EDMUND RICE SCHOOLS TRUST (Founded in February 2009)
Professor Peter Finn, Br Edmund Garvey, Mr Gerry Scannell, Br Denis Gleeson, Mr John Cooley, Mr Paul Cooper, Dr Éamon Phoenix, Mr Paul Shevlin, Dr Muredach Dynan, Mr Kevin Burke, Mrs Geraldine McLaverty, Mr Bernard McElholme, Mr John Devine, Mr Micheál Martin, Mr Roddy Tierney,
Mrs Yvonne McCool.
PRESENT MEMBERS
MR JOHN COOLEY
Current Chair of Board of Members
Former Chair of the Board of Directors.
Educated at St Mary’s CBGS, a former Parent and Chair of the Board of Governors.
Worked in Labour Relations and Human resources and was HR Manager with Ford/Visteon.
Former President of the Christian Brothers Past Pupils Union of Ireland. Current Director with Edmund Rice Development
MR RODDY TIERNEY
Former Director since the Founding of the Trust (2009-2014).
Primary and Grammar Education at the Christian Brothers school in Omagh.
Graduate of St Joseph’s College of Education, Belfast.
Advanced Study Diplomas from the University of Swansea and University of Ulster.
Masters in Educational Management from the University of Ulster
Taught in CBS Omagh for thirty seven years and Principal for twelve of those. Chair of a number of Educational and Youth organisations
BR DENIS GLEESON
Former Director and Member of the Ethos Committee.
Former Principal in St Mary’s CBGS and taught in primary and second level in schools in the North.
Education in Dublin at Christian Brothers schools and at St Joseph’s College of Education, Belfast.
Graduated in Theology from Maynooth and studied Christian Spirituality in Creighton University, USA.
Governing Body of Marino Institute of Education.
Founder of Open Doors Learning Centre and former Chair of Westcourt Committee, Barrack St.
MR GERRY SCANNELL
Former Director since the Founding of the Trust (2009-2015)
Member of the Ethos Committee, Child Safeguarding and Pastoral Care.
Educated by the Christian Brothers in Dublin.
Graduate of QUB with BEd, MEd and Dip, Adv Studies in Education and Youth Work.
Former Vice-Principal and Acting Principal of Christian Brothers School, Glen Road.
MR JOHN McGETTRICK
MRS DIANE RUSSELL
Formerly Vice-Principal of St Colman’s Abbey Primary School>
A Director since 2016
PRESENT DIRECTORS
MR DERMOT McGOVERN
Chair of the Board of Directors.
Educated at St Colman’s Abbey Primary and and the Abbey Grammar.
Former Teacher and Principal in Abbey CBGS.
A Director since 2019.
AN tUAS MICHEÁL Ó MÁIRTÍN
Educated at St Patrick’s Christian Brothers Primary, Donegall Street and St Mary’s CBGS.
Graduate of Queen’s University.
Former Lecturer and Senior Manager at St Mary’s University College.
Member and Managerial Roles in various Irish Language Organisations including Comhar na Múinteoirí Gaeilge, Translation Advisory Committee of DCAL, An tUltach, Coláiste Mhuire Loch an Iúir, Campa Chormaic in Tyrone and An Cheathrú Ghaeltachta.
MR JOHN DEVINE
Current Director (since October 2013).
Educated at St Patrick’s Christian Brothers Primary and St Mary’s CBGS
Coordinator of Capital Works, Finance Committee. Board of Governors, John Paul II PS. Past Pupil of St Mary’s CBGS. Former Principal of Edmund Rice PS.
MR EDDIE McARDLE
Former Director. Head of the Ethos Committee.
Former Teacher in St Louise’s Comprehensive College.
Former Parent, St Mary’s CBGS.
Former Senior Management with CCMS.
Former CEO of Teachers’ Council NI.
MR JAMES MURRAY
MRS DONNA TOHILL
COMPANY SECRETARY
MR PAUL SHEVLIN: Since 2009. Past Pupil of St Mary’s CBGS. Former solicitor. Legal advisor to the Christian Brothers. Was greatly involved in the founding of the Trust.
CHIEF EXECUTIVE
Mr Kevin Burke (An tUas Caoimhín de Búrca): Since 2009. Past Pupil of CBS, Glen Road and Coláiste Mhuire, Swords. Studied at Marino and St Joseph’s Teacher Training Colleges. Former Teacher, Vice-Principal and Principal, St Mary’s CBGS.
OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR
Mrs Andrea Irwin: Current, since August 2022. Formerly worked in AIB NI.
FORMER DIRECTORS
The First Board of Directors
MRS YVONNE McCOOL
Former Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors. Former Chair of the Finance Committee. Current Member.
MR JOHN COOLEY
(2009 – 2014). Former Chair of the Finance Committee. Former Chair of Board of Governors, Omagh CBGS. Past Pupil of St Mary’s CBGS.
MR RODDY TIERNEY
(2009-2014). Former Member of the Finance Committee. Board of Governors, Abbey CBGS. Past Pupil and former Principal of Omagh CBS.
BR DENIS GLEESON
Director from 2009 to 2015. Member of the Ethos Committee.
MR GERRY SCANNELL
Director from 2009 to 2015. Member of the Ethos Committee. Board of Governors, Edmund Rice College. Past Pupil of CBS, Glen Road.MRS GERALDINE McLAVERTY
Former Vice Chair of the Board of Directors.
Former Chair of the Ethos Committee.
MR PAT CRAWLEY
Former Bursar in The Abbey Grammar
FORMER MEMBERS
PROFESSOR PETER FINN
Chairperson of the Company from 2010.
President of St Mary’s University College.
Past Pupil of CBS, Greenpark Grammar, Armagh.
MR PAUL COOPER
Former Director. Educated at St Mary’s CBGS. On the Board of St Mary’s CBGS. Was a keen hurler and footballer at school.
Committee Member and Coach, St Paul’s GAC.
Graduated from Queen’s University with a Degree in Pharmacy.
A number of Pharmacies and other Businesses.
MR JIM SHEERIN
Former Director.
Former past pupil, teacher, Vice Principal and Principal in St Mary’s CBGS.
Former Governor in Omagh CBGS.
DR MUREDACH DYNAN RIP
Chairperson of the Company from 2015 to 2018.
Former Chair of the Board of Directors since the Foundation (2009-2015)
Educated at St Mary’s CBGS and graduate of QUB
Former Lecturer in St Joseph’s and St Mary’s Colleges of Education.
Professor Emeritus of Australian Catholic University and former Pro-Vice-Chancellor. Muredach died on the 17th March 2021.
DR ÉAMON PHOENIX
Chairperson of the Company from 2009 to 2015.
Alumnus of St Mary’s CBGS and Queen’s University.
Principal Lecturer in History and Co-ordinator for Community Outreach and Lifelong Learning in Stranmillis University College.
Author, Columnist and Broadcaster
MRS GERALDINE McLAVERTY
Former Vice Chair of the Board of Directors.
Former Chair of the Ethos Committee.
Education in St Vincent’s, Dunlewy St, St Louise’s Comprehensive College. Graduate of QUB.
Taught in Cross and Passion Secondary School and was a Senior Teacher and former Acting Vice Principal in St Louise’s College
MRS YVONNE McCOOL
Vice Chairperson of the Company from 2013
Former Vice Chair of the Board of Directors
Former parent and Chair of the Board of Governors of St Mary’s CBGS
Holds a Degree in Business Studies and a Masters in Business Administration
Formerly with the South Eastern and Belfast Education and Library Boards
Formerly in Administration and HR with CCMS and on the SMT of the General Teaching Council NI
DR MARY FLYNN
Vice-Chair of Company from 2009 to 2013
Head of the Knowledge Transfer Centre in Queen’s University, Belfast Alumnus of QUB holding a BSc and PhD in Chemical Engineering
Former Parent Governor in the Abbey Grammar School and involved with the Parent Teacher Association
DISTRICT JUDGE BRIAN P McELHOLM
Member from the Foundation of the Trust (2009 to 2015)
Educated at the Christian Brothers Primary and Grammar in Omagh and QUB (Law)
Former Governor of Christian Brothers Grammar Omagh
Practiced as a Barrister and admitted to the Roll of Solicitors (NI)
Former Resident Magistrate
District Judge in the City of Derry
MRS JEAN TRAINOR
Member from the Foundation of the Trust (2009 to 2012?)
Former teacher Governor at Christian Brothers Armagh
Former Vice Principal & other positions at Christian Brothers Primary
Educated at the Sacred Heart Convent, Armagh, St Louis Convent, Middletown and then Mercy Convent School in Newry
Teacher Training at Craiglockhart College in Scotland and holds a Degree in Education (Open University) and Diploma in Special Education (QUB)
MR HUGH WARD
Member from the Foundation of the Trust (2009 to 2015)
Educated at Christian Brothers Grammar School Omagh and St Joseph’s Training College, Belfast.
Former Governor in CBS Omagh
Taught at Kildress and Sixmilecross, Co Tyrone
Former Principal of Beragh PS and then St Oliver Plunkett Primary, Beragh
BR EDMUND GARVEY
Member from the Foundation of the Trust (2009 to 2015)
Former World Leader of the Congregation
European Leader since 2015
DR BARRY KELLY
Member from the Foundation of the Trust (2009 to 2015)
Educated at St Mary’s CBGS and at QUB (Medicine)
Fellowships of the Irish Faculty of Radiology and the Royal College of Radiologists
Consultant at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast and Honorary Reader in Radiology at QUB
MRS CATHERINE McALINDEN
Member from the Foundation of the Trust (2009 to 2012).
Educated at the Sacred Heart Grammar School, Newry and graduate of QUB
Former Health Services Administrator
Former Parent of three sons at Abbey Grammar
Former Governor at the Abbey Grammar School
Former Administration staff:
Mrs Gráinne McCann: From September 2013 to August 2022. Former School Secretary in Edmund Rice PS, Pim St.
Mrs Josephine Crossan: From April 2010 to August 2013. Former School Secretary in CBS, Glen Road.