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 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 |