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 (expect 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 2020/2021
Farmers and Property Owners Panel |
|
| Declan O’Neill | Wicklow County IFA |
| Pat Dunne | Wicklow County IFA |
| Tom Byrne | Wicklow County IFA |
| Joe Morrissey | Wicklow County IFA |
| Owen Brady | Wicklow County IFA |
| Sean Malone | Wicklow Cheviot Sheep Owners Association |
| Denis Halpin | Wicklow Cheviot Sheep Owners Association |
Environmental and Recreational Panel |
|
| Russell Boland | Individual |
| John Flynn | County Wicklow Game Conservation Council |
| Louis O’Byrne | Individual Member |
| Bob Galvin | Bray Coast Care |
Community Panel |
|
| Finian McEvoy | Glendalough & District Development Association |
| Martha Mitchell | County Wicklow Farm Family Group |
| Garvan Hickey | Individual Member |
| Claire Chambers | Roundwood & District Community Council |
Economic and Tourism Panel |
|
| Eugene Stephens | Ashford Self Catering Cottages |
| Dairine Nuttall | Wicklow Nordic Walking & Ireland Tour Guide |
| Geoffrey Seymour | Roundwood & District Community Council |
| Sean Byrne | Lough Dan House, B & B |
| Co-Options | |
| Jim Sheehan | Mountaineering Ireland |
| John Medlycott | Individual Member |
| Donal Anderson | Dublin IFA |
| Daniel Molloy | Wicklow IFA |
| Carmel Kealy | Motorcycling Union Ireland |
| Philip Maguire | Dublin IFA |
| Michael Keegan | Individual |
Executive Committee |
|
| Tom Byrne | Chair |
| Louis O’Byrne | Vice-Chair |
| Dairine Nuttall | Hon. Secretary |
| Garvan Hickey | Hon. Treasurer |
| Sean Byrne | Executive Committee Member |
| Jim Sheehan | Executive Committee Member |
| John Medlycott | Executive Committee Member |
| Geoffrey Seymour | Executive Committee Member |
| Declan O’Neill | Executive Committee Member |
| Carmel Kealy | Executive Committee Member |
| Finian McEvoy | Executive Committee Member |
| Owen Brady | Executive Committee Member |
| Russell Boland | Executive Committee Member |