Board of Directors
Macra, Ireland’s young farmer and rural youth organisation is a company limited by guarantee not having share capital and a registered charity with the Revenue Commissioners and Charities Regulatory Authority.
Macra members participate in a suite of programmes and activities at club and county level. Competitions are organised at National level, with clubs competing at county level to represent their County in National finals.
Macra, while a 26-county, organisation has 31 County Executives because County Cork is divided into 5 county regions and Tipperary into two regions.
Young people are involved in clubs, competitions, and activities who are members of Macra may be elected to positions of responsibility within their Club, County or to National Council. National Council is a group of 37 people which meets 5-6 times per year. National Council is a representative body of the membership of Macra na Feirme who decide the advocacy policy of the organisation, the competition rules and elect the Board of Directors.
The Board of Directors are responsible for deciding the strategic direction of Macra. The Board is made up of 10 members (National President, 3 Vice Presidents, Ex-President, and 4 other members elected from National Council) and 3 external independent directors who are appointed for their expertise and skills.
The current board members are:
- Chairperson - Josephine O'Neill
- Vice Chairperson - Andrew Dunne
- Secretary - Stephanie Blewitt
- Treasurer - Hugh Browne
- Ordinary Member - Shane Dolphin
- President - Elaine Houlihan
- EX President - John Keane
- Vice President Munster - Aishling O Keeffe
- Vice President Leinster - Patrick Jordan
- Vice President Northwest - Robert Lally
- Independent Director - David Fitzgerald
- Independent Director - Noel Flavin
- Independent Director - Mairin O Cuireain