Declan J. Magee appointed as Chair of the Board of Directors of The Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation

The Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation is pleased to announce the appointment of Declan J. Magee as the new Chair of its Board of Directors.

Declan J. Magee is a retired general surgeon and past president of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. He has had a long-term involvement in the governance of surgical training and practice in Ireland and had a central role in the development of RCSI’s support for surgical training in sub-Saharan Africa. He has also been a director of Blackrock Healthcare Group. Magee joined the Board of Directors in Jack and Jill on 4th March 2022 and assumed his new role at the recent Board meeting. 

"We are thrilled to welcome Declan as the new Chair of our Board of Directors," said Deirdre Walsh, CEO at the Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation. "From the very beginning, Declan has demonstrated his commitment to good governance and transparency. He has also gone above and beyond to support our families, even scaling new heights by participating in our Abseil fundraising event in Croke Park last year! Declan’s leadership and vision will be instrumental in guiding Jack and Jill towards achieving our strategic objectives as set out in our roadmap, Strategy 2027.

Our Board of Directors is a pivotal part of our organisation, providing strategic guidance and leadership to advance our mission of empowering the families we support to care for their child at home, by funding and delivering nursing, respite and advocacy.” 

Declan Magee expressed his enthusiasm about his new role, stating: "When I was first approached to join the Board at Jack and Jill, I was taken with the team’s pride in the organisation; their passion and enthusiasm was infectious. This is a remarkable organisation, rooted in care, compassion and community, serving courageous families with real and tangible support, confidence and hope. I am immensely proud to take on this role as Chair of the Board of Directors at Jack and Jill and, together with my fellow Board Members and the wonderful team at Jack and Jill, pledge to continue Jonathan Irwin’s marvellous legacy in ensuring families have the care and support they need, when and where they need it.”

As Declan assumes his new position, Jack and Jill would like to extend its deepest gratitude to outgoing Chair Maeve Beggs for her exemplary leadership and dedication to Jack and Jill's mission. Deirdre Walsh, CEO commented: “Maeve has been an outstanding leader and ally during her tenure with Jack and Jill. She has strategically guided us through many challenges, celebrated many more successes and has always acted with integrity, honesty and respect. We are so sad that her tenure has come to an end and thank her for her incredible support and commitment over the years.” 

About the Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation
The Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation is an Irish children’s charity founded by parents Jonathan Irwin and Mary Ann O’Brien in 1997, based on their experience of caring for their son Jack. 

The charity funds and provides in-home nursing care and respite support to families caring for children, up to the age of six, with neurodevelopmental delay associated with a severe cognitive delay. This may include children with a brain injury, genetic diagnosis, cerebral palsy or undiagnosed conditions. Another key part of the service is end-of life care for all children up to the age of six, irrespective of diagnosis. 

For more information, visit jackandjill.ie.