All Board members are voluntary, giving their time and expertise freely, without payment or expenses of any kind. They are registered as Trustees of our Charity, and Directors of our Company. Directors are sought and appointed on a skills basis, according to the skills needed at any time to ensure the appropriate oversight & governance requirements of being such a highly regulated organisation.

Hugh Kane

Hugh Kane

Board Chairman

Hugh Kane

Hugh has over 40 years experience in health and social care, 20 years senior experience to CEO level both in statutory and non-statutory organisations.  Hugh spent most of his career in senior management roles in the HSE, focusing on community care and the disability sector. He also has experience as CEO of agencies like Saint Aidan’s.

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Patsy Asple

Patsy Asple

Finance Committee

Patsy Asple

An accountant by training, Patsy Asple is a director of a significant local private group of companies and has extensive experience in financial and business management. The group is involved in the private retirement home sector as part of its overall portfolio.

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Sarah Whyte

Sarah Whyte

Nominations Committee

Sarah Whyte

Sarah Whyte is a Teacher in Scoil Mhuire, Wexford. The school has a Special Education unit which Sarah teaches in. Sarah is from North Wexford and lives in Gorey with her family.

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Pauline Bryan

Quality Committee

Hugh Kane

Pauline Bryan is a native of Wexford and has over 38 years’ experience working in health and social care.  Pauline held various senior management positions in the Health Services Executive and prior to that the Health Boards. She is delighted to contribute to the excellent work of St. Aidan’s Services.

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Diarmuid Devereux

Diarmuid Devereux

Fundraising Committee

Hugh Kane

Diarmuid Devereux is a native of Gorey and is a retired Engineer having spent 24 years working  in Telecom Eireann and a further 14 years as Managing Director of MDK Analytical and Mc Allister Devereux Keating Limited.

A keen participant in gaelic games, and fly fishing, he served as Chairman Wexford GAA from 2012- 2016, and was appointed Trustee of the Waterville Lakes and Rivers Trust in 2017. He currently holds the position of voluntary CEO of Gorey Chamber.

He is married to Yvonne and they have 2 children and 4 grandchildren.

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Aidan Kenny

Aiden Kenny

Nominations Committee

Aiden Kenny

Aidan Kenny is Managing Director of Gannon Homes, one of the largest building development companies in Ireland. Aidan is from Craanford, outside Gorey, and he lives there with his family.

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Nigel Locke

Nigel Locke

Finance Committee

Nigel Locke

Nigel is a retired Financial Manager of a Section 38 charity in the intellectual disability field. He has extensive experience within the sector mainly in the financial area connecting with charities in this sector, the HSE, HIQA and other stakeholders. He resides in Bray with his wife, Helen.

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Valerie Cooke

Valerie Cooke

Quality Committee

Valerie Cooke

A graduate of UCD (B. Comm), Valerie is a fund services professional with over 25 years’ experience in the financial services industry.  Her current role has been focused on the areas of EU & UK regulatory change and compliance including policy implementation, managing related organisational and technology changes as well as communicating with clients on the changes. Valerie Cooke is originally from Gorey and lives here with her husband and young son and is pleased to have the opportunity to contribute in some way to a wonderful local organisation such as Saint Aidan’s Services.

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Donal Sheehan

Donal Sheehan

Finance Committee

Donal Sheehan

Donal Sheehan is a retired Senior Bank Manager having previously worked in the Financial Services Industry with AIB Bank for over 30 years. A native of Gorey where he currently resides with his wife, Colette.

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Our Senior Management team co-ordinate all our services and head office operations. They come from various professions and backgounds, and operate together as a team to keep the organisation running effectively and efficiently.

James Traynor

James Traynor

Chief Executive Officer

James Traynor

James joined St. Aidan’s Services in 2021. He has held roles at all levels, across a number of Human Services organisations, including management responsibility for Day, Residential, Training, Supported Employment and Outreach Services, as well as for Multidisciplinary Teams and Services Management Teams. He has led several large projects on service establishment, relocation and de-congregation. James achieves exceptional levels of compliance in services under his remit. He is passionate about promoting human rights, and about supporting staff to achieve the best outcomes for people. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Social Care.

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Kathleen Nolan

Kathleen Nolan

Accounts Manager

Kathleen Nolan

Kathleen joined St Aidan’s Services in 2003. She has over four decades of experience, in a variety of accounts positions, in the manufacturing, construction, food and social care sectors, in both the UK and Ireland. Kathleen is committed to the highest financial standards, and to leading her accounts team to upholding the highest standards of financial integrity and transparency. Kathleen holds a variety of accounting qualifications and certifications.

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Karen Kavanagh

Karen Dowling

Director of Services

Karen Kavanagh

Karen joined St Aidan’s Services in 2021. She is a registered ID Nurse and has previously managed Day, Residential, Employment, Training and Respite Services.  Her experience, in both Australia and Ireland, spans Social Care and Residential Settings, in both Disability and Eldercare sectors. Karen is the Senior Safeguarding Officer in Saint Aidan’s, and also coordinates supports for the STAAG (Saint Aidan’s Advocacy Group). Karen has led significant service establishment, decongregation and relocation projects. She is committed to service development to deliver person-centred supports that facilitate integration and inclusion. She holds a BSc in Intellectual Disability Nursing, and a Post Grad in Governance.

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Denise Kearney

Denise Kearney

Human Resources

Denise Kearney

Denise joined St Aidan’s Services in 2008. She has over twenty years of HR experience, in a number of roles, across diverse sectors including construction, services, consulting and training. She has led many significant HR projects such as HR Department establishment, HR IT System Implementation, Staffing Ramp-Up as well as a number of HR Change Management projects. Denise is particularly interested in developing managers to provide optimum support to their staff team, and she is also very involved in fundraising events at Saint Aidan’s Services. Denise holds a Diploma in HR Management.

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Grace-Whelan

Grace Whelan

Senior Services Development Manager

Grace Whelan

Grace joined Saint Aidans Services in July 2026. With more than 20 years experience in the social care sector, Grace has worked across a range of roles from frontline support to senior management. Her experience spans progressive disease services, addiction, harm reduction and recovery, youth mental health, disability residential care and adult intellectual disability services. Grace holds a degree in Social Care and has continued her professional development through studies in management, leadership and counselling. Grace is passionate about empowering individuals to have their voices heard, exercise choice and control in their lives, and achieve meaningful outcomes within their own communities. 

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Emma-Hann

Emma Hannigan

Quality & Compliance

Emma Hannigan

Emma joined St Aidan’s Services in 2022. She has experience in both front line and management roles within the social care sector, as well as prior management experience in the manufacturing sector. Her broad background, across Children and Adult services, spanning both Mainstream and Disability, is all harnessed for her Quality and Compliance Management role within St Aidan’s. Emma is focused on delivering quality improvement systems which lead to positive outcomes for the individuals we support. She holds a BA (Hons) in Applied Social Care.

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DOD pic

David O'Duffy

Senior Operations Manager

David O'Duffy

David joined Saint Aidan’s Services in September 2025, bringing over 30 years’ experience in social care and disability services. He holds an Honours Degree in Psychology from UCD, along with qualifications in counselling and psychotherapy, with a focus on mental health and recovery. His career has centred on developing person-led, peer-supported service models across disability, housing, advocacy, and national support services.

David has held senior roles in organisations supporting people with HIV and AIDS, survivors of institutional abuse, and individuals with disabilities, as well as positions in Jigsaw, RehabCare, and as CEO of a youth-based charity in Wexford.

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Owing to the complexity of our services, the multitude of regulatory bodies we work with, and our desire to operate effectively within all regulatory requirements, we operate and participate in a large number of committees:

Board Sub-Committees:Finance, Audit & Remuneration
Quality Assurance, Risk & Safety
Board Nominations
Fundraising
Management Committees:Senior Management Committee
Infection, Prevention & Control Committee
Rights Protection Committee
Quality Review Group Committee
Positive Behaviour Support Committee
External Committees:National Federation of Voluntary Service Providers
National Safeguarding Information Group (NFVSP)
HSE Regional Residential Consultative Forum
HSE New Directions Implementation Committee
HSE Respite Management Committee
HSE YAT Steering Group

Our Senior Management team co-ordinate all our services and head office operations. They come from various professions and backgounds, and operate together as a team to keep the organisation running effectively and efficiently.

Aisling Cooney

Receptionist

Aisling Cooney

Aisling manages our reception and coordinates administration.  Aisling receives and responds to all sorts of requests and queries, she arranges a huge level of administration support for our services, our managers, and for our internal committees & meetings. Please contact Aisling at reception if you have any questions or queries.

Reception
Kathleen Nolan

Kathleen Nolan

Accounts Manager

Kathleen Nolan

Kathleen joined St Aidan’s Services in 2003. She has over four decades of experience, in a variety of accounts positions, in the manufacturing, construction, food and social care sectors, in both the UK and Ireland. Kathleen is committed to the highest financial standards, and to leading her accounts team to upholding the highest standards of financial integrity and transparency. Kathleen holds a variety of accounting qualifications and certifications.

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Karen Kavanagh

Karen Kavanagh

Director of Services

Karen Kavanagh

Karen joined St Aidan’s Services in 2021. She is a registered ID Nurse and has previously managed Day, Residential, Employment, Training and Respite Services.  Her experience, in both Australia and Ireland, spans Social Care and Residential Settings, in both Disability and Eldercare sectors. Karen is the Senior Safeguarding Officer in Saint Aidan’s, and also coordinates supports for the STAAG (Saint Aidan’s Advocacy Group). Karen has led significant service establishment, decongregation and relocation projects. She is committed to service development to deliver person-centred supports that facilitate integration and inclusion. Karen is a Director of Wexford Employability. She holds a BSc in Intellectual Disability Nursing, and a Post Grad in Governance.

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Denise Kearney

Denise Kearney

Human Resources

Denise Kearney

Denise joined St Aidan’s Services in 2008. She has over twenty years of HR experience, in a number of roles, across diverse sectors including construction, services, consulting and training. She has led many significant HR projects such as HR Department establishment, HR IT System Implementation, Staffing Ramp-Up as well as a number of HR Change Management projects. Denise is particularly interested in developing managers to provide optimum support to their staff team, and she is also very involved in fundraising events at Saint Aidan’s Services. Denise holds a Diploma in HR Management.

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SAS website

Emma Hannigan

Quality & Compliance

Emma Hannigan

Emma joined St Aidan’s Services in 2022. She has experience in both front line and management roles within the social care sector, as well as prior management experience in the manufacturing sector. Her broad background, across Children and Adult services, spanning both Mainstream and Disability, is all harnessed for her Quality and Compliance Management role within St Aidan’s. Emma is focused on delivering quality improvement systems which lead to positive outcomes for the individuals we support. She holds a BA in Applied Social Care.

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