Our Board
We are the largest independent conservation organisation in Ireland. The primary objective of BirdWatch Ireland is the protection of wild birds and their habitats in Ireland. Governance of BirdWatch Ireland is overseen by our Board:
Jim Fitzharris
Chairperson
Based in Dublin, Jim has been a keen birdwatcher since his teens. He has served on several BirdWatch Ireland committees in the past, including a long tenure on the Irish Rare Birds Committee. With a degree in Mathematics and a Masters in Statistics, Jim worked in both the public and private sectors and has extensive experience in corporate governance. Married to Frances, with two sons, his other interests include wildflowers and wildlife nature generally, especially butterflies, moths and dragonflies.
Jonathan Taylor
Secretary
Jonathan was born in Dublin. He qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1981, and his career was in the accountancy profession, both in Ireland and overseas, and in the field of education. He is a long-term member of BirdWatch Ireland with an abiding interest in nature and in gardening, especially gardening to encourage wildlife. Other interests include travel, art and cooking. He is married to Jean, with three daughters (and, latterly, four grandchildren).
Congella McGuire
Board Member
Congella McGuire is from Co. Clare and has worked as the Clare County Council Heritage Officer for more than 20 years. As Heritage Officer, she has long-term experience in community development, public consultation, budget management, as well as environmental assessment, planning and development. She previously worked with the National Parks & Wildlife Service and with BirdWatch Ireland and has a passion for birdlife and for bird conservation. She is a keen birdwatcher, having taken part in many BirdWatch Ireland bird surveys over the years.
Yvonne Kelly
Board Member
Yvonne qualified as a solicitor in 2007 and is a legal practitioner in the local government sector. Prior to working in the public sector, she worked for 20 years in the private sector in retail management and has been interested in nature, the outdoors and in particular birds since she was 15 years old. Yvonne is married to Derek and has three children and four grandchildren. Based and working full time in Dublin, she takes the opportunity whenever she can to spend time in Cork and Kerry. She is bringing her experience in governance and management to BirdWatch Ireland.
Alan Mulligan
Board Member
Alan retired as Head of HR in An Garda Síochána in 2021, having previously worked as a civil servant in the Department of Social Welfare and the Department of Justice. He has been a keen birdwatcher since he was a teenager. Alan was delighted to join the board of BirdWatch Ireland in 2022 and hopes to use his HR and governance experience for the benefit of the organisation. Alan is married to Noreen and they have two sons and a daughter.
Conor O'Brien
Board Member
Conor O’Brien is a long-time member of BirdWatch Ireland and a firm believer in its mission. He has a keen interest in natural history and conservation, being the author of two books, Ireland Through Birds: Journeys in Search of a Wild Nation and Life in Ireland: A Short History of a Long Time, both of which sought to draw attention to the plight facing Ireland’s wildlife. He has made appearances on numerous radio programmes such as Mooney Goes Wild on RTE Radio 1, as well as Morning Ireland on Virgin Media. In his spare time, he is also an accomplished wildlife photographer.
Eugene O'Brien
Board Member
Eugene O’Brien is a Civil Engineer and a professor in UCD. He has worked on some projects dealing with the conflicts between transport infrastructure and wildlife but, for most of his career, he has worked on bridges and roads. For BirdWatch Ireland, he will be working on the Audit and Risk Committee and hopes to bring something from many years bidding for and managing engineering projects in Ireland and at European level.
Frances Threadgold
Board Member
Frances has spent her working life in education, latterly as principal of a large secondary school until her retirement in 2019. She is a great believer in both young people and education as a way forward in the protection of our planet. She has a keen interest in nature and is an amateur birdwatcher. Frances came to BirdWatch Ireland via volunteering and brings her expertise and experience in education to the Board.
Governance Committees
The Governance Committees assist the Board in fulfilling its responsibility to BirdWatch Ireland to provide good corporate governance.
