Board of Directors

Tom Golden

Chair of the Board

I am the voluntary Chair of the Board of EcoVision. I got involved in working for sustainable energy use in my local community, Cratloe in Co. Clare. I am delighted to be part of EcoVision as I believe that reducing our energy use through lifestyle changes and upgrading houses to use less energy is a core way I can take on the challenge of Climate change.

As a board we are responsible for the governance of the organisation and ensuring our great staff are supported to do their work. We are also planning for a future where we continue to support our Community Partners and individual households to reduce their energy use.

Joe Kearney

Vice-Chair

I joined the Board of Directors of ECTC (now EcoVision) in 2020 and I represent the Parish of Clonoulty/Rossmore. Since joining the Board I have have been appointed to the Human Resources sub-committee and was part of the team that hired for the role of General Manager in 2023, and also other increases in staff headcount.

In late 2023, I was elected Chairperson of the Nominations Committee, which is tasked with filling any voluntary positions that may arise from time to time within the organisation. I was also recently elected Vice-Chair of the Board at our recent AGM.

I have a strong belief in the need to retrofit homes and business to reduce our carbon footprint and to be able to this within a not for profit community led organisation only works to benefit the consumer.

Gearóid Fitzgibbon

Co-Vice-Chair

I’m a self-employed facilitator, mediator, and community planner. I’m a co-founder of Energy Communities Tipperary (ECTC), going back to its origins as a project with Con Harrington and Drombane Village. At that time I was a community development officer with North Tipperary Development Company. These days, I continues to support the development of local energy initiatives in Ireland, providing mentoring and technical assistance to initiatives under through SEAI Community Programme, and other initiatives such as the EU Commission Rural Energy Community Advisory Hub. I hold a Masters in Third Sector Management from UCC, and I’m a certified mediator with The Mediator’s Institute of Ireland.

Gearóid sits on a number of committees within EcoVision (such as the HR and Finance Committee) and helps provide oversight to the work of the staff. Gearóid is proud to be a part of this unique and growing organisation whose mission is “the Energy Transition in the service of local communities.”

Liam Lynch

Secretary of the Board

I am a member of the Kilcommon/Rearcross/Hollyford Energy Team, which was formed in 2014 after the successful pilot of the SEAI Community Scheme in the neighbouring parish of Upperchurch/Drumbane. I was among the initial batch of volunteer directors on the board of Energy Communities Tipperary Cooperative CLG. I was elected Vice-Chair at the 2016 AGM and then Chair at the 2018 AGM. Along with my fellow volunteer directors, we grew ECTC to great heights and with the staff team then increasing with the addition of our General Manager and the new identity of EcoVision, the board were able to step back from the operational side of things and concentrate on governance. I stood down from the role of Chair at the 2023 AGM and am now the Company Secretary.

I participate in a number of Sub-Committees, such as HR, Finance and Nominations. I am also the chair of the Risk Sub-Committee.

By day I am a cyber security and data protection trainer and consultant at my own company, L2 Cyber Security Solutions. I am also a member of Rearcross Community Council and the former PRO of Mulcair Men’s Shed.

Noel Byrne

Voluntary Director

As a resident of Drombane, I became involved right at the beginning when the Drombane/ Upperchurch Energy Team was formed to help tackle some of the economic challenges facing the parish at the time. Since the formation of ECTC, I’ve sat on the board as a voluntary director, and supported the organisation through my work in the Finance Committee.

Voluntary Director

I’ve been a director of the board of ECTC, now EcoVision, since 2019 and represents the Killeedy Community in West Limerick. The recent, major refurbishment of the Ashford Tavern in Killeedy was managed by EcoVision with support funding from SEAI to carry out the deep retrofit there.

I’ve been involved in renewable energy for over twenty years and I’m working closely with fellow directors in EcoVision on the roll out of community energy projects in the Southwest region.

Michael Connolly

Voluntary Director

I’m a director of the board of ECTC, now EcoVision. I represents the Loughmore Castleiney Sustainable Energy Community (SEC) in Tipperary. Many households in the community have availed of the grant support and expert advice that has been provided by the ECTC team over the past 10 years. The recent addition of solar panels to “The Cottage” at Loughmore was managed by ECTC.

Voluntary Director

Gerard O’Hara is a chartered accountant and has worked in the Caribbean and the Channel Islands
as well as in Ireland.
His introduction to Ecovision came through his involvement with Littleton Development Association,
his local community development group.

Gerard has a long history of involvement with community and voluntary groups. He is currently
President of Thurles Lions Club and Treasurer of his local Community Alert group.
He serves as a director of Thurles Lions Housing Trust clg and has previously served as
Treasurer/Director of a national not for profit company.
Gerard lives in Horse and Jockey. He had four adult children and one grandchild.