PAUL Partnership is delighted to announce the appointment of our new Independent Chair, Helen O’Donnell. Helen takes over the role from our outgoing Chair, Prof. Gary O’Brien.
Helen brings a wealth of experience to the role. A well-known Limerick City businesswoman and voluntary community activist, Helen was Limerick Person of the Year 2012. She runs a successful bespoke event catering business and for many years was the proprietor / manager of the Hunt Museum Café. She is Chairperson of the Board of Management of Crescent College Comprehensive SJ and a member of A t-Údarás Rialaithe, the governing body of Mary Immaculate College.
Helen is Chairperson of Limerick City Tidy Towns committee; a member of the JP McManus Benevolent Fund Committee; past Chairperson of Adapt women’s refuge; past President Limerick Federation of Women’s Organisations and has served on the Board and executive committee of Limerick Chamber of Commerce. At national level, she served as a member of the Forum for Peace and Reconciliation and has also recently completed a term as Chairperson of the Safefood Advisory Board, a North South body established under the Good Friday Agreement. A native of Sligo, she was educated at Grange National School, Grange Vocational School, Convent of Mercy Claremorris and College of Catering RTC Galway. Her late husband, Tom, a former Government Minister and MEP, was previously Chair of PAUL from 1995 to 2004.