B&B | B AND B - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Director
- Regional Director
- Director for B & B Ireland
- Owners of Dieskirt Farm
Ann Campbell is a Director for B&B Ireland representing Wild Atlantic Way North. She also served on the steering group committee for a number of years.
Ann Campbell is a Director for B&B Ireland representing the Wild Atlantic Way North region. She also served on the steering group committee for a number of years. At present, she is on the sub-committee for Nomination Renumeration & Corporate Governance. Ann has over 30 years' experience in the B&B business and promoting tourism.
She has a Diploma in Tourism/Marketing from St Angela's College in Sligo and studied Corporate Governance in UCD, Dublin. Ann has served on several boards representing businesses on a local and national level.
At present, Ann is serving on two committees for the National Transport Authority. In July 2020, Failte Ireland appointed Ann to Sligo DEDP which is the Destination Experience Development Plan for County Sligo. Ann is passionate about Tourism and how important it is to the regions. She also does volunteer work for The Irish Guide Dogs.
Breandán Fitzgerald is the Wild Atlantic Way Kerry Director and the Company Secretary. Prior to coming onto the Board of B&B Ireland, Breandán was a member of the Member Consultation Group that advises the Board. He grew up in his family B&B in Dingle and now works with his mother Bridie helping her to run the B&B, Dingle Heights B&B located in Dingle town.
A member of Kerry County Council since 2019. He represents the Castleisland Corca Dhuibhne Municipal District where he was the inaugural Cathaoirleach in 2019/2020. Breandán is a Board member of Local Link Kerry and Kerry Recreation & Sports Partnership (KRSP), he is also a member of the Association of Irish Local Government (AILG) where he currently sits on the Executive.
A member of Kerry Tourism Industry Federation (KTIF), Breandán is also involved with several local festivals in Corca Dhuibhne such as the Dingle Races, Dingle Regatta and West Kerry Agriculture Show. Breandán is passionate about the B&B experience and believes that it is a key component of the Irish Tourism Industry and has a very important role to play in the sector going forward. He holds a Bachelor of Business (Hons) in e-Business.
Job Titles:
- Treasurer
- Owner of Clareview House Bed
Brenda McTigue is the owner of Clareview House Bed and Breakfast located in Kinvara, County Galway.
Brenda saw a niche in the market for farmhouse holidays and decided to open her home as a Bed and Breakfast to accommodate this. She has been a proud member of B&B Ireland since 2008, prior to this she was an Irish Farmhouse Holiday member.
In the same year, she was elected to the board of directors of B&B Ireland by her fellow members and is the current company treasurer. She also served on the steering group committee for a number of years.
Brenda takes a lot of pride in her roles as both B&B host and as the Board of Directors' representative for Wild Atlantic Way West. She enjoys being the voice for her region and welcoming guests from all over the world to experience an authentic Irish B&B for themselves.
Job Titles:
- External Director
- Member of the Abbey Group
Brian Mc Colgan is a founder member of the Abbey Group, formerly known as Abbey Tours, spending over 30 years in the roles of Managing Director and Chairman. Abbey is Ireland's largest privately owned destination management company.
Aside from his career in Abbey, Brian has had extensive engagement across the tourism industry. He served as a director of Bord Fáilte, Dublin Tourism, the Dublin Convention Bureau and the Incoming Tour Operators Association. He was also appointed to the Business Tourism Forum and the Tourism Recovery Taskforce.
Brian has received a number of awards for his contribution to tourism, including, Tourism Ireland's Ambassador Award, Killarney's Order of Innisfallen, and was the first recipient of the AIPCO Hall of Fame award in 2019.
Brian is a strong supporter of the B&B product having promoted it for many years in the international markets.
Catherine established "Rosalithir" B&B in 1994 in Rosscarbery, West Cork along the Wild Atlantic Way. She has previously served on the consultation group with B & B Ireland.
Catherine has advocated for tourism for many years through her involvement in West Cork Tourism and Clonakilty Chamber of Commerce having attended trade shows and promotional events. Catherine is also a member of the Rosscarbery Business Association and has been involved with her local school boards. She is a member of the Rosscarbery Tidy Towns Association.
She is committed to preserving the B&B sector both as a unique tourism experience and as a viable business.
Catherine holds a Certificate in Tourism Business Practices from the Waterford Institute of Technology.
Danny Hughes Ancient East - South Carlow, Kilkenny, Tipperary, Waterford and Wexford Danny Hughes and his lovely wife, Yolanda are the owners of four-star Maple Lodge in Castlebridge, County Wexford. More about Danny Hughes
Danny Hughes and his lovely wife, Yolanda are the owners of four-star Maple Lodge in Castlebridge, County Wexford.
They have been welcoming guests to their home since 2012. When they took over Maple Lodge, Yolly, who originates from the Philippines, was the main driver to keep the house as a B&B. Danny and Yolly love meeting new people and are in their element hosting guests.
Danny has been in the entertainment hospitality business all his working life. He opened his first nightclub in Dublin when he was only 16. He then went on to be a redcoat host in Butlins Ayr Scotland. He returned home and auditioned to host "Like Now" Music show for RTE television. He was successful and hosted the show for several years winning a Jacobs award. He also co-hosted a radio one show with Larry Gogan which was the platform for touring his hugely successful disco show around the country North and South.
Danny then took on the promotions and marketing manager for Decca and RCA record labels, among others. It was up to him to bring his favourite press people to dinner with the likes of Luciano Pavarotti and many a great night was held in the likes of The Royal Hibernian Hotel till the early hours of the morning.
Danny had huge success in being the event supplier to all the major hotels in the country for over 10 years.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director
- Chief Executive Officer of B & B Ireland
Helena Healy is the Chief Executive Officer of B&B Ireland with over 20 years' experience of promoting Irish tourism abroad and at home.
She is a member of the Tourism Advisory Group set up to advise Government on supporting the tourism industry during and following the covid pandemic.
In December 2020 she was appointed by Minister Catherine Martin to the Recovery Oversight Group. The groups remit is to oversee the implementation of the Recovery Plan for the tourism industry.
Helena is passionate about the B&B experience and champions its importance as part of the overall Irish tourism offering.
She holds a Masters in Business and is a strong supporter of lifelong learning.
James McHenry Northern Ireland All of Northern Ireland James, along with his wife Ann, are the owners of Dieskirt Farm located in the beautiful Glens of Antrim in Cushendall, County Antrim. More about James McHenry
James, along with his wife Ann, are the owners of Dieskirt Farm located in the beautiful Glens of Antrim in Cushendall, County Antrim.
Dieskirt Bed and Breakfast was started in 1962 by James's late mother. He and Ann took over the running of it in 2003 and it is still thriving today. Dieskirt is also a working sheep farm.
James is the present Chairperson of the Northern Ireland Bed and Breakfast Partnership.
He has successfully represented B&B Ireland at Trade shows in Milan and has represented Northern Ireland at an International Press conference in Paris on behalf of Tourism Ireland.
Job Titles:
- Accountant
- Executive Director
Mary is responsible for the strategic development and effective financial management of B&B Ireland. She joined the company in 2005.
Mary is responsible for the strategic development and effective financial management of B&B Ireland.
Mary joined the company in 2005 when it was then Town and Country Homes. She was part of the management team that successfully overseen the merger with Irish Farmhouse Holidays to become B&B Ireland in 2010.
In previous employments Mary held senior roles in audit, taxation, financial services, retail, technology, and education.
Mary is an Accountant, she also has a Master's in Leadership and Innovation. She also has qualifications in training, coaching and information technology.
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Leader
- Senior Manager With Bord Fáilte
Paul is a highly experienced leader in public administration including in the areas of education and training, tourism and hospitality. He is the former CEO of Tourism Ireland and senior manager with Bord Fáilte.
Paul is a highly experienced leader in public administration including in the areas of; education and training, tourism and hospitality.
As a former CEO of Tourism Ireland and senior manager with Bord Fáilte, Paul has a passion for Irish tourism and a great affinity with the bed and breakfast sector which continues to provide wonderful hospitality to so many visitors to Ireland each year
In addition to his role as Chairperson of B&B Ireland, he is currently a chairperson and a non-executive director of a number of organisations.