Ms Niamh O'Carroll

Limerick-born, Niamh O'Carroll has been interested in issues of social justice since her school days in the Salesians and the Crescent. Throughout her four years at UL, she worked with traveller children who were living on the roadside nearby. Her final year thesis was focused on Education for Traveller Children.   Following her graduation with a BA European Studies from UL in 1989, she completed postgraduate studies in Public Relations at DIT. Through a project dealing with the homeless which Niamh organised while at college, she realised the power of media in highlighting issues of social justice. 

Her first employment was the setting up of the Jesuit Communications Centre. She then spent a year as a volunteer working with Guatemalan Refugees in Mexico. On her return to Ireland, she joined Trócaire. Under her leadership, the communications and fundraising functions of Trócaire became highly professionalised and Trócaire won two National Awards for Excellence in PR. Trócaire's direct mail programme, which was managed by Niamh, won two IDMA Awards in 2001. During that time, she worked in many countries, including Rwanda, Burundi, Guatemala, Honduras and North Korea. Probably Niamh's greatest achievement was the origination and execution of the Global Gift Campaign, a new fundraising idea which has raised in excess of €20 million for Trócaire since it started and has been copied both nationally and internationally. In 1998, she was awarded a Junior Chamber of Limerick Outstanding Young Person of the Year for her work in the area of Humanitarian Assistance. 

Leaving Trócaire in 2002 and using her experience, Niamh set up her own Strategic Communications Agency specialising in supporting organisations who are working to change society. Niamh says she strives "to continue to apply the principles highlighted by Dr Ed. Walsh at my graduation of ensuring excellence and relevance in all the work that I do”. Her company has gone from strength to strength.   Former and current clients include Office of the Children's Ombudsman, Women's Aid, the Vodafone Ireland Foundation, OPEN, FLAC, TASC, Educate Together, Enable Ireland, the MS Society, the National Women's Council and the Immigrant Council. She works to ensure that these organisations - all of whom are working to create a more just society - are able to get their message out to the relevant target audiences including politicians, media and the general public.     Married to Paul O'Sullivan since 1997, Niamh is the very proud mum of Cian, Tara and Barry (all Munster fans despite being Dublin-born!). When she has spare time, she loves photography, reading and has recently taken up salsa dancing. Niamh's life-long passion and tireless contribution to social justice in Ireland and abroad is truly an inspiration to all.   

The above text is an extract from the 2009 UL Alumni Awards Souvenir Booklet.