25 May 2018
Over the last two weekends, Kerry has been showcased as a unique and inspiring business tourism destination with two educational programs hosting Meetings, Incentives, Conference and Exhibition (MICE) event planners from across the UK and the US.
Hosted by Kerry Convention Bureau (KCB), the first program, designed as an ‘Experiential Weekend in Kerry’, offered a group of senior staff from leading UK event agencies the opportunity to come and experience the best of what Kerry has to offer for business events on a relaxed three day educational programme connecting them with local business event suppliers and operators. A US based sporting event planner was also in attendance.
The programme was designed specifically to boost Kerry’s profile as a vibrant and spectacular destination for business events and conferences. Offering a combination of experiences, product and networking, the group were left with an unforgettable impression of a compact destination that delivers world-class MICE events by applying invaluable local heritage, expertise and knowledge to achieve uniquely successful events for clients.
They were given first-hand experience of the facilities, venues, accommodation, transportation and services that Kerry has to offer, encouraging them to choose the region for their next big conference or event.”
“Kerry is a spectacular place to inspire, engage and motivate business tourism delegates” said KCB Chair Mike Buckley. Whether it’s an association or corporate meeting or a high-end incentive, we offer unrivaled facilities in idyllic locations throughout our region”. He added “In the past 5 years, Kerry has welcomed over 220 conferences/ meetings and 180 incentives with more than 120,000 delegates from over 25 different countries.
The programme highlights included a day trip with a difference out to the Dingle Peninsula on a bespoke tour organised by Hidden Ireland tours, VIP tickets to the Gary Barlow concert at the INEC as well as visits to a range of 5* and 4* KCB member hotel properties across Kerry. The programme also featured signature experiences such as riding bikes and Jaunting Cars through the National Park, a boat trip from Ross Castle to the Europe Hotel and Resort and immersive activities like Dingle Distillery Tour and a gentle hike up Dunmore Head.
Hosted by Fáilte Ireland’s Meet in Ireland team, in partnership with Tourism Ireland and Wallace Travel Group, a second group of ten US event planners also visited the region this week, as part of an educational programme showcasing Kerry, Shannon and Dublin.
The group enjoyed experiences including a visit to Muckross Traditional Farms and a mini Ring of Kerry Tour as well as spending time visiting some of the business events facilities, venues and accommodation, that Kerry has to offer.
Vice President, Global Markets, USA
BNP Paribas
Tom O’Sullivan is Vice President for Equity Finance at French Investment Bank, BNP Paribas. Prior to locating to New York in 2019, he was previously Head of EMEA Equity Finance Sales, based in London.
Originally from Kilgarvan, Tom holds a degree in Economics & Finance from University College Dublin.
He is active as a board member of the Kerry Association New York and is a former Chairman of the Kerry Association London.
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Cadence Design Systems
John Wall is Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at Cadence, and is responsible for financial strategy, global finance and operations, strategic sourcing, enterprise data & analytics, as well as capital allocation, investor relations, strategic and tax planning, treasury, workplace resources, m&a and integrations.
A 25 year veteran at Cadence, Wall previously served as Corporate Controller and in a number other finance and operational roles, starting in Cadence’s Dublin, Ireland office before moving to San Jose Headquarters in 2015 where he was internally promoted to CFO.
Today, Wall is focused on accelerating Cadence’s Intelligent System Design strategy, maximizing long-term shareholder value, and driving continuous improvement in the financial performance for which Cadence is known. He is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants and holds an NCBS from the Institute of Technology, Tralee in Ireland.
Director, GLOBE Implementation Office
The GLOBE Program
Tony Murphy grew up in Killarney, with seven siblings. He received his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at University of Limerick.
He worked at Cappanalea Outdoor Education Centre, focusing on creating the field studies program and published a book of student ecological activities, One Step Into the Outdoors.
In 1991, he traveled to Minnesota, USA to be an international intern at a nature centre, and later received his Ph.D. from The Ohio State University. He joined The GLOBE Program Office when it was established in 1995; after several years leaving for academia.
In 2012, he became Director of the GLOBE Implementation Office and in 2018, Tony was instrumental in bringing the 400 pax GLOBE Annual Meeting to Killarney.
Account Executive, Global Services
Rapid 7
Currently residing in Boston, Jackalyn is Account Executive at Rapid7. Born and raised in Massachusetts, Jackalyn’s Irish heritage runs deep with her maternal family stemming from Tralee, Co. Kerry, and her paternal family from Killarney, Co. Kerry.
At 18, Jackalyn moved to Clare to study hotel management at the Shannon College of Hotel Management. Jackalyn feels fortunate to have lived in Ireland and had the opportunity to train in some of Ireland’s most luxurious hotels. After graduating in 2016 with her bachelor’s degree, she came back stateside and began her hospitality career in Miami and then was homeward bound where she is now working in tech sales in downtown Boston and is an active member of the Irish American Business Network.
Head of New England and Midwest USA
Enterprise Ireland
David Corcoran is Head of New England & Midwest USA for Enterprise Ireland. David joined Enterprise Ireland in 2008 and has held several roles across their Global Markets division, based in The Netherlands, United Kingdom, and United States.
In addition to his regional remit for 18 states across New England and Midwest USA, David manages Enterprise Ireland’s Boston and Chicago offices, and leads their Lifesciences, Industrial, and International Education teams in the United States.
David is a native of Kilcummin, a graduate of University College Cork, and has lived overseas for the past fourteen years, based in Amsterdam, Boston, and London.
Chair, Relate Care & Founder, Kingdom Therapeutics
Liz is a lifesciences entrepreneur having founded a number of companies, a Chair, Non-Executive Director and occasional Angel investor.
She is also a Trustee of the charitable arm of Chelsea & Westminster Hospital in London. Previously, Liz was Global Head of Healthcare & Lifesciences at the NYSE-listed management consultancy, FTI Consulting Inc., who had acquired one of the businesses she founded, Santé Communications.
Liz is a proud native of Kerry and was awarded Kerry Person of the Year in 2017/18.
Liz has a BSc from UCC and she is an alumnus of the University of Virginia, Darden School of Business. She divides her time between Kerry & London.
Chief Executive Officer
Ardent Tide Ltd
Working in the Construction Industry Services sector (tax and CIS Payroll) since arriving from Ireland in November 1989, Dermot started off as an Accountant doing personal tax returns for subbies.
In 1996 he saw how new legislation in the employment v self-employment area was going to affect the Construction Industry, and went on to specialise in this area, working with hundreds of clients.
He is involved with the Construction Charity; the Lighthouse Club and is a director of Lighthouse Club Golf which assists people to run golf days. He is vice-president of BITA (British & Irish Trade Alliance) and uses his passion for networking to introduce people for mutual benefit. He has also developed a passion for start-ups as tech is critical for Construction and all industry to get ahead as the lack of resource bites.
Emeritus Professor of Anaesthesia and Critical Care
University College London
Founder, Owner and CEO
Glencar Group
Eddie graduated in 2002 with a BSc in Construction Management from John Moores University Liverpool. He joined a leading main contractor as an Assistant Engineer, working his way through the ranks to become Divisional Director.
Having established Glencar Construction in 2016 with co-founder Chris Gleave, he has overseen rapid business growth which resulted in Glencar gaining the top spot in the Sunday Times Virgin Atlantic Fast Track 100 league table 2020. Glencar’s has an enviable customer community of Blue Chip, MNC’s and major national companies.
Glencar has developed a national presence across the UK and is in the process of expanding into Ireland. They have delivered some landmark schemes, including a new life science facility for Catalent at Harwell (formerly VMIC) and various major industrial and logistics projects across the UK. Eddie continues to build on Glencar’s excellent reputation, focusing on the development of a talented team, a tier 1 supply chain and a best-in-class customer community, with Glencar’s core values at its heart.
Chief Executive Officer
BP PLC
Bernard is leading bp’s transformation to an integrated energy company – one that creates long-term shareholder value by delivering solutions to the trilemma of secure, affordable and lower carbon energy.
He is an advocate for inclusion, mental health and the role that greening companies like bp can play in helping the world get to net zero.
He has spent his entire career at bp, joining as an engineer in 1991. He is a steering committee member for the Council for Inclusive Capitalism, an FCLTGlobal board member and leads the Energy Transition Taskforce of the Sustainable Markets Initiative.
Member of European Parliament
MEP Ireland South
Seán Kelly has been an MEP for Ireland South since 2009. He is the leader of Fine Gael in the European Parliament and a member of the EPP Group.
Kelly sits on the European Parliament’s Committees on the International Trade (INTA), Industry, Research & Energy (ITRE), and Constitutional Affairs (AFCO).
He has led on important policy work, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), setting the 2030 target for Renewable Energy, finalising the EU’s €650 billion InvestEU programme, and securing a majority in favour of the EU-Singapore Free Trade Agreement.
He has also been heavily involved in Climate Action, and has represented the Parliament at three UNFCCC Conferences.
Seán is currently the lead MEP for UK trade matters in the European Parliament and Chair of the UK Monitoring Group for matters relating to Brexit, as well as First Vice-Chair of the European Parliament’s standing delegation to the EU-UK Parliamentary Assembly.
Fundraising and Events Manager
ICAP UK
Tara is a proud Kerry woman living in London for over 30 years and is the Fundraising & Events Manager for ICAP, an Irish mental health charity for Irish people in the UK, which provide counselling and psychotherapy. Previous roles saw her working with Michelin-Starred Chef Richard Corrigan, overseeing events at his London restaurants.
Tara sat on the committee of the Kerry Association London as secretary for 13 years and was also responsible for bringing the Darkness into Light walk to London. The walk is still going strong with over 1,500 walkers attending pre-covid.
Tara sits on the Board for Women’s Irish Network, a network for Irish Women in London to connect and aim to help women feel more confident and to bring them closer to achieving their ambitions in life.
Due to receive the Freedom of the City of London in October, Tara will be the first Killarney person to receive such an accolade which will be presented by the current Lord Mayor of the City of London Vincent Keaveny.
Chief Executive
Irish Haemophilia Society
Brian O’Mahony is the Chief Executive of the Irish Haemophilia Society, and a former President of both the World Federation of Haemophilia and the European Haemophilia Consortium.
A board member of the Irish Blood Transfusion Service and Chairperson of their research committee, Brian is also Chairperson of the Scoliosis Co-Design committee.
He is the author or co-author of more than 80 peer scientific journal articles, and a Fellow of both the Academy of Clinical Science and Laboratory Medicine (Ireland) and a Fellow of the Institute of Biomedical Sciences (UK).
Brian has post graduate qualifications in Management and in Occupational Health and Safety and is currently an assistant adjunct Professor in Health Service Management in Trinity College, Dublin.
Commercial Advisor
Embassy of USA
Julianne O’Leary recently joined the U.S. Embassy Dublin, as a Commercial Advisor for the U.S. Commercial Service, the trade promotion arm of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration.
The U.S. Commercial Service support U.S. companies in exporting and increasing sales in the Irish and European markets. Julianne’s sector portfolio includes Healthcare, Medical Devices, Advanced Manufacturing, and Travel and Tourism.
Julianne developed a passion for international trade and diplomacy after college when she was based in Milan, Italy with the Irish governmental agency Enterprise Ireland. Before joining the Embassy, Julianne was heavily involved in the start-up ecosystem across Ireland and is originally from Churchill, Co. Kerry.
Communications Manager
Alzheimer Society of Ireland
Hugh O’Donoghue holds an MA in Film Production and Direction from the University of Galway as well as a BA in New Media and English from the University of Limerick.
He is the Communications Manager at the Alzheimer Society of Ireland and is the Secretary at Shannon’s Hopeline.
Hugh is a full member of the Public Relations Institute of Ireland and a media professional whose experience ranges across many areas including not-for-profit, corporate, and human resources.
He is also a published author and filmmaker whose films have been screened in international film festivals.
Kathleen holds a Degree in Translation & Interpreting Studies, as well as a Masters in Education.
Convention Director and Board Member
Irish Association of Barbershop Singers CLG
Elizabeth has been on the Board of International Association of Barbershop Singers (IABS) since November 1998 and is Convention Director for the now annual 800 pax IABS Convention held in Killarney.
Singing Barbershop Harmony has been her passion and saviour since 1990. This interest has taken her to many interesting places in Europe, Sweden, the U.K., Australia and the U.S.
She has represented IABS on the World Harmony Council which is an international body of likeminded individuals whose goal is to spread the love of barbershop singing from Hawaii to New Zealand.
IABS is affiliated to the Barbershop Harmony Society (www.barbershop.org) in Nashville and Ireland is always a valued destination for their Judges who visit us.
Elizabeth’s father, Paud O Shea from Holy Ground, Dingle, gave her a great interest in music, travel and history and would be very pleased with her continued connection with County Kerry in the role of Kerry Ambassador.
Chief Executive Officer
Irish Film and Television Academy (IFTA)
Áine Moriarty is founder and Chief Executive of the Irish Film & Television Academy (www.ifta.ie) which celebrates its 20th Year in 2023.
IFTA has 1,300 Members of Irish industry professionals and runs approx. 50 events annually including Masterclasses, Lectures, Talent Hub Sessions as well as the John Ford Ireland – Film Symposium and the IFTA Women In Focus Conference.
She is the Executive Producer of the annual IFTA Awards Ceremony & Broadcast for the past 17 years and is a founding member of the Film Academies Network of Europe. She established the IFTN Network (www.iftn. ie) back in 1995 and prior to this she was the manager of Film Ireland magazine at the Irish Film Centre in Dublin. Áine is a member of the European Film Academy, a member of the Audio-visual Federation of Ireland; a member of Screen Producers Ireland; a member of the Film Steering Group Kerry; and a Board Member of the Kerry International Film Festival.
Chief Executive
Golf Ireland
Mark Kennelly, from Killarney and a graduate of the University of Limerick, is Chief Executive of Golf Ireland, the national governing body responsible for the development, promotion and administration of golf across the island of Ireland.
For over 20 years, he held senior managerial and advisory positions in politics and government, both at E.U. and national levels.
From 2011 to 2017, he served as Chief of Staff at the Department of the Taoiseach.
Prior to joining Golf Ireland as its first CEO in 2019, Mark ran his own strategic advisory business.
On a voluntary basis, Mark is involved with the University of Limerick Foundation, the Prosper Kerry Network and the Kerry Association in Dublin.
Head of Finance UK
Ballymore Properties
From Lisselton, Keelin is the Head of Finance of the UK division of the property development group, Ballymore Properties, since May 2022. A UCD graduate, Keelin trained as a chartered accountant in Arthur Andersen and then spent 20 years in KPMG in Ireland, where she was a director from 2007 to 2022.
Keelin is also a Board Member of the Irish Writers’ Centre.
Keelin has been the chairperson of the Kerry Association in Dublin since 2017. She is also a founding member of Prosper Kerry, a networking group of Kerry diaspora focussed on enhancing prosperity in the county.
Director – HR and Operations
ViClarity
Kathleen has been the Director of HR and Operations for ViClarity since 2018, working closely with the European & US team on the strategic management of its global software business, while also supporting the day-to-day operations and resource management of the European business.
She brings over 20 years of experience, having worked in human resources and technical training roles for a number of multinational companies, including Ingersoll Rand, IBM, Xerox and most recently Kerry Group, where she held a senior leadership role within the HR function for Europe, Middle East & Africa.
Kathleen holds a Degree in Translation & Interpreting Studies, as well as a Masters in Education.
Managing Director
TLI Group
John is an enthusiastic director that works in the engineering, utilities and transportation sectors.
He is part of the TLI Group leadership team, having spent seven years with TLI Group. In that time, the business has grown revenues from €22m PA to €70m in 2021, and currently employs 950 staff.
John holds a Batchelor’s Degree from Trinty College Dublin and a Diploma in Construction Economics from Technological University Dublin.
Home is Kerry, where he resides with my wife and two children. He has a keen interest in sport and like cycling, rowing and water sports.
Head of School – Business, Computing and Humanities
Munster Technical University
Mary Rose Stafford is the Executive Head of School of Business, Computing & Humanities in the Munster Technological University.
Her qualifications include a Higher Diploma in Hotel and Catering Management, a BSc in Management, a MBus in Tourism and a post graduate diploma in Education.
She has gained 15 years in international hotel management working in London, New York, Dublin and Kerry. Since 2003, she has worked in third level education and is co-author of two books and numerous academic papers.
MaryRose was appointed to the Board of Failte Ireland (2013-2017) and received a Fellowship from the Irish Hospitality Institute in 2016. She is actively involved in tourism development both nationally and internationally and currently leads an EU project on the’ Circular Economy for Regenerative Tourism’ and is also a member of the ‘Transatlantic Cable Foundation Board’ seeking UNESCO designation for Transatlantic Cable stations in Ireland and Canada.
General Manager
Radio Kerry
Fiona Stack is General Manager of Radio Kerry. She began her career as a journalist with the station. She then took up a position as Communications and Community Relations Specialist with Intel Ireland, before joining Newstalk as Station Editor for three years. During that time Newstalk was named Radio Station of the Year.
Fiona returned to Radio Kerry as General Manager and Programme Controller in 2005 and since that time the station has been named Local Radio Station of the Year on five occasions. Radio Kerry also owns Shannonside /Northern Sound Radio which broadcasts to five counties in the Midlands and North East.
Chief Executive Officer
Aspen Grove Solutions
From Kerry, Seán has spent the last 22 years building Aspen Grove from its headquarters in Tralee. Aspen is a fintech/protech crossover technology company providing solutions to financial institutions and asset management companies in US and Europe. Aspen’s technology is used to manage large portfolios of assets and associated loan activity as well as helping to manage 3rd party vendor networks and compliance. With its no-code platform, Aspen implements new products, services, & solutions to its clients rapidly.
A believer in driving local economic activity, Seán was instrumental in setting up Coder Dojo in Tralee as well as co- founding KerrySciTech and Kerry Angel Network.
Director of CEED and Senior Lecturer
Munster Technical University
Dr. Breda O’Dwyer is Senior Lecturer and Director of CEED – Centre for Economic and Entrepreneurial Development, with extensive experience in both the scholarship of teaching & learning and of discovery and research.
CEED engages with, promotes and measures the outcomes and impact of convergent thinking, research and practice across disciplines from a social, cultural and/or economic perspective.
We enable integrative research frameworks that allow professionals to explore their entrepreneurial leadership mindsets and to work more efficiently and intuitively alongside each other. Outcomes include Kerry being awarded the title of a European Entrepreneurship Region (EER) and the global Cantillon Conference – A Forum of Fresh Thinking.
Group Head of Treasury and Strategic Finance
Fexco
Mark is currently the Group Head of Treasury & Strategic Finance in Fexco and has held a number of senior leadership roles in the organisation over the past twenty years. Mark has a broad range of experience across a number of sectors including payments, managed services and tourism having been actively involved in developing the Gulliver reservation system in conjunction with Failte Ireland.
A chartered accountant, Mark also has an MBA from Henley Business School. Originally from Cork, Mark has been living in Kerry for over twenty years and is committed to helping and supporting local community organisations and initiatives.
Manager
Sneem Digital Hub
Aidan Murray currently manages Sneem Digital Hub in Glorious South Kerry, as well as launching a business offering Online Reputation Management, Social Content Posting and Birthday Marketing.
He has also held senior management roles with US and European Multinationals with a Black Belt in Lean Six Sigma.
Aidan has trained and coached hundreds of small business owners, predominantly in Kerry and is a qualified teacher, marketing consultant, business & executive coach and Quantum Thinking Transformation practitioner. At present he provides a concierge-type service to individuals wishing to swap urban life for rural life, having brought people to South Kerry from South Africa, the US and Dublin.
Founder and Promoter
B Mc Elligott Consulting
Bríd Mc Elligott has over 30 years’ experience working with national and international organisations across the public, private and not-for-profit sector. Bríd applies an in-depth and intuitive knowledge of the research and innovation eco-system to assist start-up companies with ambition to grow and scale.
Bríd spent 25 years of her career with Munster Technological University (formerly IT Tralee), eleven of which were in the role of Vice President for Research and Development. As a member of the Senior Executive Team, Bríd played a leadership role in several enterprise enabling initiatives including the RDI Hub in Killorglin, Kerry Month of Enterprise, the Agricultural Centre of Excellence (ACE), and the establishment of a number of National Research Centres and Clusters.
During her time at the University, Bríd also led the establishment of the IT Tralee Foundation Board. This Board oversaw the successful funding and development of the Kerry Sports Academy and went on to become the most successful Foundation in the Institute of Technology sector.
Bríd currently sits on a number of Boards and Committees in Kerry and is Chairperson of Kerry Innovation Centre, Chairperson of John Mitchel’s GAA Club in Tralee and Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Kerry Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre.
Head of Marketing & Fexco Board Member
Voxxify
Head of Marketing at Voxxify, the leading IT User Experience Measurement platform that helps IT leaders make better decisions to deliver greater business value.
Prior to joining Voxxify, Liz founded and led the development of Scale Ireland, the policy voice for high-growth tech start-ups and scale-ups in Ireland. She also held a variety of roles at start up hub Dogpatch Labs and worked with Kerry-based Fexco and fintech start-ups.
Economics and Policy graduate with an MSc in Local Economic Development (summa cum laude) from LSE. Background in project management, business development, B2B marketing, and lots of volunteering experience centred around grassroots economic and community development and sustainability.
Founder and Director
Expressive Play
Edel Lawlor is the founder and director of Expressive Play. This is a hugely successful Child, Adolescent, and Training & Therapy Centre in Ireland.
She is a Social Entrepreneur, winning many awards for her work and innovation in Business. In 2016, she organised a 300 pax Child Trauma Conference, bringing world renowned speakers to Kerry.
Edel has been listed as one of the top 100 Social Entrepreneurs in Europe 2022 and has both published work and been interviewed in the media.
Passionate about the kingdom, the sea and the treasures within it, Edel is the founder of the Kilfllynn Fairy festival, believing family is the key to all success.
Founder/CEO
Wazp
Having 20+ years’ experience in volume manufacturing industries in a number of multi-million-euro enterprises across Europe, Mariana moved to Ireland in 2014 and together with Shane Hassett founded WAZP, a global 3D printing supply chain company based in Tralee.
She is responsible for R&D, Quality and Finance at WAZP and has a special interest in lean, sustainable and cost- effective business models. Mariana has implemented products in IKEA, NEXT, ARGOS and other global brands, as well as built international teams and introduced new methods of product development and optimization.
Mariana is extremely passionate about the Kerry region and the careful use of natural resources.
Managing Director
Healy Insurances
John Healy is the Managing Director of Healy Insurances, a general insurance broker founded by John’s father Jim in 1981.
John joined the business in 2002 following underwriting positions with Church & General (Allianz) and Hibernian (Aviva).
John leads a team of ten qualified professionals who are experts in all General Insurance products including Motor, Home, Business and Farm Insurance.
Based in the tourism capital of Ireland, John Healy is an expert in all areas of General Insurance including Leisure Insurance cover to the hospitality sector and beyond. He was instrumental in bringing the annual Aviva Conference to Killarney in 2019, attracting 280 attendees.
Festival Director and Founder
Animation Dingle
Maurice is the Festival Director and co-founder of Animation Dingle with over 25 years of festival experience.
Maurice has hosted guests from around the globe, (LA, New York, Paris, London, Australia, India, Spain, Italy, etc.), and ensures each and every guest is given not only a hearty Irish welcome, but a Kerry welcome. Guests leave his Festival with experiences that will often bring them back year after year – to attend not just festivals, but also to holiday in Ireland.
While attending festivals around the world both exhibiting and viewing film and animated works, Maurice is proud to act as an ambassador, promoting Ireland’s creativity and culture.
Chief Executve Officer
Universal Access
Universal Access founder and CEO Paudie Healy is a disruptive change maker, delivering innovative accessibility solutions through their accessibility platform, with integrated mapped out maturity programs, resources, and training content.
This Universal Access Platform enables brands, businesses, and public services to design, develop, and manage their accessibility to fully include persons with disabilities and persons with reduced function due to ageing in the built environment, digital assets, products, services, and person-centred experiences. This ensures that people of all abilities have equal access and a seamless user experience with a business and/or public service, along with delivering economic, environmental, social and governance results for the businesses and public services and reducing risk by compliance with global regulations.
Paudie’s expertise is globally recognised by his appointments to several international committees, boards, and advisory roles as a subject matter expert on accessibility and inclusive user experience and is a regular speaker at international conferences.
Chairman
Munster Technical University
Jimmy Deenihan was a History/Geography and Physical Education teacher from 1975-83 at Tarbert Comprehensive School, Co. Kerry.
He served in the Irish Senate from 1983-87 and in Dail Eireann (Irish Parliament) from 1987-2016. During his period in Dáil Éireann he served as Minister of Food and Rural Development from 1994-97, Minister for Arts & Heritage from 2011-2014 and Minister for The Diaspora from 2014-2016.
He also served, at different times, as opposition spokesperson on Youth, Sport, Tourism, Education and Defence. Presently Jimmy is Chairperson of Munster Technological University, President of the Kerry Archaeological and Historical Society, Chairperson of Kerry Recreation and Sport Partnership, Chairperson of Listowel Food Hub, Chairperson of Tintean Theatre, Ballybunion and serves on the boards of a number of charity and arts related organisations.
Jimmy was also captain of the Kerry team that won 4 All Irelands in a row from 1978-1981.
General Manager
Dingle Hub
Deirdre de Bhailís, is General Manager of Dingle Hub. She is an experienced social enterprise and community leader with a comprehensive knowledge of strategic and operational development. Skilled in multi-stakeholder and community engagement, she drives multiple projects which address the community’s transition to a low carbon society.
UNESCO Chair Manager
Munster Technical University
Catherine is the UNESCO Chair Manager on Inclusive Sport at Munster Technological University. She leads a global consortium to advance human rights, sustainable development and the principle of no one left behind. Catherine is internationally renowned in her field and has led and presented at events in Kerry and on all continents.
In 2022, Catherine led a three-day session at Expo2020 Dubai as part of the Ireland at Expo program bringing together UN and multi-lateral agencies, Governments, the Sports Sector, development banks, and human rights institutions.
Catherine believes Kerry can lead and shape change in line with global priorities.
Kerry Food Share is Kerry’s largest foodbank, an initiative of North, East, West Kerry Development and St Vincent De Paul, which operates to prevent both food waste and food poverty in the County. FSK takes both FEAD (Food from the European Union Fund for the Most Deprived) and surplus food from local hotels, businesses and suppliers, delivering it to charity partners who redistribute it to families in need.
Food Cloud will take donations of excess food from events, who will collect the food on site at no extra cost and arrange for distribution to appropriate charities.
Have something that could potentially be used by a charity for another purpose such as cardboard boxes, wooden pallets etc? Left over materials can be recycled and provided to DEIS schools, such as Lyreacrompane in North Kerry to use as Arts and Craft materials.
Alternatively, liaise with the venue for assistance to connect with other local organisations who could reuse materials, helping to reduce landfill waste and further a circular economy.
As a county, Kerry is committed to ‘Keeping it Green’, putting the focus on protecting the environment and developing a green economy.
Home to both Siamsa Tíre, Ireland’s first accredited Green Theatre and Events Centre and world leading hotels such as The Europe Hotel & Resort and The Killarney Park who operate on 100% green renewable energy, and The Rose Hotel, whose Head Chef has just become the first person in the world to complete a newly established Environmental Sustainability Management in Hospitality qualification.
We are extremely proud of how our industry have embraced a sustainability ethos, and the steps that many of our hotels, venues, activity providers etc are undertaking to put in place Green Teams, implement measures to reduce environmental impact and for some, undertake third party sustainability accreditation.
Within Kerry Convention Bureau, all our familiarisation programmes and events are paper & single use plastic free.
We are members of Sustainable Travel Ireland and Green Travel and work closely with organisations such as Sustainable Events Alliance and Fifty Shades Greener to stay informed and ensure that we are adopting best practice, accessing current training opportunities and in turn, sharing these with our members.
Reducing your carbon footprint is a highly recommended step for event planners and tourism businesses that care about our climate and their emission levels. We strongly encourage visiting event planners, KCB Members and our industry partners to consider offsetting any emissions they produce.
Kerry Convention Bureau works with two organisations who offer Carbon Offsetting initiatives; Sustainable Travel Ireland and Flogas.
Both organisations have partnered with South Pole, a gold standard provider of emissions-reduction projects worldwide.
Sustainable Travel Ireland have created a group carbon-offset scheme for the Irish tourism industry, which can also be utilised by event planners when holding events in Kerry.
The scheme offers a wide array of internationally accredited offsetting projects, including hydropower, clean drinking water and forest protection schemes.
Visit Sustainable Travel Ireland for more information and handy tools to calculate and offset through one of its chosen high-impact projects. and note, members of Sustainable Travel Ireland can avail of discounted rates.
Member Hotels of Kerry Convention Bureau, who are or become customers of Flogas, can avail of the carbon offsetting scheme currently offered by Flogas to all its business customers throughout Ireland.
For a minimal fee, Flogas will purchase carbon credits on behalf of commercial customers, investing in sustainable global projects that either reduce or capture an equivalent amount of carbon emissions.
Examples of the supported projects include forest protection, providing access to clean and efficient LPG cookstoves, supporting renewable energy projects and wastewater treatment and biogas utilisation projects. For more information on how to get involved, contact Flogas.
Request for ProposalKerry Convention Bureau offers a free and impartial service, providing expert local advice, venue sourcing and facilitating connections to passionate, local suppliers who are committed to working together to make your event a success
A dedicated team of professionals at Kerry Convention Bureau are on hand to help event organisers bid for and host a successful conference in Kerry.
2nd Floor
Tourist Information Office
Beech Road
Killarney, Co. Kerry
Ireland
