Meet the OGI Team

The Organic Growers of Ireland team is made up of a board of 5 volunteers with significant growing experience that meet regularly to steer the goings on of the organisation. There are also 3 part-time staff members managing different aspects of the organisation; all things OGI Internship, all things OGI Small Growers Network and all things administration. 

Board Director – Noel Clinton

Having worked in the Landscaping sector for a number of years both in Ireland and abroad, Noel returned to Ireland with more of a focus on Organic Horticulture and worked on Mulberry Meadow Farm in his home county of Monaghan. He then did the MSc in Organic Horticulture in Skibbereen through UCC. Upon completion of this, he worked on Castleruddery Organic Farm in Co. Wicklow and was then very lucky to be selected to take over from Jason Horner as the Coordinator of the OGI Organic Farming Internship Programme in Horticulture. After 3 years in this role, he decided to pass on the baton to someone new but remained as a board member of the OGI and was then asked to take on the role of Chairperson in 2021. Noel feels its an honour to be in this role and to have worked with so many great people involved with the OGI and the organic sector as a whole.

Board Member – Colm O’Driscoll

A graduate of the National Botanic Gardens of Ireland, Colm has had a diverse career in Horticulture gaining experience in many areas of the industry before beginning employment in Airfield Estate in 2013. As part of his role as Head Gardener, Colm manages the 3 acres of certified horticultural production using regenerative organic principals, producing seeds, vegetables fruits and flowers. Colm is also a regular contributor to the Irish Garden magazine where he shares his gardening knowledge with a focus on organic methodologies.

Board Member – Orla Burke

Orla is secretary of the OGI Board. She studied organic horticulture at an t-Ionad Glas and with Jim Cronin. She ran her own market garden for 6 years and is currently managing the market garden at Drumanilra Organic Farm. 

Board Member – Conor Foxton

Having completed the OGI Internship in Organic Horticulture and Jim Cronin’s Organic Market Gardening Course in 2015, Conor went on to establish his business, Redwood Market Garden, located in Lorrha, North Tipperary with the aim of growing seasonal vegetables for local farmers markets.

He is a founder member of Lakeshore Community Market, located in Terryglass, County Tipperary, where he sells his produce on Saturdays and also trades at Killaloe Farmers Market on Sundays.

Board Member – Una Wycherley

Una is farming in Puckane, Tipperary with her partner and children. They have a mixed farm: a suckler beef herd, some tillage barley and oats and 8 acres of commercial horticulture. Una grew up on an organic farm where her mother was a huge influence being the main farmer and managed the holding with great care and pride in her work. Una trained and worked in complementary health therapies after leaving school initially but over a number of years merged back in to farming and horticulture by completing the OGI Organic Farming Internship Programme in Horticulture. She is currently completing her masters in Organic Farming. Their veg is available through a large veg box scheme Harvestday.ie and through the Urban Coop Limerick, Supervalu and some local shops and restaurants around Nenagh. Through Una’s involvement with the internship and building up a relationship with the OGI, she is happy to be on the board and bring any knowledge and experience to the organisation as it grows and continues to help young farmers and growers enter the sector and also support existing growers through knowledge sharing events and workshops.

OGI Internship Coordinator – Rónán Mac Raois 

Having worked in the arts and event management for years, Ronan took a long promised years break and went off to learn how to grow, by volunteering on farms around the country. This was soon followed by Jim Cronin’s renowned market gardening course and The OGI Organic Farming Internship Programme which he absolutely loved! He currently works with Moyleabbey Organic Farm and is undertaking a Msc in Organic and Biological Agriculture with SETU Waterford Campus.

OGI Small Growers Network Coordinator – Kitty Scully

Kitty Scully is a well-known organic gardener and local food advocate in Ireland. Growing up on a mixed organic farm in Co Laois, she picked up a love of eating and growing good food at a young age. She nurtured this through travelling the world working on organic farms and studying. An MSc in Organic Horticulture is her highest paper accolade but her practical achievements go far beyond. Kitty has had a diverse career in organic horticulture, from managing a market garden for nuns to writing for national papers and presenting on TV gardening shows. She was former Head Food Gardener in Airfield Estate where she spearheaded the kitchen gardens conversion to organic production principles. Kitty is a natural communicator who regularly gives talks, lectures and teaches workshops on food growing using organic methods. She has recently returned to her native county after indulging her passion for travel, continued learning and Regenerative Agriculture systems on a one year farm study trip to South America. Kitty’s energy and enthusiasm for growing, learning and talking about all things soil based is endless!