The Commissioners of Irish Lights is vested under Section 634 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1894 with the responsibility for superintendence and management of all lighthouses and other aids to navigation for Ireland (North and South) and the adjacent seas and islands.
The Merchant Shipping Act 1995 Section 195 (1) empowers us with the same function for Northern Ireland and adjacent seas and islands.
Aids to navigation are provided to standards set by the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA).
The Board meets eight times a year to review and update its strategies and to oversee the effective and efficient operation of the organisation. From 2013, new Commissioners will be appointed for a five year term with the possibility of a renewal for another five years. Appointement of new Comissioners to fill vacant positions is advertised in the national press in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Such appointments are subject to negative resolution by An Taoiseach. Commissioners do not receive any remuneration for their services.
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Mark Barr
(Chairman - Commissioners of Irish Lights)
Mark is an independent director and chairman of a number of regulated property funds. He is also a solicitor and retired partner of the Dublin law firm, Arthur Cox. He was head of the Arthur Cox Commercial Real Estate Practice from 2006 to 2016 and a member of the Management Committee (Executive Board) of the firm from 2002 to 2016. His field of expertise (where he practiced for over 30 years) is commercial real estate, including the purchase, sale, leasing, financing and development of commercial real estate on behalf of institutional and private equity investors and/or owner-occupiers. He is a member of the Conveyancing Committee of the Law Society of Ireland and currently is the convenor of the Law Society task force on commercial leases. He is a member of the Development Council of the Sutherland School of Law at UCD. He has been a Commissioner since 2013, and served as the Chair of the Joint Strategic Board of the General Lighthouse Authorities of the UK and Ireland in 2021 and 2022. An active sailor for over 40 years, he is a member of the Royal St George Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire and of Clifden Boat Club.
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Adam Grennan
(Vice Chairman - Commissioners of Irish Lights)
Adam joined the Board of Irish Lights in 2017 and he was appointed Vice Chair in 2022. Since 2020 he has also been a member of the Joint Strategic Board of the General Lighthouse Authorities of the UK and Ireland.
Adam retired from full time employment in 2019 after working for almost 40 years in the ICT industry. During his career he held a number of leadership positions including Cisco UKI Engineering Director, Cisco Country Manager in Ireland, Technology Consultant and Head of Technical Strategy. He also served on a number of Industry representative bodies including the IBEC Digital Policy Committee and the Governing Council of Technology Ireland. In Adam’s early years he qualified as a Radio Officer in the Merchant Navy and worked as a Marine Technical Engineer with Irish Marine and Offshore Electronics.
Adam is a Chartered Director, holds an MSc from Sheffield Hallam University and certificates in Radio and Radar Communications from the Dublin Institute of Technology. He has over 10 years’ experience as Non-Executive Director, Chair and Audit and Risk Committee Member on Charities and Not-for-Profit boards.
Adam is a passionate sailor, swimmer and hill walker.
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David Delamer
David was appointed a Commissioner in 2005 and became Chairman in mid-2014. He was Chair of the Joint Strategic Board of the three General Lighthouse Authorities of the United Kingdom and Ireland from 2012 to mid-2014. He is the Managing Director of Technico, a company specialising in solutions for the Irish telecoms industry. He has worked with the company for 30 years in Ireland, and on contract to Alcatel, located in Vienna and Paris.
David is a Trustee of the RNLI and Chairman of the RNLI Council for Ireland. He is a member of the Company of Goldsmiths of Dublin. He was a founding Trustee and Chairman of Bracken Hill School Charitable Trust, Howth. He was a director and the Safety Officer for the International Optimist Dinghy Association of Ireland. A sailor since childhood, he has a lifetime enthusiasm for the sea, sailing all manner of dinghies and yachts, both locally and overseas.
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Dan Maher
Dan’s career has focused on Innovation Management, R&D and business development spanning Industry, Academia and Government. He holds an MBA from INSEAD and a Master in Engineering Science from UCD. He is founder of Nua Venture Ltd. a company focused on technology driven start-ups. Between 1997 and 2009 he was the Head of Technology Strategy with ACT Venture Capital Ltd. He has held interim management roles as Executive Director of the CRANN Institute at TCD, and as CEO of Hemanua (Dublin) & Hemacon (Düsseldorf and Bangalore). His early career was with Digital Equipment Corporation in France & with Siemens in Germany.
Dan chairs the scientific advisory board of the European Academy of Technology and Innovation Assessment. He is the Chairman of marine data company, TechWorks Marine Ltd. and adjunct faculty at the Michael Smurfit Graduate School of Business, UCD. He is a former Chair of IBEC’s ICT R&D Committee and a former Director of the SmartBay Marine Test and Demonstration Facility. Dan has a life time passion for the marine environment.
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Olive Hill
Recently retired, Olive was Executive Director for Business Strategy Implementation, in Invest Northern Ireland. In this role she has led on the development and execution of a new business strategy for Invest Northern Ireland, targeting economic growth through job creation, increased exports and innovation. Prior to this Olive was Director of Innovation & Technology Solutions at Invest Northern Ireland were she led a team of engineers and scientists providing advice and support to businesses across a range of disciplines including sustainable development, design, innovation, ebusiness and intellectual property. Olive is also a non-executive trustee with Victim Support Northern Ireland and was previously a non-executive with LEDCOM one of a network of local enterprise agencies. She is very familiar with the marine sector in Northern Ireland, particularly opportunities emerging from the renewable energy sector. Olive is an enthusiastic coastal rower.
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Andrew Jones
Andrew is a Chartered Accountant, and was most recently Chief Financial Officer of V.Group, a leading independent provider of global marine support services. He has 30 years of international finance experience of public and private markets, leading several very significant financial transactions. He currently works on a number of international private and not-for-profit Boards in an non-executive capacity. He is an RYA Coastal Yachtmaster with extensive experience of both inshore and offshore yacht racing. He is a member of the Royal Irish Yacht Club, and currently resides in Dublin and London.
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Dr Sally Montgomery
(OBE)
Sally has been a science educator for over 40 years and currently works at Aberdeen Science Centre as a client representative for their £5m redevelopment project. She was an independent consultant for many years providing expert advice on the establishment of visitor attractions, particularly around science education including, Esplora the new Science Centre in Malta, the Great Light in Belfast and development proposals in Kuwait, St Petersburg, and Dún Laoghaire Harbour. Sally established and was CEO of W5 at Odyssey, consistently one of the top visitor attractions in Belfast. She is currently a Board member of the Titanic Foundation Ltd., Chair of Newry Mourne and Down District Council’s Task and Finish Board for the restoration of Castlewellan Forest Park, and a former Board member of the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, Belfast Visitor and Convention Bureau and Tall Ships Board.
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Sinéad Casey
Sinéad is a Chartered Engineer with over thirty years’ experience in both the private and public sectors, she currently holds a senior management role with Wexford County Council. Sinead holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) from University College Dublin and a postgraduate diploma in Construction Law from Trinity College Dublin. Over her career she has extensive experience in the planning and delivery of major infrastructural projects throughout the country and the management of public services. Sinéad is an operational helm with Wexford RNLI Inshore Lifeboat and a crew member for over 20 years. A sailor since childhood in her native Co Mayo, she is currently a member of Wexford Harbour Boat & Tennis Club and has cruising and racing experience locally and overseas.
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Frank Daly
Frank is an experienced Director, Board Chair and Chief Executive mainly in the public sector. He was Commissioner and subsequently Executive Chairman of the Revenue Commissioners (Ireland’s Tax and Customs Service) between 1996 and 2008. During this period, he oversaw the modernisation and restructuring of the Irish Revenue service and represented Ireland at various international fora.
On his retirement from Revenue in 2008 Frank was appointed by the Irish Government to various statutory and advisory bodies and in 2009 he was appointed as the first Chairman of NAMA (National Asset Management Agency) established as part of Ireland’s response to the banking crisis. He continued in that role until 2019.
Frank has a track record in building productive relationships with diverse constituencies in the public and private sectors and in delivery through optimising organisation structures and cultures. Frank comes from a family with strong maritime connections and has always had a keen interest in all matters maritime.
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Paula Kelleher
Paula is a Chartered Director, a Certified Bank Director and a Financial Services Consultant. Throughout her career to date, Paula has held a number of senior business and legal roles including most recently, having strategic responsibility for the European depositary services function of a large US bank.
Paula, who is also a solicitor, was a founding partner of one of Ireland’s leading law firms. During a 20 year tenure as partner, Paula advised financial institutions, insurance companies and financial services providers on a broad range of issues from establishment through regulatory compliance. During that time she also established the Regulatory and Compliance function within the Financial Services Department of the firm. Paula has extensive regulatory compliance and governance experience and held the role of CEO of an Irish regulated body for 8 years as well as holding other directorships.
Paula is a keen swimmer and is passionate about sustainability of marine and coastal environments.
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Tom McMahon
Tom is a Civil Engineer and holds a Bachelor of Engineering and a Masters of Science in Engineering Structures from Trinity College Dublin. He is a Founder and Director of MDM Consulting Engineers and has specialised in the marine sector for over 30 years. Over this period Tom has been involved in projects such as the Scotland to Ireland Gas Interconnector Pipeline and over 30 sub-sea telecommunications cables including transatlantic cables and most recently a cable from Ireland to Iceland.
Tom is also involved in the development of sub-sea HVDC interconnector power cables and in the offshore renewable energy sector. He has an in-depth knowledge of the engineering, environmental and legislative aspects of marine developments. He is also a keen sailor and member of Howth Yacht Club and Lough Derg Yacht Club and sits on the Board of Howth Yacht Club.
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- Ex-Officio Board Members
Fionna Connelly
Fiona Connelly is a primary school teacher with over 20 years of experience in the classroom and in school management.
She is dedicated to making a positive impact for her community and put herself forward in the local elections and was elected to Dublin City Council in June 2024 as a first-time candidate.
Fiona holds a master’s degree in human rights and citizenship and is passionate about community involvement. Having volunteered for over a decade with Irish Water Safety—teaching weekly lessons in Rathmines and representing the organisation at both local and national events during her time with IWS.
Having sailed from a young age with her family, Fiona Connelly has always had a connection with the sea, and this has motivated her to serve on the Board of the Commissioners of Irish Lights. She also serves on the Arts Culture Gaeilge and Recreation SCP on DCC, on the Board of Rathmines CTETB, Dublin South City Partnership and on the Board of the Hugh Lane Gallery. Fiona Connelly is a member of the Labour Party, Dublin Bay South.
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Danny Byrne
Danny Byrne was appointed to the board of the Commissioners of Irish Lights after being elected to Dublin City Council in May 2019. His family history is steeped in the commercial fishing industry and in the lighthouse service. Both his Grandfather Jim Byrne and his Grand Uncle Paddy Byrne were Lighthouse keepers, both at St. Johns Point in Co. Donegal. He also serves as a member of the city wide Policing Committee and The Economic Development & Enterprise Strategic Policy Committee on Dublin City Council. He works as an Estate Agent and is a member of the Poolbeg Yacht & Club & The RDS.
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Donna Cooney
Donna Cooney is a member of the Green Party and was elected to Dublin City Council in 2019. Donna has been a community activist for 25 years, working to protect Dublin Bay, the Promenade, St. Anne’s Park and Fairview Trees & Park. She has campaigned for the protection of natural and built heritage in Dublin Bay and for enhanced public transport. In addition she has campaigned for safer cycling /walking environments and on creating more resilient communities so we can meet the challenges of Climate Change.
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Management Team
Yvonne Shields O'Connor
(Chief Executive)
Yvonne joined Irish Lights as Chief Executive in August 2011. She previously held the position of Director of Strategic Planning and Development in the Marine Institute and before that held various roles in the public, not for profit and private sector in marine tourism, aquaculture and in forestry. She has a MSc. in Environmental Science from TCD and an MBA from DCU. She is a Chartered Director and has a post graduate Diploma in Executive Coaching from Smurfit Business School. Yvonne currently chairs the National Search and Rescue Committee and is a non-Executive Director of the Alfred Beit Foundation. She is a Council Member of the International Association of Lighthouse Authorities and has previously held various state Board and advisory positions in Ireland and Internationally.
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Ronan Boyle
(Director of Navigation, Maritime Services and Consenting)
Ronan joined Irish Lights in February 2019 having previously held a number of senior management roles in the Irish Naval Service, RNLI and in the private sector. Ronan leads the development of Irish Lights strategy and policy relating to future maritime digitalisation, in addition to heading up current service delivery through the ILV Granuaile. The Navigation, Maritime & Consenting department is divided into two main areas: Maritime Services (including consenting) and Navigation Policy, Planning & Data Services. In consultation with our internal and external stakeholders, the NMC department is tasked with provision of navigation policy advice, navigation risk assessment, optimising our current & future marine data assets, support for service delivery to Coastal Operations and reviewing current and future provision of Aids to Navigation.
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John Burke
(Director of Information and Communication Technology)
John joined the Commissioners of Irish Lights as Head of Information Systems in 2000 and was appointed Director of Technology and Data Services in 2012 and Director of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in 2019. The ICT team is responsible for developing and implementing new technologies as well as supporting existing systems and services for the benefit of both Irish Lights employees and stakeholders. The ICT team manage the communications networks that allow Irish Lights to provide the most cost effective mix of traditional and electronic aids to navigation for the mariner. These networks and systems provide the backbone for the delivery of services and the monitoring and remote control of both Irish Lights and third party aids to navigation and infrastructure. The ICT department has two divisions, namely, Infrastructure & Operations and Business Solutions.
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Clodagh Hanratty
(Director of Coastal Operations)
Clodagh joined the Commissioners of Irish Lights in early 2023 as Director of Coastal Operations. Clodagh is a Chartered Civil Engineer with expertise in Contract Law, Design, Environmental, Safety and Quality Management. Clodagh has an extensive career both in Ireland and overseas including the UK, Hong Kong, Thailand and the UAE working at senior level for Civil contractors, Design Consultants and within the Public Sector.
Clodagh leads the Coastal Operations, Property Management, Safety and Quality, Support and Planning and Commercial Services teams at the Commissioner of Irish Lights.
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Hugh Roe
(Director of Corporate Services)
Hugh joined Irish Lights in November 2012 having held a number of senior management roles in the private sector across a number of industry areas. Hugh heads up the Corporate Services team which provides financial guidance and support to the organisation, our stakeholders and customers and our two sponsoring government departments. Corporate Services is divided into three main areas: Finance, Legal & Insurance and Procurement. Our core responsibilities include financial management, corporate governance, commercial decision support, audit & legal, strategy & planning, procurement and administration.
The Coastal Operations (CO) Department is focused on delivery of operations on the coast and the Dun Laoghaire facility.
The Navigation, Maritime & Consenting (NMC) department continues the work on maritime digitalisation commenced under the previous eNavigation department, in addition to providing for the management of the ILV Granuaile and the statutory consenting/response work required of Irish Lights. The NMC department leads on foresight, policy and stakeholder engagement around Marine Spatial Planning, Aids to Navigation requirements and future digital technology. The ILV Granuaile provides 24/7/365 coverage around Ireland and Northern Ireland, responding to Aid to Navigation outages, wreck and new dangers to navigation, in addition to providing support for coastal maintenance activities. NMC functional units include Maritime Services (including consenting) and Navigation Policy, Planning & Data Services, plus special projects.
The Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Department supports the efficient and effective execution of the organisation’s business processes, design of network and systems architecture and management of ICT infrastructure and networks.
The Corporate Services (CSD) Department is responsible for Finance and Management Accounting, Corporate Governance, Annual Corporate Plan & KPI Reporting, Legal and Insurance, Procurement, Support to Commercial Services and Business Continuity.
In addition the Human Resources Team, Communications Manager and Programme Manager report directly to the Chief Executive.
