Meet the Team
We are delighted to introduce our friendly, professional team who work so hard to make Louisburgh Childcare a happy, comfortable and progressive environment for your child to grow and learn.
Maggie O'Conor
Manager & Administrator
Maggie, originally from Dublin, has been living in Louisburgh since 2007. She has a background in community development and youth work and worked as a solicitor for many years.
She has been involved with the playschool since 2017 and working as the part time administrator since 2019. She has expanded her role to become Manager and Administrator for the three services since the expansion of Louisburgh Childcare in 2022. Always happy to answer any questions!
Bernadette Needham
Room Leader - Pre-school
Bernie was born in London and moved back to Westport with her family at the age of 11 years. She previously worked in the textile industry. After her youngest child started pre-school Bernie decided to carve a new career for herself by studying and gaining qualifications.
Bernie’s qualifications include FETAC Level 6 Supervision in Childcare, FETAC Level 5 in Childcare, FETAC Level 5 in Business Studies, Implementing the High Scope Approach, Keeping Safe Training (Children First), Manual Handling and an Occupational First Aid certificate.
In 2016 Bernie studied in conjunction with the University of Limerick and Mary Immaculate College for one year to become the Inclusion Coordinator. Bernie has been working at Louisburgh Childcare since 2006.
Martina Kilcoyne
Room Leader - Pre-school
Martina is originally from Belclare in Westport. Her childcare experience starts with being a mother to eight children and grandmother to one!
Martina’s qualifications include FETAC Level 6 Supervision in Childcare, FETAC Level 5 in Childcare, FETAC Level 5 in Special Needs, Implementing the High Scope Approach, Keeping Safe Training (Children First) and a Certificate in First Aid.
Martina has worked at Louisburgh Childcare since 1988 and loves her job working with children.
Patricia Fergus
Room Leader - Full Day Childcare (Creche)
Patricia, a Louisburgh native, returned to Louisburgh in 2021 after many years working in Sligo. She joined Louisburgh Childcare as an AIM Support Worker in the Pre-school.
Patricia's qualifications include FETAC Level 6 Supervision in Childcare, FETAC Level 6 in Special Needs Assisting and a Diploma in Montessori Method of Teaching. Further qualifications include Child First Child Protection training, First Aid Response and Paediatric First Aid.
In September 2022 Patricia started working in the newly opened creche room as Room Leader, a role which she is enjoying.
Assumpta Forde
Assistant Room Leader and Room Leader cover - Full Day Chilcare (Creche)
Assumpta is originally from The Neale in Co Mayo and currently lives in Westport. She joined the team at Louisburgh Childcare in September 2022 on the opening of the new Full Day Childcare facility. Assumpta is a Room Assistant and provides Room Leader cover in
the afternoons.
She had previously worked in The Neale After-School for 12 years. Her qualifications include QQI Level 6 Early Childhood Care and Education, FETAC Level 5 in Childcare, Children's First and Occupation First Aid.
Amy Clifford
Room Assistant (Creche)
Amy is Louisburgh native. She is currently studying towards her Level 7 in Early Childhood Education and Care in ATU Mayo. She joined Louisburgh Childcare in September 2022.
Amy’s qualifications include a Level 6 in Early Childhood Education and Care, Paediatric First Aid, Beginners in Sign Language, Autism beyond limits training certificate, Tulsa’s Children’s First Mandated Persons Training.
Carol Gibbons
Room Assistant (Creche)
Carol is originally from Drummin, just outside Westport. Her background includes working as an au pair in Galway while studying childcare, and as a pre-school assistant in Sharkey Hill Westport. Carol's most recent role was as Accommodation Supervisor in Delphi Resort for 7 years before she returned to childcare.
Carol has always been passionate about taking care of children and loves to bring out the best in each child. She has 3 children of her own.
Carol is qualified in Fetac Level 5 Childcare, Paediatric First Aid, Manual Handling and she has years of previous experience working with children.
Karen Reilly
Room Leader (After-School)
Karen Reilly is originally from Athlone and has been living in Louisburgh since 2019. She has a background in education and chaplaincy work. She also worked as a creche manager for six years before moving west.
Early years education is her passion and creativity her strength, bringing a world of learning through play to the children involved in our service.
Channtel Sheridan
Room Assistant (After-School)
Channtel Sheridan is 23 years old and a mother of two from Westport. Her qualifications include Special Needs Assistant from GTI Galway in 2020. She has worked in two other after-schools in Castlebar and Westport.
Channtel loves working with children, making sure they are happy and safe in their play and that they go home happy after a day of fun at the after-school.
Ana Lazic
Room Assistant (After-School)
Ana was born in Croatia and moved to Serbia when she was 11 and lived there until 2018 when she moved to Ireland. She has worked in hospitality for the last 10 years.
She is currently studying towards Level 7 in Early Childhood Education and Care at ATU Mayo. Her qualifications include a Level 6 in Early Childhood Education and Care, Level 5 in Applied Social Studies with Psychology, Tusla’s Children’s First Mandated Person Certificate, First Aid & Patient Moving and Handling Certificate, and HSE’s “Putting New Direction into Practice” . As a part of the Erasmus + Programme, she was awarded a Certificate for successfully completing a childcare internship at Leipzig International Kindergarten.
Patricia Davitt
Aim Support Worker (Pre-school)
Patricia Davitt joined the preschool team in 2020 as an Aim Support worker. She lives in Louisburgh and has one son. She is passionate about childcare and loves creating opportunities for children to explore and learn through creative arts and crafts and sensory play.
Her qualifications include QQI Level 6 in Early Childhood Care and Education, QQI Level 6 in Special Needs Assisting, Fetac Level 5 in Childcare, Fetac Level 5 in Computerised Accounts, Bookkeeping and Payroll. She is also qualified in Lámh sign language, Paediatric First Aid, First Aid Responder training and Children’s First.
Further training includes: Educating Children with Down Syndrome, Positive Communication in Educational Settings, Autism-beyond behaviours, Hearing the Voice of the Child Through the Arts, STEAM in Early Education, Hanen Teacher Talk, Autism and Social Communication, and Positive Transitions Training.