Veronica O’Leary – Founder & CEO

Veronica is the Founder and CEO at Purple House Cancer Support.  Veronica is a Trained Bereavement counsellor, trained group facilitator, smoking cessation group counsellor, and she has a Diploma in Voluntary Sector Management with the National College of Ireland. Veronica is a strong Patient Advocate for Community based cancer support services and cancer survivorship programmes. Veronica was influential in the pioneering of community-based cancer support services in Ireland over 30 years ago, and she continues to campaign strongly on behalf of all those living with a cancer diagnosis or bereaved by a cancer diagnosis.
Veronica has been a member of many consultative committees and Patient Forums with the HSE, Dept. of Health and other agencies involved in cancer survivorship and Family Liaison Services during the past 30 years.

Conor O’Leary – Director of Operations

Conor is the Director of Operations at Purple House and a member of the Irish Association of Counselling & Psychotherapy. Conor holds a First Class BSc (hons) in Counselling & Psychotherapy from Middlesex University, a BSc (hons) in Economics & Sociology from UCD, a Certificate in Voluntary Sector Management. Conor is a Stanford Cancer Thriving & Surviving Course Leader, an Executive Committee member of IPSON (Irish Psycho-social Oncology Network), and a member of the Client Experience Board Committee at The Dempsey Center (Maine, USA).   Prior to joining Purple House, Conor held senior management roles in the senior home care and residential disability sectors.

Evelyn Gaffney – Programme Liaison & Administration

Geraldine Vickers – Client Care Coordinator

Geraldine has been involved in Purple House for the last 23 years. Currently she is a Client Care Co-ordinator, looking after all the client’s needs on their first visit to Purple house directing them to the appropriate support service within Purple House. 

She is passionate about her role and finds it very rewarding helping and supporting clients on their journey. 

Margaret Byrne – Accounts Executive

Margaret has worked at Purple House since 2001 and during that time she has been responsible for the financial function of the organisation.  Margaret is a very popular member of the team and has a great rapport with the clients of Purple House. Together, with her family, she supports many of our fundraising activities. 

Teresa Grant – Child & Family Services Manager

Teresa’s role as child and family services coordinator is to plan and deliver support programmes in line with our strategic plan and pillars of support, and according to the voice of the child. Teresa holds a BA (hons) in Early Childhood Teaching and Learning. Teresa is an Accredited Parents Plus facilitator, in addition to being a CLIMB (Programme for children of a parent with cancer) and CUBS (Programme for children bereaved by cancer) Programme facilitator. Teresa and her team of child and adolescent counsellors provide one-to-one support sessions in counselling, relaxation, art therapy. Sibling and family sessions are also held.

Jeannie Lyons – Receptionist

Anne Regan – Counsellor & Psychotherapist

MIAHIP, ICP (Reg), MACAP, CLINICAL SUPERVISIOR (accredited)

Anne is a highly experienced Psychotherapist with broad Clinical experience. She has
trained as part of multidisciplinary teams in major University Hospitals and has in depth
experience across community and private settings.
In the area of Psycho-Oncology Anne has an understanding and insight of the profound
impact of cancer on patients and families. Anne works with children, adolescents, young
adults, and adults.  Creativity informs her approach helping the person seeking help to step
out of emotional pain, stress or anxiety, observe the ‘bigger picture’ and view their lives
from a different perspective.

Mel Menina – Yoga Instructor

Rachael Bolton-Counsellor

Mercedes Ipina – Acupuncturist

Mercedes is a fully qualified practitioner of Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine and founder of Salus Acupuncture, Bray. She decided to pursue a career as an Acupuncturist and Yoga teacher after witnessing and experiencing the transformative benefits of Acupuncture and Holistic therapies. Mercedes graduated from the Lansdowne College of Acupuncture and Complementary Medicine and She is a member of the Acupuncture Council of Ireland. She has also completed an International Certificate Program in Oncology Acupuncture and She provides acupuncture treatments to people affected by cancer in Purple House Cancer Support Centre. Acupuncture promotes your body’s self-healing process and Mercedes incorporates breathing and relaxation techniques into your acupuncture treatment, that can help enhance this process.

Bridget Hough – Complimentary Therapist

Bridget has been practicing Reiki since 2008.  After having Cancer in 2006, Bridget explored many complimentary therapies to help in her recovery.  Whilst all the therapies helped, Bridget felt drawn to the power of Reiki.  Bridget went on to obtain her qualifications in Reiki, Seichem and more recently Medical Reiki.  Bridget has been working in Purple House since 2018.  The therapy Bridget uses in Purple House involves one to one relaxation with the clients.  She helps the clients to relax using mindful techniques.  Bridget incorporates hands on techniques using Reiki and Seichem.  Both modalities enhance the body’s innate ability to heal itself and helps to restore balance in the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual body.

Tania King MT CLT NMT

Tania is a fully qualified Lymphatic Clinician trained in the Klöse/Vodder method . Tania has been in private practice for over 13 years providing excellent specialist care for Lymphoedema.

Tania has a special understanding of Lymphoedema as she suffers with this condition herself. Tania values the time spent with her patients as a chance to treat the whole person on a personal and physical level with special practical advice on living with the condition.

Carmel Robinson – Charity Shop Manager

Welcome to Purple House Charity Shop, nestled in the vibrant heart of Bray at 56 Main Street. Established a decade ago, our charity shop specialises in offering second-hand clothing, curated with care and consideration.

Every purchase made at Purple House Charity Shop directly contributes to supporting the day-to-day operations of Purple House, enabling us to continue our vital work in the community.

Niamh Ivory – Reflexologist

Niamh is  a fully qualified and insured Reflexologist and a member of the National Register of Reflexologists of Ireland, (NRRI).

She specialises in Oncology Reflexology and has been working with the Purple House Cancer Support Centre in Bray for 6 years, . Other areas of reflexology Niamh, specialise in, include Lymphatic Drainage, Fertility, Menopause, Mental Health & Stress Relief.

She holds a degree in Psychology and  also a Reiki Practitioner & a Reiki Master.

Mark Sheehan - Counsellor

Emma Casey - Chartered Physiotherapist

Nicola Martin-Counsellor

Dr Nicki Martin is privileged to be working with Purple House Cancer support. She is a member of the Psychology Society of Ireland (PSI) and Accredited Teacher with the Mindfulness Association of Ireland (MTAI). Nicki has been involved in Bereavement research with young children and adults for over a decade. She holds a DEd (NUIM); HDip Psychology(DBS); BA (English & Philosophy); MEd(Leadership) & MSc in Mindfulness Based Initiatives (UCD). A Founding Principal, Nicki continues to blend her passion for Psychotherapy and Mindfulness with her Educational Leadership role through the promotion of Children's Health & Wellbeing Initiatives. She is excited to be completing her final year of the MSc Pluralism in Psychotherapy and Counselling (IICP)Placement at Purple House and is a member of the Irish Association of Counselling & Psychotherapy (IACP). Having the opportunity to work alongside clients in Psycho-Oncology support is of particular importance to her. She is taking a Career Break from the educational field to concentrate on her Counselling work. To deepen her Psychotherapeutic skills, she is also embarking on a full-time Masters in Psychoanalytical Studies at Trinity College Dublin.

Heather Ormsby - Reflexologist

Dr. Mary Flynn - Dietitian

Dr Mary Flynn is a Registered Dietitian (CORU DI 011691) and a public health nutritionist. She has led national and international teams in Ireland, Canada and the Middle East to reduce risk of cancer, heart disease and obesity for people of all ages and from diverse backgrounds.

At the heart of Mary’s work is a deep understanding of how living with a long-term health issue can negatively impact a person’s self-esteem. Having insight and sensitivity around people’s need to ‘feel good about themselves’ so that they can be empowered to ‘enjoy healthy eating’ and ‘have fun being active’ is a hallmark of her approach. She attributes her empathy to the generosity and openness of the many children, teenagers, and adults she has been privileged to treat.

Inspired by patients and healthcare colleagues, Mary’s work includes the development of national and international guidelines on healthy eating to reduce risk of cancer and heart disease for people of all ages. She has created resources and programs to support families when children’s weight growth ‘gets ahead’ of their height growth; when teenagers go through the growth spurt that transforms them into adults. She has led research to identify and address the different nutritional issues that affect women and men. She was the lead researcher in a recent report on dietary requirements of older adults.

Using her in-depth knowledge of food law and labelling, Mary has developed approaches to help consumers identify food options that are truly healthy. This includes providing clear tips on how to make sense of labelling and claims on foods and supplements.

In 2019, Mary was an Expert Advisor on the development of Health Canada’s new Food Guide and in 2014, she was awarded the inaugural medal for excellence in Public Health Nutrition by the Nutrition Society in the UK. She was appointed as a member of the first Healthy Ireland Council by the Minister for Health and has been a Visiting Professor at the Ulster University, Northern Ireland since 2012.

John Woods - Chairperson Board of Trustees

Before joining the Board of Trustees of Purple House in 2017, John had a career in sales and marketing. John has been involved for many years in a voluntary capacity with fundraising for his local parish and has also served on their finance committee. Since the 1980s, John has been involved at local level with Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann. Throughout that time, John served in the roles of treasurer and vice-chairperson with a southside branch. Since moving to Bray, almost 10 years ago, John has been actively involved on a voluntary basis as a member of the Board, and currently holds the position of Chairperson.  

John O'Sullivan - Board of Trustees

John is a Chartered Surveyor and member of the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI) where he is a member of Council, Chair of the Practice & Policy Committee and past Chair of the Residential Professional Group.

John is also a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

Josephine Sullivan - Board of Trustees

Josephine Sullivan is a solicitor by profession and founder of the legal practice now known as Kenny Sullivan Solicitors. 

Josephine served for over 30 years on the Board of Directors of Bray Credit Union, during my time on the Board, she acted as Treasurer and Secretary.  During this time, the Board saw the Bray Credit Union embark on major development, modernisation and expansion. 

Josephine has also served, for many years, on the Board of the County Wicklow Lawn Tennis Club. 

Assisting the community using my expertise and knowledge of the law is very important to Josephine and consequently she spent many years working with Bray Citizens Advice Centre/FLAC providing free legal advice, one night a week, to anyone who had contacted them requiring legal advice and direction. 

Dr. Danielle Molloy - Board of Trustees

Dr. Molloy holds a BSc in Biomedical Science from University College Dublin and a Medical Degree (MB, Bch, BAO) from University College Cork. She is currently completing her specialist training in Rheumatology and Internal Medicine.  Danielle has been involved with Purple House for over a decade and volunteered with the organisation while in secondary school. Danielle has served on the Board of Trustees since 2021. 

Ms. Anne O'Toole - Board of Trustees

Anne has been a longtime supporter of Purple House and is very familiar with its ethos and vision. She became an active volunteer with Purple House in September 2020 and joined the Board in 2021.   Anne currently co-ordinates the LIFT Programme (Leading Irelands Future Together) a programme designed to promote positive leadership and enhance the skills of all volunteers and staff associated with Purple House. She also is a Drop-In Volunteer, so she has an intimate knowledge of the organisation.   

She has a working background in retail, she is currently a director of her family business, where she looks after the accounting affairs for the company. 

Ms. Ann O'Neill Guerin - Board of Trustees

Anne O’Neill Guerin has been a strong advocate and supporter of Purple House Cancer Support for over 25 years and has been a member of the Board of Trustees since 2013. She is passionate about her role in this area.   

Anne has a unique insight into the needs of the carer and the family living with a loved one with a life-threatening illness and its associated issues. She has studied courses in bereavement and loss and other life challenging issues.  Anne has also networked extensively in the UK and Europe at many cancer support conferences on behalf of Purple House. 

Ms. Katie Boylan - Board of Trustees

Katie joined the board in 2022 and has worked in the radio and advertising industry for almost 20 years, working with clients, radio stations and advertising agencies.  Currently she is Client Service Manager in IRS+, a central sales and marketing house for local radio.  In 2017 she was diagnosed with colon cancer and had to undergo radiation, chemotherapy and numerous operations.  During this time, she was a service user of Purple House and found it an essential part of her recovery.  Katie has spoken on radio, podcasts and in newspapers about her experience of cancer and of the help that she obtained from Purple House.