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The Cois Nore Board of Directors contribute their diverse range of skills and knowledge to ensure that all aspects of Cois Nore work is professionally supported.  The Board work to the Charity Governance Code as defined by the Charities Regulator.  All members work on an entirely voluntary basis.

Board of Directors

Dr Bill Cuddihy
Dr Bill Cuddihy

Chairman

Bill is a retired GP who worked for 35 years in Ayrfield Medical Practice, developing the first Primary Care Centre in Kilkenny. He has worked extensively with people across all stages of their cancer journey and recognises the need to go beyond merely treating the disease to providing support services to people with cancer and their families. Bill is heavily involved in community and sporting activities. He was on the board of The Good Shepherd Centre for homeless men for many years, including 9 years as Chair of the Board. He was the team doctor for the Kilkenny hurling team, Chief Medical Officer for Athletics Ireland, served on the Board of The Faculty of Sport and Exercise Medicine and was on the anti-doping committee of Sport Ireland for many years.

Imelda Murphy
Imelda Murphy

Secretary

Imelda Murphy is a Director and Secretary of Cois Nore since 2020 and is from Kilkenny city. Imelda is currently the Global Head of Company Secretary Services Team of Carne Group based in Kilkenny and has extensive experience and knowledge of the funds industry and the provision of corporate administration to Luxembourg, Irish, Cayman Island and English registered companies and investment funds. Imelda is a qualified company secretary from the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators and has a Bachelor of Business Studies from Waterford Institute of Technology, Ireland.

Phil Walsh
Phil Walsh

Treasurer

Phil Walsh is a Chartered Accountant and has a diploma in Corporate Governance. She has spent most of her career within Glanbia plc, most recently as Chief Financial Officer of Glanbia Nutritionals, with revenues of $3bn and over 2,500 employees globally.  Since her retirement from Glanbia in 2020, she has worked as a business/financial consultant both within Ireland and internationally. Phil is also chairperson of WeDo Workspaces Kilkenny and is on the Audit Committee of the Heritage Council.

Phil Walsh
Phil McCabe

HR

Philip qualified from DCU in 2005 with a Bachelor of Business Studies. He has worked in numerous roles in Human Resources over the last 17 years and currently works for Tirlán. He is a qualified mediator and is a chartered member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

Brian Tyrrell
Brian Tyrrell

Communications

Brian is now retired, following a long career with Kilkenny County Council. Over his many years of local public service Brian has worked in all service areas of Local Government, including the role of Town Clerk in Kilkenny. He has been involved in substantial capital projects such as the Butler Gallery at Evan’s Home and Kilkenny’s Medieval Mile Museum.

Margaret Brown
Margaret Bowen

Services

Margaret is an accredited Psychotherapist and Clinical Supervisor with extensive experience in both one-on-one and group therapy and supervision. Margaret runs her own very successful private psychotherapy and supervision practice as well as working with local and national voluntary and statutory organisations providing training, mentoring and cross professional supervision services.  Margaret has been involved with Cois Nore since the centre opened working as Psychotherapist and Centre Manager.

Sarah Jordan
Sarah Jordan

Volunteer Representative

Sarah is an IACP qualified counsellor and has worked in this role in the community with the Rape Crisis Centre and the Fr McGrath Centre for 20 years. She has worked in a self-development facilitation role with groups and has several years’ experience in catering admin.

Peter Dukelow

Peter served as an Officer from October 1976 to October 1999, with distinction, in the Irish Defence Forces, completing over two decades of dedicated military service. Following his retirement from the Defence Forces, he took on the role of Chief Operations Officer at Kilkenny College in November 1999. Over the next 20 years, he played a key leadership role in the management and operational development of the college until December 2019. In January 2023, he was appointed Board Secretary of The Royal City of Dublin Hospital Trust, where he continues to contribute his extensive experience in governance and organizational leadership.

Brian Egan - Cois Nore
Brian Egan

Board Member

Brian was diagnosed with an aggressive form of Prostate Cancer in June 2021 at age 44. He underwent Surgery, Radiotherapy treatment and then Hormone Therapy Treatment. Brian availed of the Services of Cois Nore during his treatment and really appreciated the support especially the Counselling service. Brian is Managing Director of Bluebird Care Carlow, Kilkenny, Waterford, South Tipperary & East Cork operating two Franchises in these areas. He is also a Co-Founder of Karo Healthcare Agency and is currently involved in a non-Executive Director Capacity. Brian is passionate about high standards, and this is something which is strongly evident in the Services provided by both Karo and Bluebird Care. Family time is what Brian enjoys most in life as well as strong interest in all sports. Brian is originally from Callan and currently lives in Kilkenny City with his wife Kathy and two sons Harry and Luke.

Clare Quinlan Headshot
Claire Quinlan

Board Member

Clare Quinlan is a Solicitor with 14 years litigation experience, representing clients in the District Court, Circuit Court and High Court. Clare is well known for her defence of personal injury claims, she also advises on all aspects of personal injury claims (including medical negligence), property related disputes, contract disputes etc. Clare has represented clients at PRTB, WRC, Labour Court, Coroner’s Inquests, other tribunals and at alternative dispute resolution forums.

Simon O'Dwyer Headshot
Simon O’Dwyer

Board Member

Simon O’Dwyer is Managing Director of Threesixty, a specialist creative communications agency based in Kilkenny. He founded the agency in 2000 to help purpose-driven businesses stand out through strategic branding and design. Today, Threesixty works with Irish and international clients across the food, health, and nutrition sectors, and partners with NGOs focused on sustainable industrial development in East Africa. A seasoned brand director, Simon has led award-winning campaigns that blend commercial impact with creative excellence. He serves on the board of We Do Workspaces and is the former Chairman of Gowran Athletic Club.

Cois Nore Team

Mary Dolan
Mary Dolan

Manager

Mary has worked in the community sector in Ireland for over 20 years managing the delivery of various programmes including a Local Development Social Inclusion Programme (LDSIP) in Laois and the South Dublin Public Participation Network (PPN). She has a MA in Management: Community & Voluntary Services from DCU and is a trained Lifecoach.

Sheila Murphy
Sheila Murphy

Fundraising Coordinator

Sheila has several years of experience in financial services both in Ireland and abroad. She has worked with Cois Nore in an administrative role before taking up the role of Fundraising Coordinator. She has a BA in History and a H/Dip in International Business.

Mary Kate Doheny
Mary Kate Doheny

Services Coordinator

Mary Kate qualified as a Registered General Nurse in 1996 from St. Vincent’s Hospital in Dublin and has extensive experience as a Staff Nurse and Nurse Manager in the Irish Public Health Service. Mary Kate returned to education in 2015 and qualified as an IACP  accredited Counsellor and Psychotherapist.

Aileen McInerney
Aileen McInerney

Outreach Worker

Aileen has 26 years’ experience in community based financial services. More recently, she gained qualifications in Supervisory Practice (Diploma), Advocacy, and Healthcare Support.

Michelle Maher
Michelle Maher

Administrator

Michelle has 15 years’ experience in computer analysis/programming and 2 years tutoring IT. She also has a degree in Early Years Childcare & Education and worked in a community setting for 3 years. Michelle also has over 10 years’ experience in financial services and 5 years in administration.

Client Support Team

When you first come into Cois Nore you will likely be greeted by a member of our Client Support Team who will assist you with Registration and explain our services to you. The Client Support Team will keep in touch with you over the course of your time with us and can provide a confidential listening service for our clients either in person or by telephone, if needed. Client Support Team

Counselling Team

Loreena Dowdall Headshot
Loreena Dowdall

Counsellor

Loreena had a successful career in financial services and contact centres for over 20 years before returning to education in 2015 and achieving a degree in Counselling and Psychotherapy. She is an accredited psychotherapist with IACP. Loreena then returned to college again to qualify as an Adolescent Psychotherapist.

Anna Coonan Headshot
Anna Coonan

Counsellor

Anna is a Play Therapist and Adult and Adolescent Psychotherapist accredited with the IACP. She has a person centred and trauma informed approach and over 20 years experience working with families, children and adults.

Sharon Murphy Headshot
Sharon Murphy

Counsellor

Sharon is a Gestalt Psychotherapist. The word Gestalt comes from the German language meaning ‘the sum of the parts is greater than the whole’. Sharon qualified as a Gestalt Psychotherapist in 2020, then took on further studies and research into anxiety, trauma and embodiment, achieving a Masters in Gestalt Psychotherapy in 2023. She has worked extensively in cancer care, initially as a reflexologist and then as a psychotherapist.

Pat Holmes Headshot
Pat Holmes

Counsellor

Pat is qualified accredited IACP counsellor. Following volunteer work for 2 years with Cois Nore, he has been providing counselling services since 2019. He also provides Employee Assistance Program counselling and case management services to state, semi-state and private organisations, as well as seeing clients in private practice. Previously, Pat has 25 years experience working in IT computer technical services industry.

Roisin Moriarty
Roisin Moriarty

Counsellor

With over 15 years’ experience in the mental health field, Roisin’s main areas of specialism are in Bereavement, Suicide, Anxiety, Depression, Addiction, Abuse and Trauma. Her qualifications include a BSc (Hons) in Counselling and Psychotherapy and more recently a Diploma in Integrative Supervision. Roisin adheres strictly to the guidelines of the IACP and works in a compassionate, professional and confidential manner.

MLD Team

Manual Lymphatic drainage is a gentle, light but precise touch therapy. The therapists exerts different intensities of pressure to increase the activity of normal lymphatic vessels, to encourage the fluid away from congested areas by bypassing ineffective or injured lymph vessels, thereby reducing swelling and discomfort and improving function. Both Sasha and Linda are Healthcare professionals and Advanced Lymphoedema Therapists, trained to Level 3 and registered with MLD Ireland.
Sasha Roche Kelly Headshot
Sasha Roche Kelly

MLD Therapist
Linda Lodge Headshot
Linda Lodge

MLD Therapist

Reflexology Team

Reflexology is complementary therapy widely used by people with cancer. It involves massage and the application of gentle pressure to the feet or hands. Its aim is to increase relaxation and help reduce stress in the body, thereby lifting the mood and giving a feeling of positive well-being.
Catherine McCarthy Headshot
Catherine McCarthy

Reflexologist
Caroline Booth Headshot
Caroline Booth

Reflexologist
Maggie Prendergast Headshot
Maggie Prendergast

Reflexologist

Oncology Massage Team

Oncology massage is a light gentle massage that helps the body to relax. It is designed for people with cancer to aid relaxation and to alleviate stress. Both our massage therapists have specialised training and experience of working with people with a cancer diagnosis.
Aishling Colfer Headshot
Aishling Colfer

Oncology Massage Therapist
Anne Henry Headshot
Anne Henry

Oncology Massage Therapist

“I knew if I was going to support my partner through cancer I needed support and luckily Cois Nore have an open door”

Sarah

Coming Home – Stronger Together

When Cois Nore move to a centre that can meet all our needs, the community can be confident that all families coping with a cancer diagnosis will find the support, empowerment and respect they deserve within their own County.