Staff
Leanne Barrett
Project Co-ordinator
Leanne has been Project Co-ordinator with the FRC since January 2018, she has worked in the community and voluntary sector for over ten years and believes strongly in the principles of community development and its ability to achieve real social change. Leanne is led in her work and personal life by the values of fairness, social justice, equality, human rights, and compassion. She is an active member of her own community in Erris, where she lives with her husband and little boy. She loves her home, her family and feels very lucky to be living in such a peaceful and beautiful corner of the world.
John Doherty
Development Worker
John lives in Castlebar with his partner Marina and their daughter Mai. He has worked in the FRC in Westport since 2009. John is originally from Tyrone, and growing up with the conflict in the north, this has informed his values around building community, and combatting institutional discrimination. He has worked across a range of community relations projects in the North, and in community and youth projects in the South. John feels that addressing injustice and inequality is core to our work in the FRC, and he is committed to that work.
Linda McNulty
Project Administrator
Linda moved to Westport to work in the FRC almost 10 years ago and hasn’t looked back. She loves helping people and contributing to her community. Her background is in the arts and administration / finance, and she feels at home in the non-profit sector. She has a keen interest in social justice and is chairperson of Westport Educate Together National School. She is originally from Bundoran in Co. Donegal and returns whenever she can. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her young son and photography. She loves old music, old art, old furniture and new plants!
Joanne Keegan
Older People’s Project Worker
Joanne is Project Worker for the olde people’s projects at the Centre. She has worked for 25 years in the music and performance industry; has 15 years’ experience in landscaping and horticulture, as well as previous experience in outdoor education. A local of Westport, living in The Quay close to her parents who she cares for, she has lived in the area most of her adult life. Joanne holds strong family values and likes authenticity and openness and tries to be as close as possible to these in her own daily life. She believes it is important for people to have space to have their voice heard and freedom to speak their truth and be honest. Working with people genuinely focused on the vulnerable in our society gives Joanne restored faith in humankind and she enjoys working to improve life for others.
Jannah Walshe
Adult & Adolescent Counsellor
Jannah is a fully trained, qualified and accredited psychotherapist. She holds a primary degree in psychology and a graduate certificate in person-centred counselling. Shortly after making the move back to Ireland, she completed a postgraduate diploma in psychotherapy in The Tivoli Institute. Jannah has a keen interest in ecopsychology which is based on the idea that people are connected to and impacted by the natural environment. Another particular interest is in the area of personal self-actualisation. This involves supporting people to find and realize their true potential, particularly that which brings them a greater sense of contentment in their lives. Jannah works in a person centred, humanistic way and loves her work with the centre. She is passionate about working in her local community and ensuring counselling and mental health support is available to everyone.
Joanna Gibbons
Play Therapist
Joanne is a qualified Play Therapist, licenced by Play Therapy Ireland and registered with APAC (Academy of Play and Child Psychotherapy). She holds an honours degree in Early Years Childhood Education and a higher diploma in Play Therapy accredited by the National University of Ireland, Galway.
She spent many years working as an early years educator with young children, and through this work, became interested in the power of play. She trained as a play therapist to help children to work through their problems in a safe environment through play, becoming more self-aware and developing their self esteem.
