Meet the Directors

Mary Henry (Director)

Mary comes from a background in Occupational Therapy and was Physical and Sensory Disabilities Manager in HSE before her retirement. She was an integral part of the group that set up the MS Centre and was involved both in the original building and fundraising effort. More recently she coordinated the building of our supported holiday facility Woodhaven.

Gordon Barrett (Director)

Gordon worked as a Social Worker for the NWHB and then the HSE for nearly 40 years mainly with Older People and also as a Medical Social Worker. The increasingly complex issues arising in Health and Social care prompted Gordon to complete a Masters degree in Health Care Ethics and Law in the RCSI in 2007 which proved to be invaluable in his and his Team’s work.

Caradh O’Donovan (Director)

Caradh works as Head of Governance for Coimisiún na Meán, the regulator of broadcasting and online media in Ireland. Prior to this Caradh held senior management roles with Boardmatch Ireland, the Irish Athletic Boxing Association and Triathlon Ireland. Caradh completed her BSc in Sports Management UCD before continuing to a MA Sport & Exercise Psychology at WIT. She holds a Professional Diploma in Corporate Governance from Smurfit Graduate Business School. She joined the Board of the MS Centre in October 2022..

Orla Ward (Director)

Orla has worked in the social enterprise sector for 25 years and her experience includes project management, communications and fundraising. She is currently working in the education and training sector as a Commercial Director. Orla has also worked in the private sector and is a qualified bid manager with experience working on multi-million-pound tenders to the government. She has a special interest in organisational strategy and sustainability. Orla joined the board at the end of 2023.

Edel Hyland (Director)

Edel completed a Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce at the National University of Ireland, Galway. Edel furthered her studies and trained as a Chartered Accountant in Gilroy Gannon, Sligo qualifying in 2007.  Afterwards, she spent 4 years at KPMG in Dublin working as an audit manager on a wide range of Irish Indigenous companies and PLCs both Irish and International.  Edel has been working in Kerry Group plc since 2013.   Edel is an avid supporter of the Mayo football team and likes to travel in her spare time. 

Geraldine Gordon (Chairperson)

Geraldine has a background in banking and was elected as a Director 6 years ago. She acts as director with special responsibility for fundraising and has provided assistance to the fundraising committee in setting up and monitoring the MS Club Draw.