At the age of sixteen Michael Joe went to London in search of greener fields. His first job was working in The Crown in Cricklewood, a meeting place for people from the  32 counties, which he said gave him a thorough grounding in the ‘University of Life’! By day Michael Joe worked on the buildings, known as ‘On the lump’, where he encountered many of the people Safe Home Ireland are now supporting, some of whom were living in lonely lodgings, seeking solace and company in places such as ‘The Crown’. Michael Joe said his fate placed a wonderful woman in his path and they journeyed through life together initially in London and then back at home in Mayo. Their daughter was labelled as ‘a slow learner’ and introduced him to ‘special schools’ where he got involved and eventually finishing up as Chairman of the ‘Parent Governer’s’. After nigh on thirty years of exile, Michael Joe and his family returned to his home place in Mulranny, Co. Mayo where he got involved with The Order of Malta, the local Amenity Centre, the Irish Farmers Association (IFA), and through Dr. Cowley (Safe Home founder/chairperson), got involved with St. Brendan’s Housing Dev. Co., also Mulranny Industrial Dev. Co., and Safe Home Ireland. As an afterthought, Michael Joe discovered by accident that he could write plays, which have been performed not alone in this country but wherever our diaspora congregate abroad. In the slipstream of life Michael Joe said he has two mottos – ‘I hang on to the coat tails of people more worthy than I’ and ‘but for the grace of God go I’.

Teresa works as Practice Manager in her husband’s GP Practice. She is married to Jerry and they have 5 children, 4 grandchildren and 2 dogs. As well as being a director and founding member of Safe Home she is also a director and founding member of Mulranny Day Centre Housing CLG. and the Rural, Island; Dispensing Doctors of Ireland. She along with her husband has run the Rural, Island & Dispensing Doctors Conference for the past 35 years. She worked alongside the ICGP and the University of Limerick to bid successfully for the WONCA World Annual Conference (World Organisation of Family Doctors) which is due to be held in Limerick in 2022. Teresa is actively involved in the community and is Secretary of the local Community Centre. Teresa has extensive fundraising and organisational experience and is involved in the organisation and running of two local and indigenous annual festivals – Mulranny Mediterranean Heather Festival and Cruinniu Bádoirí Acla (Achill Yawl Sailing Festival) both of which have been in existence for the past 25 years. Teresa’s Hobbies include photography, Dragon Boat Racing and most recently kayaking.

Niall Foley is a campaigns, policy and communications professional with experience in both the private and charity sectors. Graduating from the Dublin Institute of Technology in 2005 with a Masters in Journalism, Niall has a portfolio of work including broadcast, digital and print media. Based near Edinburgh, Niall currently works in a leadership campaigning and policy position within the sight loss sector.

London-born Niall has first-hand experience of the challenges and opportunities faced by the Irish diaspora in returning home to Ireland. He’s keenly interested in sports, creative writing, and is a faltering but enthusiastic Irish language learner – Is fearr Gaeilge bhriste ná Béarla cliste, after all!

Ann has a strong IT Leadership background with a BSc and MSc in Computer Science from UL. She has over 25 years’ experience working in corporate fintech industry in various roles as a software developer, project leader, product manager and now a VP of Technology leading a large team and projects at an enterprise level. Ann has a keen interest in social issues, particularly as it relates to older people. In the last few years she returned to education part time to complete studies in Community Development and Politics and Sociology in NUIG.  Ann is a Mayo native, now based in Galway, she is married to John and they have 3 teenage daughters.

Joan O’Flynn has wide-ranging experience in social policy research, policy and practice gained through working in the civil and public service. the  voluntary sector in Ireland and the community sector in Britain. Joan’s former roles include CEO and National President of the Camogie Association; Acting CEO of the Glencree Centre for Peace and Reconciliation; Director of the National Advisory Committee on Drugs and working on national drugs policy in the Department of Health; working in the Dormant Accounts Division and Social Inclusion Units in Departments of Community, Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs and Department of Social Protection; Head of Communications and Public Education and Head of Programmes with the Combat Poverty Agency. Joan works as an independent consultant and occasional lecturer in social policy.

Michael D. Higgins was inaugurated as the ninth President of Ireland on 11^th November 2011 and on 11 November 2018 he was inaugurated for a second term. A passionate political voice, a poet and writer, academic and statesman, human rights advocate, promoter of inclusive citizenship and champion of creativity within Irish society, Michael D. Higgins has previously served at almost every level of public life in Ireland, including as Ireland’s first Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht.

It is an enormous honour for Safe Home Ireland and all whom we work with to have the President of Ireland as our Patron. President Higgins has, like many in Ireland, seen generations of his family emigrate, he has a strong interest and empathy for the Irish emigrant community worldwide.

Seán Keane is an internationally renowned and distinctive sean-nós style singer and multi-instrumentalist from Co. Galway. Seán became Safe Home Ireland Ambassador in March 2021, in the year that we marked our 21^st Anniversary, and is working closely with us to both elevate our profile and secure further support for our work.

Seán Keane said “I was delighted to be asked to be an Ambassador for Safe Home Ireland and I intend to take this role very seriously.  The work of Safe Home Ireland highlights a cause that is very dear to my heart, having been an emigrant myself, I got a first-hand insight into the myriad of mixed emotions of the Irish emigrant experience. From the good times of dance halls and friendships, to the loneliness and isolation faced by some who were forced to leave their home and loved ones behind. It is a great pleasure for me to be able to work with Safe Home Ireland in recognising all Irish emigrants who left Ireland in the hope of finding a better life for themselves and their families. Most importantly, I am committed to helping, where I can, those who now wish to return home again”.