The current panel structure and board representation of Wicklow Uplands Council

Panel Structure

Wicklow Uplands Council represents over 50 diverse member groups and individuals. The membership of the Council is divided into four panel groups;  Farmers & Landowners,  Environmental and Recreational Interests,  Economic & Tourism Interests,  and Community groups. These panels which convene on average twice a year, represent the shared and diverse interests found in the Wicklow and Dublin Uplands.

Board Of Directors

At the AGM, each of the four panel groups can nominate a specific number of candidates to sit on the Board of Directors to represent their interests for the year ahead. A total of nineteen Directors are elected at the AGM. Those nineteen can in turn, co-opt an additional eight Directors to the Board which may be elected from any of the panels. The purpose of electing co-options is to allow for additional expertise on the Board. Therefore, the total number of Directors that can sit on the Board of Wicklow Uplands Council amounts to 27. While the Council has a large Board of Directors, it is representative in nature and important that the various stakeholders in the uplands are represented.

Consensus is central to the work of the Council and no decision by the Directors has been decided by a vote since the organisation was established in 2007.

 

The Board of Directors are all volunteers and meet monthly (except for August). This ensures that projects and programmes are progressing and that Directors are well informed of current issues in the uplands. It also facilitates open dialogue between various interest groups. There is excellent attendance at Board Meeting. Directors also take responsibility for assisting in the delivery of projects and represent the Council on external committees and organisations, and at events throughout the year.

In addition to the Board of Directors, an Executive Committee meets monthly to discuss operational issues. Subcommittees are also formed periodically to focus on specific issues and projects and present their recommendations to the Board for consideration.

Voluntary hours spent by our by of Directors amount to an average of over 500 hours each year.

Directors for 2024/25

 

Farmers and Property Owners Panel

Denis Halpin Wicklow Cheviot Sheep Owners Association
Sean Malone Wicklow Cheviot Sheep Owners Association
Mary Catherine Murphy Wicklow Cheviot Sheep Owners Association
Joe Morrissey Wicklow IFA
Declan O’Neill Wicklow IFA
Pat Dunne Wicklow IFA
Tom Byrne Wicklow IFA

Environmental and Recreational Panel

Michael Keegan Farmer
Máire O’Connor Mountaineering Ireland
Hannah O’Kelly Environmental Scientist
Darren Flynn Co. Wicklow Game Conservation

Community Panel

Aideen Klauer Hollywood Community Forum
Mary Kelly-Quinn Glendalough & District Development Association
Seán Pierce

Shay Cullen

Roundwood & District Community Council

Sales Manager

Economic and Tourism Panel

Sean Byrne Lough Dan House, B & B
Eugene Stephens Ashford Self Catering Cottages
Dairine Nuttall Wicklow Nordic Walking & Ireland Tour Guide
John Fenton Deer Management
Co-Options
Louis O’Byrne Former Public Servant
Philip Maguire Dublin IFA
Donal Anderson Dublin IFA
Carmel Kealy Motor Cycling Ireland
Ann Halpin Community Stakeholder

Executive Committee

Michael Keegan Chair
Denis Halpin Vice-Chair
Dairine Nuttall Hon. Secretary
Hannah O’Kelly Hon. Treasurer
Sean Byrne Executive Committee Member
Philip Maguire Executive Committee Member
Aideen Klauer Executive Committee Member
Declan O’Neill Executive Committee Member

Directors for 2023/24

 

Farmers and Property Owners Panel

Denis Halpin Wicklow Cheviot Sheep Owners Association
Sean Malone Wicklow Cheviot Sheep Owners Association
Daniel Molloy Wicklow County IFA
Mary Catherine Murphy Wicklow Cheviot Sheep Owners
Joe Morrissey Wicklow County IFA
Owen Brady Wicklow County IFA
Donal Anderson Dublin IFA

Environmental and Recreational Panel

Máire O’Connor Mountaineering Ireland
Louis O’Byrne Individual Member
John Ferns Co. Wicklow Game Conservation
Hannah O’Kelly Individual Member

Community Panel

Garvan Hickey Individual Member
Aideen Klauer Hollywood Community Forum
Mary Kelly-Quinn Glendalough & District Development Association

Economic and Tourism Panel

Sean Byrne Lough Dan House, B & B
Eugene Stephens Ashford Self Catering Cottages
Dairine Nuttall Wicklow Nordic Walking & Ireland Tour Guide
Geoffrey Seymour Roundwood & District Community Council
Co-Options
Claire Chambers Roundwood & District Community Council
Pat Dunne Wicklow IFA
Carmel Kealy Motor Cycling Ireland
Philip Maguire Dublin IFA
Michael Keegan Individual Member
Declan O’Neill Wicklow IFA
Tom Byrne Wicklow County IFA

Executive Committee

Louis O’Byrne Chair
Philip Maguire Vice-Chair
Aideen Klauer Hon. Secretary
Geoffrey Seymour Hon. Treasurer
Sean Byrne Executive Committee Member
Dairine Nuttall Executive Committee Member
Tom Byrne Executive Committee Member
Declan O’Neill Executive Committee Member
Joe Morrissey Executive Committee Member

Directors for 2022/23

 

Farmers and Property Owners Panel

Denis Halpin Wicklow Cheviot Sheep Owners Association
Sean Malone Wicklow Cheviot Sheep Owners Association
Tom Byrne Wicklow County IFA
Daniel Molloy Wicklow County IFA
Joe Morrissey Wicklow County IFA
Owen Brady Wicklow County IFA
Donal Anderson Dublin IFA

Environmental and Recreational Panel

Máire O’Connor Mountaineering Ireland
Russell Boland Individual Member
Bob Galvin Bray Coast Care

Community Panel

Garvan Hickey Individual Member
Aideen Klauer Hollywood Community Forum
Mary Kelly-Quinn Glendalough & District Development Association

Economic and Tourism Panel

Sean Byrne Lough Dan House, B & B
Eugene Stephens Ashford Self Catering Cottages
Dairine Nuttall Wicklow Nordic Walking & Ireland Tour Guide
Geoffrey Seymour Roundwood & District Community Council
Co-Options
Louis O’Byrne Individual Member
Pat Dunne Wicklow IFA
Carmel Kealy Motor Cycling Ireland
Philip Maguire Dublin IFA
Michael Keegan Individual Member
Declan O’Neill Wicklow IFA
Claire Chambers Roundwood & District Community Council
Mary Catherine Murphy Wicklow Cheviot Sheep Owners Association

Executive Committee

Louis O’Byrne Chair
Philip Maguire Vice-Chair
Aideen Klauer Hon. Secretary
Geoffrey Seymour Hon. Treasurer
Sean Byrne Executive Committee Member
Dairine Nuttall Executive Committee Member
Tom Byrne Executive Committee Member
Declan O’Neill Executive Committee Member
Joe Morrissey Executive Committee Member

Directors for 2022/23

 

Farmers and Property Owners Panel

Denis Halpin Wicklow Cheviot Sheep Owners Association
Sean Malone Wicklow Cheviot Sheep Owners Association
Tom Byrne Wicklow County IFA
Daniel Molloy Wicklow County IFA
Joe Morrissey Wicklow County IFA
Owen Brady Wicklow County IFA
Donal Anderson Dublin IFA

Environmental and Recreational Panel

Máire O’Connor Mountaineering Ireland
Russell Boland Individual Member
Bob Galvin Bray Coast Care

Community Panel

Garvan Hickey Individual Member
Aideen Klauer Hollywood Community Forum
Mary Kelly-Quinn Glendalough & District Development Association

Economic and Tourism Panel

Sean Byrne Lough Dan House, B & B
Eugene Stephens Ashford Self Catering Cottages
Dairine Nuttall Wicklow Nordic Walking & Ireland Tour Guide
Geoffrey Seymour Roundwood & District Community Council
Co-Options
Louis O’Byrne Individual Member
Pat Dunne Wicklow IFA
Carmel Kealy Motor Cycling Ireland
Philip Maguire Dublin IFA
Michael Keegan Individual Member
Declan O’Neill Wicklow IFA
Claire Chambers Roundwood & District Community Council
Mary Catherine Murphy Wicklow Cheviot Sheep Owners Association

Executive Committee

Louis O’Byrne Chair
Philip Maguire Vice-Chair
Aideen Klauer Hon. Secretary
Geoffrey Seymour Hon. Treasurer
Sean Byrne Executive Committee Member
Dairine Nuttall Executive Committee Member
Tom Byrne Executive Committee Member
Declan O’Neill Executive Committee Member
Joe Morrissey Executive Committee Member