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Trócaire appoints Caoimhe de Barra as Chief Executive Officer

Trócaire today named Caoimhe de Barra as the organisation’s new Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

Eamonn Meehan, current Executive Director of Trócaire who retires this October, together with Caoimhe de Barra, new CEO of Trócaire. Photo : Alan Whelan. Eamonn Meehan, current Executive Director of Trócaire who retires this October, together with Caoimhe de Barra, new CEO of Trócaire. Photo : Alan Whelan.

Trócaire today named Caoimhe de Barra as the organisation’s new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The 48-year-old Dublin native will take up the role in October to replace Éamonn Meehan who is retiring.

Caoimhe De Barra worked for Trócaire in a variety of roles between 1997 and 2015 including as Director of its International Division (2011-2015). Most recently she was Country Director for Concern Worldwide in Malawi.

Speaking to staff this morning after her appointment was confirmed, de Barra said she was honoured to take up the position of Trócaire CEO:

“I am hugely honoured to be given the opportunity to lead Trócaire. Having worked for the organisation for 18 years I am passionate about its mission and values. Trócaire carries out vital work in over 20 countries around the world. This work is driven by an ethos of social justice. Trócaire is deeply embedded in Irish culture and is an organisation people in Ireland are rightly proud of”.

“The organisation mobilises the Irish public to take a stand for human rights, social justice and a world free from poverty. It is an honour and a privilege to be entrusted with continuing that mission. I look forward to working with the Trócaire team and supporters as well as the partner organisations and communities we serve overseas. I also look forward to working with our other key partners, including the Irish Government, missionaries and other NGOs.”

Éamonn Meehan congratulated her on her appointment and expressed his confidence that the organisation would continue to go from strength to strength:

“I am delighted Caoimhe has been appointed as CEO of Trócaire. Caoimhe brings with her an enormous range of talent, knowledge and skills. Having worked in development and human rights for over 20 years she is exceptionally well-placed to lead Trócaire into the future. Her passion for global justice means that Trócaire will continue to deliver real change for people living in poverty overseas while at the same time pushing for political and policy change, which is critical for a better future”. 

“The commitment of the Irish public to Trócaire has not changed over the last 45 years. We are enormously grateful for their support and generosity. The people who support us all over Ireland should know that in Caoimhe Trócaire has a leader of enormous energy, integrity and passion.”

Caoimhe de Barra visiting the Separation Wall in Bethlehem, which divides Palestinians from their families and their land. Photo : Garry Walsh Caoimhe de Barra visiting the Separation Wall in Bethlehem, which divides Palestinians from their families and their land. Photo : Garry Walsh

The selection process was led by Bishop William Crean, Chair of the Board of Trócaire. Commenting today after de Barra’s appointment was confirmed, he said the selection panel was delighted to appoint a person of such talent. Bishop Crean said:

“We were delighted to offer this position to Caoimhe. Over the course of her career with Trócaire she has proven herself to be a strong leader and an enormous asset to the organisation. We had a number of very strong candidates and it was a difficult decision in the end but we are confident that Caoimhe will do an exceptional job leading Trócaire. I am constantly amazed by the commitment and dedication of Trócaire’s staff around the world. Under Caoimhe’s leadership, the organisation will continue to deliver real and meaningful change to the lives of some of the poorest people in the world”. 

“I would also like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to Éamonn Meehan, who will retire in October after 27 years of service to Trócaire, including five as Executive Director. Éamonn’s contribution to Trócaire and to the lives of the people it serves has been enormous. On behalf of everybody associated with the organisation I wish him well in his retirement.”

Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, Archbishop Eamon Martin, welcomed the appointment:

“I am delighted to welcome Caoimhe as CEO of Trócaire. When the Bishops’ Conference established Trócaire in 1973 they said we must never grow accustomed to injustice or grow weary in the work of tackling it. That sentiment is as important now as it was 45 years ago. Trócaire has the support of parishioners all over Ireland and carries out life-saving and life-changing work in their name. As Chair of the Trustees I look forward to working with Caoimhe to further this work. She has an exceptional background and is clearly driven by the ethos and values that make Trócaire such an important institution in Irish life.” 

Caoimhe de Barra biography

Caoimhe de Barra first joined Trócaire in 1997 and held a variety of roles in the organisation over the following 18 years. Her first role was as Campaigns Officer, later becoming Policy and Advocacy Coordinator. She moved to Mozambique in 2007 to take up the role of Assistant Regional Manager for Southern Africa with Trócaire.

In 2011 she was appointed Director of Trócaire’s International Division, managing development and humanitarian operations in over 20 countries. In this role she achieved strategic change in the structure and direction of the Division, leading to significant impact on the lives of vulnerable people. From May 2015 – July 2018 Caoimhe was Country Director for Concern Worldwide in Malawi where she managed one of the largest ever humanitarian responses to a food crisis in that country.

A fluent Irish speaker, Caoimhe is from Dublin and continues to live there with her husband, Carl, and their two sons, Fionán and Ferdia. Caoimhe has a Masters in Development Studies from University College Dublin.

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