Moy Valley Resources is a company limited by guarantee and a registered charity in Ireland. The voluntary Board of Directors, along with the Company Executive, strives to uphold the highest standards in corporate governance and compliance with company and charity law.
To this end, Moy Valley Resources IRD enacts processes and procedures that ensure transparency and openness and adheres to best practice in financial management, record keeping and reporting.
In addition, the Board is cognisant of the importance of risk management, integrity and accountability. MVR complies with all relevant legal and statutory requirements.
The core principles of the Charity Regulator’s Governance Code underpin the activities and actions of Moy Valley Resources:
1. Advancing our charitable purpose
2. Behaving with integrity
3. Leading people
4. Exercising control
5. Working effectively
6. Being accountable and transparent
A voluntary Board of Directors is responsible for overseeing the strategic direction, good governance and financial management of the organisation.
The directors (also known as Trustees) are:
Blair Feeney, Chairperson
Patricia Fox, Company Secretary
Denis Michael
Marc Loftus
Eileen Diamond
Susan Murphy
David Dwane
Kevin Loftus
Geraldine Hogan
John O’Hara
Noel Rowland
Members of the Board of Directors pictured in 2023.
Back row, L-R: Marc Loftus, Geraldine Hogan, Blair Feeney, Billy Lewis, Terry Reilly, Noel Rowland, Denis Michael and Seán Tempany (RIP).
Front row, L-R: Kevin Loftus, Susan Murphy, David Dwane (Chairperson), Patricia Fox (Secretary) and Eileen Diamond (Treasurer).
Blair Feeney lives and works in West Sligo and is Chairperson of Moy Valley Resources. He owns and runs Feeney’s Centra and Circle K in Dromore West, a supermarket, convenience store, filling station, and family business since 1937. He assists his siblings in the enterprise Scurmore Pedigree, a 250-acre Pedigree Farm in Enniscrone, Co. Sligo, building on a proud tradition. Blair is dedicated to community development and is a strong advocate for rural Ireland. He has served on the boards of community and voluntary organisations as Past Chairperson of Sligo LEADER Partnership Company for over two decades, of Dromore West Community Council, of Dromore West Central National School, and a Past Director of West Sligo Community Forum. He ran twice for Sligo County Council, and was narrowly defeated. He is dedicated to creating social, recreational and tourism projects for North Mayo and West Sligo, and developing the social and economic infrastructure of West Sligo.
Geraldine Hogan is an author based in Ballina. She writes commercial fiction, some of which is set locally to showcase the North Mayo region. She worked for over twenty years in the Disability and Mental Health fields. She has also been Director and Public Relations Officer for the Ballina Salmon Festival. Geraldine has served on several local committees over the years in various roles. She has a degree in Psychology and English Literature and a postgraduate degree in Training and Management.
Ballina native, Kevin strongly believes in the social and ecological potential of the Moy Valley region. He was raised in Primrose Hill and thereafter spent 14 years studying and working abroad as an architect in the UK, Australia, France, China, and the Netherlands. In 2021, Kevin returned to Ballina to establish Accelerating Change Together (ACT), a social enterprise architecture and design practice dedicated to accelerating the green transition in the built and natural environment. His work is focussed on delivering sustainable projects that address the needs of people and the planet. Kevin has co-founded Accelerating Action, a digital evaluation tool that measures impact based on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. In addition to his contributions to Moy Valley Resources IRD, Kevin volunteers with Ballina Community Clean-up and has co-founded Ballina, Ireland’s Greenest Town, a vision for a socially and ecologically thriving community. Alongside his professional pursuits, Kevin nurtures a passion for music and enjoys exploring the landscapes of Ireland’s West.
Denis Michael, a Ballina native, was for a long time associated with the family business, Archers. He also farmed near Ballina. He was a founding member and first Chairman of the Board of Moy Valley Resources IRD. He was an early member of Mayo-Sligo Cooperative Society, an elected Director and sometime Chairman of Ballina Livestock Mart. He was a founder-member of the committee of Ballina Community Centre and served as Chairman. A former commercial grower, he was involved in the start-up of Ballina Farmers’ Market and continues with home garden produce.
David Dwane is Chair of Ballina Credit Union and was Chairperson of Moy Valley Resources from 2023 to 2026. A former Director/Manager of the Western People newspaper, he also served on the boards of Midwest Radio and Ballina Chamber of Commerce. He has enjoyed involvement in community activities, including as Secretary of Ballina Chamber of Commerce, as Leader with Ballina Scout Unit, and as organist and choirmaster in the Augustinian Abbey, Ballyhaunis, and St. Muredach's Cathedral, Ballina. He was proud to volunteer with Ballina Meals-on-Wheels. David is a musician, teaches Leaving Certificate music, piano and guitar, and runs his own recording studio. Passionate about live music, he helps emerging artists to gain platforms for their talents. In the early 2000s he organised hundreds of live events to showcase emerging bands and musicians. He writes an entertainment news blog on his website and continues to write weekly for the Western People. A Ballyhaunis native, David has lived in Ballina since the 1970s. He is married to Harriett Waters and they have two sons, Stephen and Simon.
Noel Rowland is Managing Director of Churchfield Home Services with headquarters in Crossmolina, Co. Mayo. He founded the company in 2011 with the vision of becoming Ireland's leading energy efficiency retrofit contractor, using innovative technology to provide customers with the highest standard of quality, professionalism and customer service. Noel's background is in Mechanical Engineering and he has extensive experience in all areas of retrofitting including fabric, ventilation, heating and renewables. Noel has expertise in management, strategy, development, leadership and implementation of the company's vision, mission, and long-term goals.
Eileen has been a member of the Moy Valley Resources IRD Board since 2010 and brings a wealth of experience to this role. Having begun her career in financial services, she has owned and managed a number of successful businesses in the Ballina region. Eileen is active in the local community, in particular through her membership of the Ballina Soroptimist Club, having served twice as Club President. She is currently National Treasurer on the Soroptimist Ireland National Executive Team. Eileen has a long association with Moy Valley Resources IRD as her father, Padraic Tuffy, was a founding member of this organisation. She hugely values the role of community development in building strong, sustainable localities.
A native of Norfolk in the UK, Susan grew up in a rural coastal area and worked on farms from an early age. Susan has been involved with the Irish Countrywomen’s Association (ICA) in Mayo for 20 years, was an elected member for Connacht and held various positions in the organisation. Partly inspired by her background and her mother, Susan takes great satisfaction in making her own jams and chutney as well as growing vegetables. She knits, operates a sewing machine and believes in adjusting clothes. She cooperates with Birdwatch Ireland to preserve and protect species’ habitats. Susan brings her perspective of countryside awareness to Moy Valley Resources IRD, urging action to protect habitats and biodiversity, and in favour of sustainability. In this way, Susan believes we can contribute to a great quality of life and future.
Marc Loftus is a practising Solicitor, Notary Public and longstanding Partner in Bourke, Carrigg and Loftus Solicitors, Ballina. He is a Past President of Mayo Solicitors Bar Association. As a member of a historic Ballina and Mayo legal practice, established in Ballina in 1860, Marc is committed to the region and its people. He is one of the third generation of Loftus family members to operate the firm. Marc Loftus was Treasurer of Ballina Special Olympics Club from 2002 until 2015. With a particular interest in rugby in Ballina, he has served as both Secretary and President of Ballina Rugby Club. A member of Ballina Lions Club and Moy Boat Club, Marc gains great satisfaction from involvement in sporting and community events in Ballina.
John O’Hara is a Fine Gael Councillor in the Ballina Municipal District of Mayo County Council. A resident of Bonniconlon, John runs a small farm and is an ESB technician, a post he has held throughout his professional life. He has been Chairperson of the renowned Bonniconlon Agricultural Show for over 20 years and is involved at all levels of organising this large-scale annual event. John is proud of the achievement of the small village of Bonniconlon in creating one of the top three shows in Ireland. Passionate about this sector, John is Past National Chairman of the Irish Shows Association and is currently Chairperson of the Western Region of this organisation. As a councillor, John is enthusiastic about improving the North Mayo area, about maintaining our regional assets and advocating for an improved transport system.
Patricia Fox ran the florist shop Blooms ‘n Things for nearly four decades on Bridge Street in Ballina (1987 to 2023). With a qualification in administration, she previously worked at the Western Journal newspaper in Ballina from 1978 until its closure in 1983. Patricia was involved with the Ballina Salmon Festival from 1987 for approximately 30 years, for her first decade as part of the Festival’s organising committee, and for 20 years in the organising committee of the Festival’s Mardi Gras event. Patricia was present at the relaunch of the Ballina Salmon Festival in 1990 and has gained great enjoyment from her involvement in this unique community event. She has been a Member of the Soroptimists Club in Ballina for 35 years, and is a Past Club President and Secretary. Patricia is a current volunteer with Meals and Wheels in Ballina and is passionate about this role. Patricia joined the Board of Moy Valley Resources IRD in 2009 and is Company Secretary.