club Secretary for many years. She has built up years of experience helping to run the club and also a wide knowledge of hillwalking. A regular walker, she has visited many of the mountain areas in Ireland and Britain. Rita is a seasoned hiker, enjoys camping, and has completed many independent multi-day hikes, ranging from ones in the Alps and Pyrenees to others further afield in New Zealand, Peru, Iceland and Greenland. She is a former teacher and school principal.
Rita is a strong supporter of Mountaineering Ireland. She was Secretary from 2001-2006 and has been active with Women With Altitude since its inception. She was elected to the role of President in 2023.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Climbing Committee
Job Titles:
- Secretary
- Hillwalking Development and Club Officer
Ruth considers herself to be one of the lucky ones, getting to marry her passion with her day job and having the opportunity to share her love for the mountains with others. Ruth has a degree in Sports Management and she completed a research masters on the perception of women leaders in sport. Ruth's current focus is on the development of hillwalking and supporting all our hillwalking members, and she is the staff lead for Women With Altitude. She has walked and climbed mountain ranges in Scotland, Africa, and in the French, Italian and Austrian Alps, however the Irish hills will always be closest to her heart for their rugged charm and wild beauty.
Job Titles:
- Administration Officer
- Member of the Governance Committee
- Secretary of the Governance Committee
- in 2017 As Administration Officer
Siobhán joined Mountaineering Ireland in 2017 as Administration Officer and also took on the role of Company Secretary in 2022. She first discovered the satisfaction of working with members, volunteers and committees who are passionate about their activities while working for the Canadian Avalanche Association in Revelstoke, British Columbia, Canada.
Trish recently retired as Director of Petersburg Outdoor Education and Training Centre, a post she held for over 30 years, building the centre up to a thriving hub for outdoor education. The landscape around Petersburg captured Trish's heart and through her work at Petersburg, and her various voluntary activities, including the Joyce Country and Western Lakes Geopark, Trish has championed interest in and care for the environment, engagement with farmers and support for the local community. Trish has contributed to many Mountaineering Ireland initiatives, including Women With Altitude, Autumn Gatherings, environmental awareness events and the Irish Peaks book. In her spare time, Trish enjoys hiking, cycling and exploring rocky landscapes.