Councillor Fionán Bradley elected chairperson of Donegal ETB

Councillor Fionán Bradley has been elected Chairperson of the Donegal Education and Training Board (ETB).

Staff nominee Joanne Donaghy was elected Deputy Chairperson. They replace outgoing Chairperson Cllr Terry Crossan and outgoing Deputy Chairperson Cllr Declan Meehan.

Donegal ETB is the largest education and training provider in the county. Along with its extensive Further Education and Training (FET) Service, 15 of the 27 post-primary schools in Donegal come under the patronage of Donegal ETB and it is a co-patron/trustee for a further eight Community and Comprehensive schools.

The ETB also provides outdoor education and training at its centre at Gartan, along with music education and has legal responsibilities for youth work. In 2025, over 34,000 students availed of education and training through Donegal ETB.

Speaking about his election as Chairperson, Cllr Bradley said: “It is a huge honour to have today been elected Chair of Donegal ETB. It's particularly pleasing to lead an organisation at the forefront of my own profession. I am very much looking forward to the year ahead. Many thanks to Cllr Terry Crossan for his leadership over the past year and I wish him all the best going forward.”

The Board of Donegal ETB is made up of twelve elected representatives, two staff, two parents, two local industry and three sectoral interest representatives.

The other elected representatives include Cllr Ciaran Brogan, Cllr Albert Doherty, Cllr Donal Coyle, Cllr Brian Carr, Cllr Jimmy Brogan, Cllr Martin Harley, Cllr Michael McBride, Cllr Pauric McGarvey, Cllr Tomás Seán Devine, Cllr Terry Crossan and Cllr Declan Meehan.

Staff representatives are Joanne Donaghy and Kyle Clarke, while parents’ representatives are Geoffrey Browne and one other, who has to be nominated.

The remaining five places have been filled by Lorraine Thompson (Donegal Youth Service) representing Youth Work Ireland, Patsy McVicar representing the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals (NAPD) / Association of Community and Comprehensive Schools (ACCS), Caitríona Nic Seóin representing Údarás na Gaeltachta, Dr Joanne Gallagher representing the Technological Higher Education Association (THEA) and Edel Ní Chorráin representing Foras na Gaeilge.

Speaking about the appointments, Donegal ETB Chief Executive Anne McHugh said: “I would like to congratulate Cllr Fionán Bradley and Joanne Donaghy on their election as Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of Donegal ETB. It is wonderful to have two colleagues with extensive experience and knowledge of our organisation and I am very much looking forward to working with them over the next year to deliver our new Strategy Statement, which will be approved at the Board’s December meeting and operational from the first of January 2027.

“The contribution of all our Board members to the management of Donegal ETB’s work is central to our delivery of a quality, learner-centred education and training service and their guidance and support is very much valued by the Executive. I would like to thank Cllr Terry Crossan and Cllr Declan Meehan for their work and support over the last year.”

The current Board will sit for the next three years.