Announcing the New Chairperson of BeLonG To Youth Services

Dominic Hannigan (he/him) has been appointed Chairperson of the Board of Directors of BeLonG To Youth Services, the national organisation supporting LGBTI+ young people.

Dominic has been a member of the BeLonG To Board for the past 10 years, and was one of the first two openly gay TDs elected to Dáil Éireann in 2011. Prior to that, he served as Senator in Seanad Éireann and as a Councillor at Meath County Council. A civil engineer by profession, Dominic works in the National Transport Authority and has 30 years of experience in the business planning sector.

Welcoming the announcement, Moninne Griffith (she/her), CEO of BeLonG To, said: “We are delighted that Dominic is taking up the role of Chair of our Board of Directors. He does so at an exciting time for the organisation, as we prepare for the launch of our new Strategic Plan in 2022. For over a decade, Dominic has been a dedicated and diligent member of our Board and a longstanding champion for our mission to support LGBTI+ young people as equals to achieve our vision through youth work, changing attitudes, and research. I am confident that he will be an outstanding Chair and look forward to working with him in his new role.”

Speaking about this appointment, Dominic Hannigan, Chair of BeLonG To, said: “I am delighted to have become Chair of BeLonG To, and I am very grateful to my Board colleagues for their support. It has been an honour to work with the Board of BeLonG To over the past 10 years, and I look forward in my new role as Chair to working further with the Board, Moninne and the team at BeLonG To as we continue to provide vital supports for LGBTI+ young people in Ireland, and advocate for their rights and safety.”

The BeLonG To Board were awarded Charity Board of the Year for the second year in a row at last week’s Charity Excellence Awards, organised by the Charities Institute Ireland. This award recognises excellence in governance, accountability and leadership by the Board of Trustees of the winning organisation.

Charities Institute Ireland commended BeLonG To’s Board of Directors for their high standards of transparency, accountability and diversity, the comprehensive and formalised induction process for new Board members, andthe annual review of the board’s effectiveness.

Ends

For more information, please contact Sinead Keane, BeLonG To Youth Services: 087 768 0389  or sinead@belongto.org

Notes to editors

• BeLonG To Youth Services is a national organisation supporting LGBTI+ young people. Since 2003, BeLonG To has worked with LGBTI+ young people to create a world where they are equal, safe and valued in the diversity of their identities and experiences. The organisation advocates and campaigns on behalf of young LGBTI+ people and offers a specialised LGBTI+ youth service including information, support, crisis counselling in partnership with Pieta House and the provision of LGBTI+ youth groups across Ireland.