Meet the team

Meet the Team:

Formerly an education officer for the NPWS, she has a background in diverse activities from botany to scientific writing. Áine holds a BSc (Hons) in Science, an MSc in Science Communications and an MEd where she focused her research on the Primary Teachers perspective on place-based learning.

In 2024, Áine completed an Irish Research Council funded employment-based PhD in partnership with the School of Geography at NUI Galway. This project evaluated the role of place-based learning in community stewardship and shared the learnings from Burrenbeo Trust’s work with others.

Brendan works directly on projects including The Hare’s Corner, Farming for Nature, ReFarm, and the Burren Winterage Weekend. Between 2005-2022 he led the award-winning BurrenLIFE Project and its successor, the Burren Programme, a pioneering ‘farming for conservation’ initiative.

Brendan is a Fellow of Ashoka’s Global network of Social Entrepreneurs and was awarded an honorary doctorate by University of Galway in 2018 for his work in championing farmland biodiversity. He is author of Farming and the Burren and co-author of the Farming for Nature Handbook. Originally from a farming background in Co. Waterford, Brendan has spent the last 25 years living and working in the Burren region.

Brian has a BA (Hons) in Sociology and English from the University of Galway. After several years teaching in Ireland and abroad, he worked across a number of public service roles before joining Burrenbeo Trust. Originally from Galway City, he has lived by the northern edge of the Burren since 2021, a move that has made him completely rethink what counts as a short walk.

He previously worked on Burrenbeo’s Heritage Keepers programme and now coordinates the Trust’s events, sharing his own sense of wonder while helping others explore this unique landscape. A lover of the outdoors and all kinds of music, Brian can often be found meandering through quiet boreens and curious little trails, until the Burren decides where he is going.

Brigid is the Coordinator for the Farming for Nature project since June 2018. Prior to this initiative, she was the manager of the Burrenbeo Trust for 9 years, biodiversity officer for Clare County Council and a project officer on numerous conservation projects abroad for the previous 10 years. Brigid comes from a suckler and tillage farm in Co. Cork. Listen here to a podcast on how she got involved in conservation and the background to Farming For Nature.

Born and raised in the Burren, Fionn has seen firsthand the positive impact of Burrenbeo’s work on both the landscape and its communities. After completing an undergraduate degree in Social Sciences in Dublin, she spent some years in Germany studying Agricultural and Natural Resource Management and working on a regenerative market garden. Upon returning to Ireland, she completed an MSc in Biodiversity and Conservation and moved back to the Burren to join the Hare’s Corner team. Her role now includes developing educational resources for participants, managing data, and hosting the monthly Hare’s Corner Clinic. Fionn has a strong interest in the relationship between people and nature, and how they can mutually support one another.

John founded and operated a Chartered Accountancy practice in Tipperary from which he retired recently after 40 years. He is now living in, and enjoying, the Burren, and it’s many wonders. John is delighted to bring his skills and experience to the Burrenbeo Trust as its Finance Manager.

Karen is a biologist with MSc degrees in Evolutionary Biology & Phylogenetics and Brazil Studies, and a Certificate in Nature Animation. With experience in natural history collection management and a lifelong interest in natural and cultural heritage, she brings knowledge and hands-on field experience to her role. Karen moved to Ireland to engage directly in conservation and nature education, working as an Ecologist, Welfare Officer with the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, and NPWS Head Guide at Dromore Woods Nature Reserve.

Having previously worked on the Hare’s Corner team, Karen now coordinates the Burrenbeo Conservation Volunteers, outreach programmes, field trips, and manages the Trust’s membership system. Whether on limestone pavement or Clare’s wild coastline, Karen is always exploring, learning, and helping others connect with the Burren’s unique beauty.

Katie joined Burrenbeo in 2025 as the Admin Officer. Having completed a Masters in Museum Studies in 2020 in UCC, Katie has gained experience in museums, cultural institutions, tourism, and events. She has a keen personal interest in the natural world and the environment, especially within the Burren. When she’s not working, there’s a good chance you might find her hiking, swimming, or exploring the Burren area!

Louise is a project manager and has worked with universities and nonprofits in Ireland and the UK. She has administered projects across the social sciences and life sciences, and has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Sussex. Louise lives in the Burren, County Clare, where she grows vegetables.

Lydia is our Programmes and Development Officer, supporting Farming For Nature’s fundraising, impact and strategy. Previously, she worked for the Sustainable Food Trust, as part of the Global Farm Metric and managed Agricology, a sustainable food and farming platform run by the Organic Research Centre in the UK. She has an MSc in Carbon Management and a keen interest in sustainable food, having trained at Ballymaloe, worked for Daylesford and the BBC Good Food Shows.

Mary manages the Heritage Keepers programme and has extensive experience fostering connections between schools, communities, and their local heritage. She holds both a degree and a master’s in Archaeology from the National University of Ireland, Galway, and has worked across multiple facets of the discipline, including excavations and archaeobotany. Her professional interests extend to environmental issues and biodiversity, supported by a Postgraduate Diploma in Environmental Protection from the Institute of Technology, Sligo, and a Certificate in Field Ecology from University College Cork.

Pranjali is currently pursuing a PhD at the University of Galway, where her research focuses on the impact of Burrenbeo’s stewardship-based biodiversity initiatives. Prior to this, she managed Burrenbeo’s communications work, coordination of its conservation projects – The Hare’s Corner and The Burren Pine Project and facilitation of its monthly and annual events. With a background in life sciences and postgraduate qualifications in natural history communications, Pranjali has also previously worked as a media professional producing content for television, film, radio, and digital media on themes ranging from biodiversity, agriculture and social impact to health and history.