Special Olympics Ireland has appointed Brendan Whelan as chairperson of the Board. Whelan takes over from Terry Buckley, CEO of Clear Channel Ireland who was chairperson from December 2015.
As with all of Special Olympics Ireland Board roles, the position of Chairperson is undertaken in a voluntary capacity.
Whelan retains his position as CEO of Social Finance Foundation, the organisation that provides funds from Government and Banks to social lending organisations Clann Credo and Community Finance Ireland to lend out to social and community enterprises at less than commercial rates.
He previously spent over 30 years at Bank of Ireland rising to become Director of Operations prior to his departure in 2006.
Whelan was at the Bank when he first became involved as a volunteer with Special Olympics Ireland at the World Games in Dublin in 2003. Since then he has been a long-standing and active member of the organisation, working with two local clubs, and has served on the Board and Finance Sub-Committee since May 2014.
“I am delighted to serve Special Olympics Ireland as Chairman given the wonderful impact the organisation has on the lives of thousands of individuals and their families throughout the island of Ireland, including my own,” he said.
Whelan steps into the role in a key year for the organisation with the National Games returning to Dublin at the Sport Ireland National Sports Campus in June for the first time in 16 years and preparations underway to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Special Olympics Ireland foundation.
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