Mary Henihan

Mary Henihan joined Le Chéile in May 2010 and is Restorative Justice Co-ordinator and is responsible for piloting this new project in Limerick. Mary is currently establishing two modules as part of the RJ project – setting up a victim impact panel and a reparation scheme.

Mary has a BA in Psychology and Sociology from University of Limerick, a Higher Diploma in Youth and Community Work from NUI Maynooth, and a Masters in Social Work from University College Cork.

Before joining Le Chéile, Mary worked with ‘At Risk’ young people and their families in Limerick City. She’s also co-ordinated and facilitated a number of youth projects, parenting programmes, afterschool clubs and summer projects with young people within the regeneration areas.

Marie Vanasova

Marie Vanasova joined Le Cheile in 2008 as a Mentor Coordinator for the Dublin South Region and she manages the team of young people and parent Mentors who work with clients in Dublin South area. Marie, originally from the Czech Republic, has been living in Ireland for over 14 years. She has a BA in Social Work and a Certificate of Work with Youths at Risk.

Marie had been always interested in mentoring and she had acted as a mentor in a similar project back in Prague during her studies. Marie has worked previously in the area of addiction and as a Community Employment Supervisor, helping people to return back to education and work.

Anne Conroy, CEO

Anne Conroy is CEO of Le Chéile. Before joining the organisation, Anne was the National Manager of Barnardos’ Training and Resource Service which included the Training department, Publications department, Library and information services as well as quality supports to early years and school age services. Prior to that Anne was Director of Kildare Youth Services, an NGO which encompassed Youth Projects, Youth counselling, Family support, Parenting programmes and special projects for early school leavers, young mothers, etc.

Anne has a Bachelors of Social Science from UCD, a Diploma in Human Resource Management from DIT, and has a Masters in Child Protection and Welfare from TCD.

Izabela Lodziewska

Izabela joined the Le Chéile team in 2013 as Accounts Assistant, having previously volunteered with Le Chéile as a volunteer administrator for our Dublin South project.  Izabela previously worked in a leading bank in Poland before moving to Ireland.

Izabela has a Diploma in Economics, and is currently studying for her Accounting Professional Qualification as well as the IPASS Diploma in Payroll Management.

Lyndsey McCabe

Lyndsey McCabe joined Le Chéile in January 2010 providing maternity cover the North Dublin Region.  In January 2012, she became co-ordinator of Le Chéile’s new North East region.   Based in Navan, she manages the team of volunteer mentors who work with both young people and parents in the Meath area.

Lyndsey has BA(Hons.) in Social Care from Athlone Institute of Technology, and worked within the area of Disability before moving into Family Support. During her time as a Project worker that site co-ordinated the first Strengthening Families Programme in Meath in 2009.

Andy Bray

Andy joined Le Chéile in January 2016 as the East Regional Manager and has responsibility for managing the east regional coordinators.

Andy has a B.Sc. in Social Science and Social Policy along with an M.Sc. in Restorative Practice.  He is also a qualified mediator and Restorative Practitioner.

Andy has a number of years experience working in the youth justice field and was until recently a Unit Manger at Oberstown Children’s Detention Campus.  He has also managed community based projects and worked with young people at risk.

Heather Sinnott

Heather Sinnott joined Le Chéile in October 2006 and established the Youth and Parent Mentoring services in the South East areas of Waterford city and county, South Tipperary and New Ross. Hailing from Scotland, Heather’s work background includes 10 years with the Careers Service whre the focus was on the Social Inclusion groups, including young offenders leaving residential units and care leavers. Her qualifications include a BA in Consumer and Management Studies followed by a Post Graduate Diploma in Career Guidance.

Helen McCarthy

Helen McCarthy is Mentor Co-ordinator for the Midlands Region and is based in the Portlaoise office. This region was established in 2008 and covers Laois, Offaly, Kildare, Carlow and Kilkenny. Helen manages a team of volunteers who work as mentors to young people and parents across these counties.

Helen has a Diploma in Marketing from the College of Marketing and Design DIT. Before joining Le Cheile Helen worked in the area of disability and had worked as a volunteer in various youth projects.

Ingrid Cooney

Ingrid Cooney started with Le Cheile in 2005 in the pilot project in Coolock, as the project expanded she moved to Ballymun where she is now the Dublin North co-ordinator working with young people and their parents.

Ingrid herself came from a volunteering background, working with young people and families in inner city Dublin where she ran youth clubs and did family conferencing with St Vincent De Paul for over 10 years, she also taught adult literacy in DALC ( Dublin Adult Literacy Centre).

Before joining Le Cheile Ingrid had worked as a Skills Coach for a Aer Lingus; she has a diploma in marketing from DIT and she has certificates in Child Psychology, Youth and Community Work and Addiction Studies.

Alan Quinn

Alan Quinn joined Le Chéile in November 2011 as Mentoring Co-Ordinator in the Limerick region. Based in Southill, Limerick he covers the Clare, Limerick, North Tipperary and Kerry regions. Alan has a Diploma in Hotel and Catering Management and a Masters Degree in Family Support Studies from NUI Galway.

His research thesis for the Masters Degree was based on how mentoring can prepare young people better for life post-mentoring. The thesis was recently quoted in the recently published book “A Guide to Youth Mentoring” by Pat Dolan and Bernadine Brady. Previously he worked for Foróige in Galway as a project worker in the Big Brother Big Sister mentoring programme

Claudio Marmo

Claudio Marmo joined Le Chéile in January 2014 as Accounts and Corporate Services Manager.  Claudio has a Masters Degree in Political Economy, a Post Degree in Analysis and Management of Development Projects and a Diploma in Accounting and Business.

Before joining Le Chéile, Claudio worked for 8 years for the Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) sector in developing countries (from Afghanistan to Myanmar), administrating and managing post-emergency and development projects.

Maxine Kelly

Maxine Kelly joined Le Chéile in March 2016, as the National Volunteer Development Officer.  Her responsibilities include developing the national volunteer recruitment strategy and promoting the development of the volunteer team within Le Chéile.

Following her degree in Youth and Community Work from Manchester Metropolitan University in 1990, Maxine worked in the charity and not for profit youth work and education sector in England before coming to Ireland in 2005.  Since then she has worked as a freelance training and development consultant for both adults and young people in a variety of settings with a particular interest in reflective practice and personal and professional development.  In line with this interest, Maxine completed a M.A. in Cross Professional Supervisory Practice from Dublin City University in 2012.