About us

Síolta Chroí ("Seeds of the Heart") is a not-for-profit social enterprise based outside Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan, co-founded in 2020 by Gareth Conlon and Karen Jeffares to restore Ireland's ecosystems and communities. The team runs an environmental education centre offering courses and retreats on permaculture, regenerative agriculture, food forest design, mushroom cultivation, yoga and meditation; they demonstrate resilient local food systems on their own farm through agroforestry, market gardening and food forest planting; and they carry out hands-on ecosystem restoration locally, nationally and on European projects, including rehabilitating polluted rivers and lakes and boosting biodiversity as Ireland's first Ecosystem Restoration Camp. 

Across a board (chaired by Hugh Doyle, with Deirdre Gavin as treasurer) and a network of facilitators and project leads spanning peacebuilding, environmental engineering, global education, food sovereignty and sustainability strategy, the underlying philosophy is that regenerating land and regenerating people are the same task ; practical work on soil, water and biodiversity, paired with the inner work of community, learning and care.

The board

Hugh Doyle

Chairperson
Hugh has worked in education and facilitation for over 30 years and is currently a secondary School Chaplain.

Sive Bresnihan

Board member
Sive is a trainer and facilitator with a background spanning theatre, community education and international development.

Deirdre Kelly

Board member
Deirdre brings over a decade of global justice and development education experience, alongside a deep interest in local food systems and the economics of transition.

Deirdre Greville

Board member
Deirdre supports Síolta Chroí's mission of regenerating ecosystems and communities through [her specific contribution].

Bridgette Brew

Board member
Career spanning retail, food, tourism and consulting.

Jamie O'Neill

Board member
Jamie is an early-career Environmental Health professional with experience across civil society and environmental campaigning.

Deirdre Gavin

Treasurer
Deirdre brings over a decade of not-for-profit finance, funding and governance experience to her role as Treasurer.

All staff

Hugh Doyle

Chairperson
Hugh has worked in education and facilitation for over 30 years and is currently a secondary School Chaplain.

Hannah McMahon

Team member
Hannah supports Síolta Chroí's mission through [her specific contribution — e.g., farm operations, education, communications].

Sive Bresnihan

Board member
Sive is a trainer and facilitator with a background spanning theatre, community education and international development.

Deirdre Kelly

Board member
Deirdre brings over a decade of global justice and development education experience, alongside a deep interest in local food systems and the economics of transition.

Joanne Fullerton

Public engagement officer
Joanne is a community food activist and permaculture facilitator whose work with Síolta Chroí connects people back to where their food comes from.

Gareth Conlon

Founder and director
Gareth has worked in development education for over 10 years, discovering a deep passion for permaculture and exploring how it intersects with education, community and spirituality.

Deirdre Greville

Board member
Deirdre supports Síolta Chroí's mission of regenerating ecosystems and communities through [her specific contribution].

Ryan Harkin

Team member
Ryan supports Síolta Chroí's mission of regenerating people and wider nature through expert advice and demonstration

Gráinne O'Neill

Facilitator / Team member
Gráinne is a global education practitioner whose work in Ireland and internationally informs Síolta Chroí's learning and facilitation programmes.

Bridgette Brew

Board member
Career spanning retail, food, tourism and consulting.

Jamie O'Neill

Board member
Jamie is an early-career Environmental Health professional with experience across civil society and environmental campaigning.

Deirdre Gavin

Treasurer
Deirdre brings over a decade of not-for-profit finance, funding and governance experience to her role as Treasurer.

Karen Jeffares

Co-founder
Karen is co-founder of Síolta Chroí, a peacebuilder, human rights advocate and yoga teacher whose work bridges social justice and ecological restoration.

Conan Connolly

Team member / Project lead
Conan brings a rare combination of civil engineering, environmental science and outdoor leadership to Síolta Chroí's ecosystem restoration work.
Our current partners:
sse logoairtricity community fund logodpercmaynoothsaoltamore trees now logoetbsocial
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