About Cork ARC Cancer Support House

Damian McGovern

Damian’s experience as Business Manager, Directorate of Medicine at Cork University Hospital (CUH) with particular responsibility for the delivery of oncology services gives him a unique awareness for the well-being and psychological needs of people affected by cancer.
With over twenty years of experience in healthcare management, his presence as a Trustee adds a special understanding of the life of cancer patients in the clinical world. His knowledge and skills of the developments in cancer services is key to our strategic vision. His voluntary input is brought with genuine care and a wish to make the lives of cancer patients and their families better.

Roy Knight

Roy is a Chartered Banker with over twenty years of experience in financial services. He is currently the CEO of Douglas Credit Union, one of Cork’s most progressive credit unions. Working in the credit Union with it’s not for profit ethos and the importance it attributes to volunteers gives him insight into how governance and our support team can work together to ensure that cancer patients and their families will have the support they need.

Maria Crowley

Maria is an Economics graduate of U.C.C., and the co-founder and managing director of Leeside Shipping, a leading freight company. She has been a member of the committee that runs the annual Cork ARC Fundraising ball for several years and has over 30 years’ experience running a small business, with all the acquired skills that brings in terms of finance, people, effective delivery of services and excellent use of resources. Maria has said "I’ve seen first hand the difference that Cork ARC Cancer Support House can make in the lives of people affected by cancer and I’m pleased to have the opportunity to support this mission in any way I can."

Jill Ahern

Jill joined the Cork ARC Board of Trustees in 2021, having supported us as a Volunteer Listener since 2016. Jill wanted to use her personal experience of cancer to help others, having both experienced a diagnosis herself and having lost family members to the diseases.
She has over 30 years experience in the pharmaceutical industry, and is passionate about working with people. Jill hopes to bring her experience of working with the Services Team in ARC House to her role to support the future strategy for the organisation.

Honor Moore

Honor is a Chartered Account and the Partner in Chief of Deloitte’s Cork office. Honor was appointed to the Board of Cork ARC in 2018 and brings her expertise to advise on all matters relating to finance and banking. She is delighted to continue Deloitte’s long association with Cork ARC, following in the footsteps of one of our founding trustees, the late Bernard Uniacke.

Bridget Quirke

Bridget is an experienced HR Manager, she has years of proven ability in this function and as Business Manager, working with Multi-disciplinary teams, developing and implementing strategies with the HSE.
Bridget has personal experience of how Cancer affects the Family and has committed to bringing her experience, to support and deliver the future goals as set out by Cork ARC.

Paul Montgomery

Paul is Managing Director of the Clancy’s Group, which owns and operates some of Ireland’s most successful pub, restaurant and nightclub venues. His enthusiasm for delivering support services to cancer patients makes him an invaluable resource for Cork ARC Cancer Support House. His vision and business insight provides us with a major asset in strategic development. His understanding of the cancer journey fuels his passion to ensure our services are available for all those who need them.

Pat Kierans

Pat is an experienced, energetic Founder with a proven track record of delivering strategic communications consultancy and services to a broad range of clients. Skilled in Business Strategy, Marketing Strategy, Digital Marketing, Social Media, and Public Relations, Pat founded leading Marketing Communications agency Dyjaho in 2016.
He brings an impressive track record in the area of brand strategy and development to Cork ARC, supporting our mission in ensuring cancer patients and their families will have the support they need, when they need it.

Louise Nestor

Dr. Louise Nestor is a GP in Cork city with over twenty years’ experience. Her care of patients in the community has allowed her to witness first hand the positive impact that Cork ARC brings to patients and their families. She brings this knowledge and empathy to her role as Trustee, ensuring that the best care is provided by Cork ARC.
“I am impressed by the positive impact Cork ARC has had on friends and patients who have had cancer, and am delighted to join the organisation at such an exciting time in their history.”

Rhona Abbey

Rhona is a commercial marketer and spent over 20 years leading the regional marketing team in EY. She has proven ability to work with senior management to envision, develop and implement strategies and integrated brand and marketing initiatives. Rhona has organised a number of fundraisers for Cork ARC over the last 10 years, securing corporate sponsorships and building awareness of Cork ARC’s purpose through highly successful PR and marketing.campaigns. Rhona has personal experience of how cancer affects families and the critical role Cork ARC plays in supporting those affected by cancer and she is driven to support Cork ARC’s strategic goals and ambitions.

Sinead McNamara

Sinead is a practicing solicitor with over twenty years’ experience, and is Chairperson of Cork ARC. As a partner in FitzGerald Legal & Advisory LLP, Sinead brings her legal expertise to the Cork ARC Board of Trustees and to support the Cork ARC mission. Sinead first learned of Cork ARC following the diagnosis of a family member, and has first hand experience of the support that is offered by Cork ARC Cancer Support House. Sinead is passionate about ensuring cancer patients and their families in the greater Cork area can access supports like Cork ARC at this most vulnerable time in their lives.

Martin O'Sullivan

Consultant Surgeon, BreastCheck Southern Unit, Cork University Hospital, Bon Secours Hospital, Cork and University College Cork Professor Martin O’Sullivan is the Lead Surgeon with the National Breast Screening Programme (BreastCheck) Southern Unit and is a consultant surgeon in CUH and the Bon Secours Hospital, Cork. He completed the Irish Higher Surgical Training Scheme in General Surgery and completed a Society of Surgical Oncology Breast Fellowship in the Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, where he stayed on for dedicated plastic surgery training also. He was the first Oncoplastic surgeon to be appointed in the Cork-Kerry region.

Martin has >50 publications in peer-reviewed journals and >100 communications to learned societies/meetings, both national and international, including invited lectures. He is actively involved in research with colleagues in the Tyndall National Institute regarding novel techniques to diagnose breast cancer and benign breast diseases. He is the Irish principal investigator in a multi-centre study (UCC is the Irish site) evaluating an innovative non- contact and harmless screening modality in breast cancer detection and patient monitoring with EU grant funding of over €11 million secured for this study.

Martin is the Lead breast clinician for the Irish National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) and has numerous leadership roles within the NCCP including drafting guidelines for the management of breast diseases. He is Chair of the BreastCheck surgical group and is the current President of the Society of Irish Breast Surgeons. Martin has always been highly impressed with the excellent and beneficial support services available for patients attending ARC in both Cork and Bantry. As a director, Martin is delighted to be part of the ARC House team to help promote and continue developing services in ARC House.