Council Members
Frank Nolan, Chairman
Frank Nolan has been involved in Water Safety and Sea Rescue on a voluntary basis for over 50 years. He is the Chairman of Irish Water Safety, a Vice President of European Life Saving and a European Director on the World Board of International Life Saving. He holds many National and International Honours including being a "Grand Knight of the Order of Lifesaving". Recognised as an expert in inshore rescue boats and cliff rescue, he holds an "All Ireland" lifesaving medal with Waterford. He serves as the present Vice Chairman of Waterford Water Safety Area Committee.
Kathryn Byrne
Appointed to the Council in 2000, Kathryn Byrne is Managing Director of Limelight Communications, a public relations consultancy based in Dublin. Kathryn brings her background in PR to the Promotion and Development Committee of which she is Chairperson.
Kathryn is a Council Member of Gaisce - The President's Award; President of Network Ireland for women in business - Kildare Branch; a founding
Director of BNI Cill Dara; and a former Board member of An Bord Altranais.
Michael Murphy
Michael's involvement in water safety goes back to 1963 when he took his Red Cross examinations. He became more involved with the administration of the organisation's instructors and examiners and is current Chairman of the Education Commission. He led the development of a Code of Ethics for the organisation.
Brendan McGrath
Brendan is current Chairman of Clare Water Safety Area Committee and serves on the Lifesaving Commission. Involved with water safety since 1970, Brendan is an active instructor, examiner and risk assessor.
Martin O'Sullivan
Martin has been involved with water safety since 1971, when he did his lifesaving tests with the Red Cross. Martin has served as Chairman of Cork Water Safety Area Committee at various times since 1973 and is the current Chairman of the Rescue Commission. He has been involved internationally since 1990 as Chairman of World Lifesaving's Membership Committee and Chairman of the Rescue Committee of the European Region of ILS (Europe). Martin is the IWS representative on the Blue Flag jury.
Michael Cuddihy
Michael Cuddihy has been a member of the board since 1987. During this time he has served on many national and international committees and is currently the Chairman of the Sports Commission. He has a special interest in promoting sport within international lifesaving and has brought teams to South Africa, Australia, the USA and mainland Europe to compete successfully in international events.
Jim Lawlor
Jim Lawlor, Ministerial appointment and company director. Jim is a former President of the Irish Basketball Association, and he was President of Sligo Chamber of Commerce and Industry on two occasions. He is a former member of the national board of the Chambers of Commerce of Ireland. He is a member of Sligo Mental Health Association and Sligo Acquired Brain Injury Association. He represents IWS on the board of the International Federation of Swimming Teachers Associations.
Breda Collins
Breda Collins joined Water Safety in 1986 and is an active Instructor, Examiner and Risk Assessor. She is an International Surf Lifesaving referee and an ILSE Risk Assessor Tutor. Appointed to the Rescue Commission in 1998, which she chaired for 2 years. She is currently serving as Chairman of the WSAC and Swimming Commission.
Mr. Dave Corcoran
Assistant Principal, Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, serves in the Local services section of that Department which liaises with and provides funding towards Irish Water Safety. He has served in a number of Government Departments, including Social and Family Affairs and Education and Science.
Brian M Farrell Lt Cdr (Retd.).
Brian M Farrell Lt Cdr (Retd.). Cadetship with Irish Shipping and entered Naval Service in 1972 where he served in command of naval vessels and other naval appointments over a twenty year period. Now working as Harbour Master Dingle, he is involved in running the Dingle Sailing Club and his main interests are sailing and boating.
Martina Moloney
A Ministerial appointment to the Council, Martina is County Manager at Galway County Council and former Director of Services with Galway City Council. She has had experience in working for numerous Local Authorities in her career to date, including Clare County Council, Limerick City Council, Donegal County Council, North Tipperary County Council and Galway City Council
Anne Ryan
A Wexford Native, Anne is an Instructor and Volunteer with Irish Water Safety since 1995. Among her many credentials within the volunteering ethos of Irish Water Safety, Anne is also an Adult Education Officer, a Swim Teacher and Examiner and the Wexford Water Safety Area Committee Secretary. In addition to these activities, Anne finds the time to organise Cahore Outdoor Water Safety Week, with which she has played an active part since 1996.
John Considine
John Considine, former Local Authority Officer, was the Water Safety Development Officer in County Limerick for over twenty-five years, during which time he established the lifeguard service on the Shannon Estuary and was Secretary of the Irish Water Safety Development Officer's Association . He has served as: Secretary, Treasurer, Vice-Chairman and Child Liaison Officer for the County Limerick Area Committee. He is a former member of the Council of the Irish Water Safety Association. He has served on the current Council as vice-Chair of the Lifeguard Commission and is currently Chairman of the Legal Commission. He holds a LLB degree from University of Limerick and has also studied Planning and Environmental Law in Trinity College and at the Bar Council. His leisure interests include competitive sailing and powerboating, and he is also secretary of Newcastlewest Stage & Musical Society.
Frank Nolan, ChairmanFrank Nolan has been involved in Water Safety and Sea Rescue on a voluntary basis for over 50 years. He is the Chairman of Irish Water Safety, a Vice President of European Life Saving and a European Director on the World Board of International Life Saving. He holds many National and International Honours including being a "Grand Knight of the Order of Lifesaving". Recognised as an expert in inshore rescue boats and cliff rescue, he holds an "All Ireland" lifesaving medal with Waterford. He serves as the present Vice Chairman of Waterford Water Safety Area Committee.
Kathryn Byrne
Appointed to the Council in 2000, Kathryn Byrne is Managing Director of Limelight Communications, a public relations consultancy based in Dublin. Kathryn brings her background in PR to the Promotion and Development Committee of which she is Chairperson.
Kathryn is a Council Member of Gaisce - The President's Award; President of Network Ireland for women in business - Kildare Branch; a founding
Director of BNI Cill Dara; and a former Board member of An Bord Altranais.
Michael Murphy
Michael's involvement in water safety goes back to 1963 when he took his Red Cross examinations. He became more involved with the administration of the organisation's instructors and examiners and is current Chairman of the Education Commission. He led the development of a Code of Ethics for the organisation.
Brendan McGrath
Brendan is current Chairman of Clare Water Safety Area Committee and serves on the Lifesaving Commission. Involved with water safety since 1970, Brendan is an active instructor, examiner and risk assessor.
Martin O'SullivanMartin has been involved with water safety since 1971, when he did his lifesaving tests with the Red Cross. Martin has served as Chairman of Cork Water Safety Area Committee at various times since 1973 and is the current Chairman of the Rescue Commission. He has been involved internationally since 1990 as Chairman of World Lifesaving's Membership Committee and Chairman of the Rescue Committee of the European Region of ILS (Europe). Martin is the IWS representative on the Blue Flag jury.
Michael Cuddihy
Michael Cuddihy has been a member of the board since 1987. During this time he has served on many national and international committees and is currently the Chairman of the Sports Commission. He has a special interest in promoting sport within international lifesaving and has brought teams to South Africa, Australia, the USA and mainland Europe to compete successfully in international events.
Jim LawlorJim Lawlor, Ministerial appointment and company director. Jim is a former President of the Irish Basketball Association, and he was President of Sligo Chamber of Commerce and Industry on two occasions. He is a former member of the national board of the Chambers of Commerce of Ireland. He is a member of Sligo Mental Health Association and Sligo Acquired Brain Injury Association. He represents IWS on the board of the International Federation of Swimming Teachers Associations.
Breda Collins
Breda Collins joined Water Safety in 1986 and is an active Instructor, Examiner and Risk Assessor. She is an International Surf Lifesaving referee and an ILSE Risk Assessor Tutor. Appointed to the Rescue Commission in 1998, which she chaired for 2 years. She is currently serving as Chairman of the WSAC and Swimming Commission.
Mr. Dave Corcoran
Assistant Principal, Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, serves in the Local services section of that Department which liaises with and provides funding towards Irish Water Safety. He has served in a number of Government Departments, including Social and Family Affairs and Education and Science.
Brian M Farrell Lt Cdr (Retd.). Brian M Farrell Lt Cdr (Retd.). Cadetship with Irish Shipping and entered Naval Service in 1972 where he served in command of naval vessels and other naval appointments over a twenty year period. Now working as Harbour Master Dingle, he is involved in running the Dingle Sailing Club and his main interests are sailing and boating.
Martina Moloney
A Ministerial appointment to the Council, Martina is County Manager at Galway County Council and former Director of Services with Galway City Council. She has had experience in working for numerous Local Authorities in her career to date, including Clare County Council, Limerick City Council, Donegal County Council, North Tipperary County Council and Galway City Council
Anne Ryan
A Wexford Native, Anne is an Instructor and Volunteer with Irish Water Safety since 1995. Among her many credentials within the volunteering ethos of Irish Water Safety, Anne is also an Adult Education Officer, a Swim Teacher and Examiner and the Wexford Water Safety Area Committee Secretary. In addition to these activities, Anne finds the time to organise Cahore Outdoor Water Safety Week, with which she has played an active part since 1996.
John ConsidineJohn Considine, former Local Authority Officer, was the Water Safety Development Officer in County Limerick for over twenty-five years, during which time he established the lifeguard service on the Shannon Estuary and was Secretary of the Irish Water Safety Development Officer's Association . He has served as: Secretary, Treasurer, Vice-Chairman and Child Liaison Officer for the County Limerick Area Committee. He is a former member of the Council of the Irish Water Safety Association. He has served on the current Council as vice-Chair of the Lifeguard Commission and is currently Chairman of the Legal Commission. He holds a LLB degree from University of Limerick and has also studied Planning and Environmental Law in Trinity College and at the Bar Council. His leisure interests include competitive sailing and powerboating, and he is also secretary of Newcastlewest Stage & Musical Society.
