CDRCN Staff
Nicholas McCrickard has worked for the Network since its formation and is now the Senior Development Officer and Manager of the organisation. As a result of a Network contract he also manages the Ballymote Shopping and Community Centre, which houses the Network office. Married with 5 children, Nicholas had a background in commercial management before becoming Project Manager for Castlewellan Regeneration in the early 90′s. He has participated in many voluntary committees over the years including Down Strategy Partnership, Credit Union, Down Community Transport, Mourne Heritage Trust and many others.
Daniella McCarry worked for ten years as Fundraising Administrator at Oxfam Ireland before joining CDRCN. She first joined the Network as Community Development Officer between January – June 2008 on a Capacity Building Programme which encouraged local residents to participate fully within their community. Daniella then moved on to Community Safety Partnership at Down District Council where she specialised in anti-social behaviour, crime and fear of crime in local communities. Daniella has now rejoined the Network as a full time Community Health Development Worker and will be working within the Greater Downpatrick areas – Lecale areas which include, Strangford, Ardglass, Killough, Ballykinlar, Ballyhornan and Clough.
Lise Curran works for the Greater Ballynahinch area (including Crossgar, Killyleagh, Drumaness and Spa) as a community health development officer.
Sandra Henderson was appointed as an Information Officer for the Ards office in 2005. She provides information and support to local community groups, agencies and individuals in rural Ards. In September 2007 she was seconded to the post of Community Development Officer working with the communities of Ballyhalbert, Ballywalter, Kircubbin and Portavogie. She facilitated the development of a sustainable grass roots infrastructure in these villages. Sandra helped establish the Peninsula Community Network of community groups from the Ards Peninsula. She will continue to coordinate and support this network.
Paula Nixon graduated from the University of Ulster in 1990. Since then she has worked in London and various parts of Northern Ireland. She has worked in a community setting for the past 14 years before taking up post as Health Development Worker with County Down Network in Janurary 2008. Paula currently works in the greater Newcastle area, which spans to Kilcoo.
Frances McCormick joined CDRCN in May 2007 as a Rural Development Officer working with community organisations across Ards and Down. As well as providing a variety of support to groups to develop good working practices, she also works across organisations and with a range of outside agencies to develop projects that benefit targeted local groups. Frances has a BA Honours Degree in Humanities from Queen’s University, as well as a Certificate in Community Relations from the University of Ulster. She joined the Team following a short stint working as Development Officer with the Arts Council of NI, Re-imaging Communities Programme, prior to that Frances worked for Rural Community Network as the Local Project Officer in the Rural Community Estates Programme in Ards for 4½ years.
Heather Holland took up the full-time post of Community Development Worker for the Neighbourhood Renewal Areas of Downpatrick in January 2008. Her previous experience includes four years working for ROSPA, the accident prevention charity. Heather began working there in a project before moving into a training capacity focusing specifically on home injury prevention across the community, voluntary and statutory sectors of Northern Ireland.
Roisin Doran
Mary McKeown
Nuala McElroy
Ann Grant
Clare Shiels
Janine Connolly
Jenny Laverty
The 2018-2019 CDRCN Board of Directors
Alan Dumigan – CDRCN Chair, Clough & District Community Association
From Alan, “I was born in East Belfast but emigrated to South Africa where I spent nearly 30 years. My first wife died there at an early age leaving me with a daughter, after a few years I subsequently married again to a lady from Cape Town who had a daughter and a son. When the children grew older they all moved overseas so we traveled to England in 2002 where we spent a few years before moving to Clough where I presently live. I did care work in England and have now retired. My second wife died in 2009. I am presently secretary of the local community association, was elected on to the consultative forum of Age NI a few years ago and also onto the CDRCN board. I volunteer with Good Morning Down each Friday.”
Nick Moore, Vice Chair, Independent, Portaferry
Nick has several years experience working with community groups including Ballyhalbert Heritage & Regeneration Group, Greyabbey & District Community & Police Liaison Committee, and the Peninsula Community Network. He is also a board member of the Rural Community Network regional body. Nick has worked in the science research and education sectors for 25 years.
David Cole-Baker – Independant, Greyabbey – Treasurer
David brings years of volunteer experience with Greyabbey Community Association and Greyabbey Regeneration to bear. He is currently a governor of two County Down schools, and a board member of Down Community Transport
He is a retired architect and his 30 years experience with the N.I Housing Executive gives the Board a great depth of knowledge from which to draw.
Bill Megraw – Millisle and District Community Association
Bill is a Chartered Secretary with a Masters degree in Law. His career has mainly been in accounting and finance, with a wide variety of roles including managing multi-million pound budgets across the public and private sectors, as well as the supply of consultancy, accounting, payroll and secretarial services to small and medium size businesses. He has also served as a Trustee of a “top-100” UK charity, and is currently Treasurer of Millisle and District Community Association, Company Secretary of Millisle Youth Forum, and a director of Millisle Regeneration.
Susan Welsh – Saintfield Community Estates Partnership
From Susan, “I have been a widow for 21years , I have 5 children 12 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren. I started working in the community about 12 years ago now . I’m Chair of Saintfield Community Estates Partnership and have been for several years now. Hopefully we have made a difference to our village . I’m on the management committee of Good Morning Down also Saintfield Hub . I attend the Rural Housing , Housing Ex Forum and I’m on the Scrutiny Panel of NIHE in the NMD area.
Alan Poots, Independant – Newtownards
As a former manager of Portaferry Regeneration, Alan was a founder member of the Network and has held the office of chairman in the past. Currently treasurer of the organisation, Alan’s paid employment is with Lisburn Borough Council as Capital Projects Manager. He is also a keen supporter of the local community and voluntary scene.
Eamon Rodgers, – Lower Mourne Gaelic League
Eamon is involved in many organisations and projects including The Lodge Cultural and Community Centre in Castlewellan and the Lower Mourne Gaelic League, a proposed Irish language teaching facility and community building in Annalong.
Robin Holliday – Cloughey Community Association
From Robin, “I was a board member of Fold Housing Association for fourteen years having previously been chairman of Lisnagarvey Housing Association. Professionally I was an independent community pharmacist in Lisburn for most of my career. I also have experience as a pharmacist with a major pharmaceutical company.”
Doris Noe – Lecale Conservation
In her voluntary work Doris aspires to improve local people’s quality of life while at the same time shining a spotlight on the value County Down’s natural and built environment. She initiates and oversees the implementation of strategic plans, values partnership working and is a Director with Ulster Wildlife. Her professional work with the British Council involves cultural relations and creating opportunities worldwide, for example for schools and their students.
Paddy Killen –