Patricia Darling has been a member of the Board of McAuley Place since 2018 and is currently the Chairperson. 
Patricia is a Social Worker with extensive experience of working within the Community and Voluntary Sector at both management and grass roots levels.  She has worked for over 20 years in a community/education support role in Tallaght West, Dublin.  She has particular interest in the role of education in breaking the cycle of poverty.  She has many years of experience of leading schools’ Boards of Management, working groups and committees.   She uses her facilitation skills to draw people together to work towards better outcomes for their communities.  

Joe, a former chairman of one of Ireland's leading manufacturers, Smurfit Corrugated, in the Paper Manufacturing & Recycling division has many years’ experience running a high-profile company. He was also one of the first members of ‘Mentors.ie’ when it was established in 2009 and was very well regarded by many. He joined McAuley Place Board of Directors in 2016 as Chairperson, bringing with him his wealth of experience and expertise.

Dick Gleeson is an urban planner and has spent most of his working life in the public sector. He has a keen interest in sustainability and in the challenge of creative regeneration in Irish towns. He is inspired by the model of Mc Auley Place, with an emphasis on accommodation for older people, supported by arts and culture, and underpinned by inter-generational facilities. He considers that Naas and other Kildare towns could benefit greatly from more of this type of development.

Joan Cahill has been a member of the board of McAuley Place since January 2022.

Joan is a Senior Director in Global Technology & Engineering at Pfizer, with 26 years’ experience in the Pharmaceutical Industry. She has a keen focus on international collaboration and excels in developing and leading dispersed teams and strategic work units.

Key Expertise includes Project & Program Management, Facilitation, Communication and Change Management and Innovation skills.

Education and Certifications: Joan holds a master’s degree (MSc.) in Strategy & Innovation from Maynooth University. Additionally, she is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP), and a member of the Project Management Institute (PMI) and the Irish Academy of Public Relations.

Declan Morrin has been a member of the board of McAuley Place since January 2022.

Declan is Chairman of the Irish Permanent Defence Forces Conciliation Council and was a consultant/advisor to the International Labour Organisation and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. He also held numerous lead roles as a former Deputy Permanent Representative/Chargé d’Affaires at the Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations, Geneva; former Head of Trade and Economic Affairs at the Irish Embassy to the United Kingdom, London; former Director of Intellectual Property and Patents Office at the Department of Business Enterprise and Innovation, Dublin/Kilkenny and former Executive Director at Labour Relations Commission, Dublin. 

Bridget Lane has been a member of the board of McAuley Place since January 2022.

Bridget is a retired Assistant Director of Nursing (ADON) in Naas Hospital. She has worked at a strategic and operational level for a large part of her career in many varied roles within the HSE structure. Her focus was always on improving patient outcomes by developing high quality care and always ensuring patient/staff safety. Bridget was determined to effectively develop a patient centric approach. She undertook her general training in the Mater Hospital. Dublin and followed on with Midwifery training in National Maternity Hospital, Holles street.

Following this, Bridget continued her self-development in Royal College of Surgeons, where she obtained a BS c degree in Management /Leadership studies. Over many years she has undertaken many courses applicable to her various roles.
Bridget returned from retirement to assist in the HSE Covid implementation plan. She initially worked in her old “alma mater”, then at the request of HSE management assisted in the setting up of the efficient testing/vaccination centre in City West.
Bridget is a dedicated sportsperson -having ran many marathons both home and away. She is a keen golfer also enjoys reading, hill walking and cooking.

Gerry Prendergast has been a member of the board of McAuley Place since January 2022.

Gerry is currently the Strategic Development Director of Millennium Park, Naas, Kildare since October 2005 to date. His role includes managing the commercial development of Millennium Park in attracting many new clients, either as purchasers or valued tenants.  Occupancy of almost 95% in office campus testifies to the high regard in which Millennium Park is held both nationally and internationally.

Previously Gerry progressed through the Ascon Group of companies from supervisor, through middle and senior management ranks to Director level. Ascon Limited and its subsidiaries Rohcon Limited, Logan Earthmoving Limited, and Ascon Excavation Limited, now collectively known as BAM Constructors, is one of Ireland’s leading civil engineering, building and property development companies.

Gerry has a wide interest in sport, in particular rugby and golf. He organised and managed on a voluntary basis, the phase 1 redevelopment of Naas golf course to modern standards. He also played a key role in the refurbishment of Caragh church, a most interesting project because of the many architectural constraints and a tightly focused programme.

Anne Marie Cagney has been a member of the board of McAuley Place since February 2023.

Anne Marie is a retired Assistant Commissioner in An Garda Síochána where she held responsibility for the Dublin Metropolitan Region. Anne Marie had 33 years’ experience in An Garda Síochána in both strategic and operational policing roles. She also held responsibility in leading a significant programme of change and renewal. She held National responsibility for Human Trafficking Investigations and Organised Prostitution Investigations. She also held responsibility for the development of policies and support structures for victims of crime and worked in collaboration with partner agencies in educating and raising awareness of the effects and causes of trafficking. She is a trained Senior Investigating Officer and managed and coordinated the investigations of major crimes.

She is the holder of an Honours BSc Degree in Police Management from University College Dublin and a Diploma in Law. She successfully completed the Criminal Justice Strategic Leadership Course and holds a Professional Certificate in Whistleblowing Law & Practice from University College Dublin, and a Professional Certificate in Policing and Human Rights Law in Ireland from the University of Limerick

Jerry Conlan has been a Director of McAuley Place since July 2024.
Jerry served at the forefront of many industries. His expertise is in commercial property development and was behind the development of Millennium Business Park in Naas and retail parks in Kildare & Waterford. He led teams in the hospitality industry, in the private hospital sector and was involved in office blocks in Dublin and has driven significant property companies abroad. 

He fundraised for building Orphanages in Sri Lanka since the Tsunami in 2004 and to date, a number of orphanages and training colleges have been built.

He is Director of Tiglin, a registered charity in Ireland that helps people overcome addiction, homelessness and other life-controlling issues.

He is a Kildare native and keen golfer.
 

Susanna Cawley has been a member of the Board of McAuley Place since April 2024

Qualified as a practising solicitor in February 1997. She has a degree in Economics and Politics and a masters Degree in Economics.

Susanna  qualified as a practising solicitor in February 1997. She has a degree in Economics and Politics and a masters Degree in Economics. She was a member of the lecturing department of Economics in UCD for a two year period and uses her experience from this job in her legal practice. Susanna is a partner in Coonan Cawley Solicitors and practises in the area of private clients and commercial law. She also focuses on the provision of a wide range of services including financial, tax and estate planning including wills, administration of estates, conveyancing both commercial and private, agricultural property, commercial law, company law and family law.

Susanna holds a number of positions as Trustee and Director on boards including the Board of Timoney Leadership Institute, a charity promoting effective, ethical leadership in business and industry.