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Our Board

Thomas Martin

CEO

Thomas Martin is the CEO of Commercial Mushroom Producers Co-Op Ltd since 2008. Prior to this he was a mushroom producer for over 25 years and was a member of CMP Co-op from 1999. Thomas worked as a consultant to CMP from 2006 to 2008. He assited in the day to day running of the Co-Operative some of which included drafting amendments to the Co-Op rules, drafting proposals for On Farm Investment & Environmental Actions to the 2008 Operational Programme. He was Vice Chairman from 2004 to 2006 and a Board director from 2003 to 2008. Thomas is married to Geraldine and they have 4 children. His hobbies include bowling, reading and walking and he is a member of a local histrical and Heritage society.

Michael McGovern

Chairman

Michael McGovern was first elected to the Board of CMP in 2008 and is the current chairman of the Board of CMP. His company McGovern Mushrooms Ltd started in 1993 and he is responsible for all aspects of its operations. He served on CMP Project committee in 2009. Michael has extensive experience of the Co-Op movement spanning over 30 years and has served on the Board of Lakeland Daires Ltd and is currently also on the Board of Goldenvale Marts Ltd. Michael is an active member of the IFA executive and served in many capacities the most recent being County Chairman of Leitrim IFA. He also lists beef and sheep farming as his other business interests. He resides in Corglass, Co. Leitrim with his wife Mary and two teenage daughters. His hobbies include politics and reading.

Gerry Reilly

Secretary

Gerry Reilly is the elected secretary of the board of CMP and has been a member for two years. He was elected for a 3 year term in 2009. He is CMP's delegate to ICOS, the umbrella organisation for co-operatives in Ireland. He also served on CMP Project committee in 2009. He started his family run business, Reilly Mushrooms Ltd., in 1988 with his wife Mary. Starting off with three standard sized tunnels, they expanded to seven tunnels within five years. Gerry's son Kevin now oversees most of the operation, although his other three adult children have all spent time working on the farm too. Gerry and his wife like to take skiing holidays every year when their schedules allow.

Brian O'Reilly

Vice Chairman

Brian O'Reilly started his mushroom farm in 1999. He was involved with Tipperary Mushroom growers organisation from 1998 until it despanded in 2003. He then joined CMP in 2004. He was elected to the Board of CMP in 2003, elected as vice chairman in Dec 2006 and became acting Chairman in July 2007. He was elected Chairman in 2008 and served in this role until December 2009 during which time he also Chaired the CMP Project committee. He has also performed the role of acting CEO from September 2007 until October 2008. He is currently Vice Chairman of the Board of CMP and Chairman of the IFA Horticulture committee and Chairman of the IFA Mushroom committee. Brian also recently switched from white production to chestnut/brown production on his mushroom farm. He is married to Lucy and they have 2 children, they enjoy traveling in Ireland and short city breaks and likes reading, gardening and golf.

James Hickey

Board Member

James Hickey is the owner of Jabre Ltd. and has been in the mushroom business for over ten years. He recently switched from white production to chestnut/brown production on his mushroom farm and he is also a cereal farmer. He is currently a member on the Investment sub committee. He and his wife Breda have five children, he likes to play golf in his spare time. He lives in Outroth, Cahir, Co. Tipperary.

Derek Speares

Board Member

Derek Speares is a mushroom grower for the last seventeen years and he has dedicated his career exclusively to the mushroom business. He is also a former member of the Investment sub committee and represents the Board of CMP on the mushroom committee of the IFA. He is a GAA fan and is a native of Carrickateane, Ballyhaise, Co. Cavan.

Declan Goldrick

Board Member

Declan Goldrick of Cappagh Mushrooms Ltd. started off in the mushroom business in 1988 in partnership with his brother Johnny. Cappagh Mushrooms Ltd specialises in flat mushroom production. This is his second term as a director of CMP. He and his wife Gwen have two sons and live in Ballyheelan, Co. Cavan. Declan enjoys reading and GAA.

Sam Condell

Board Member

Sam Condell has worked in the mushroom industry from the early 1970's.  He was a farm manager in Dudgeon Brothers for 18 years.  He went on to start his own business in 1985 with 2 tunnels and currently has 8 tunnels on dutch shelving.  He also runs a dry stock enterprise.  This is Sam's second term as a director on the Board. He is married to Ann, a nurse, and they have 3 children.  His favourite hobby is watching various sports on TV.

Cathal Reilly

Board Member

Cathal Reilly of Lakeside Mushrooms Ltd. began his farming career in 1997. He is particulary interested in innovation and currently has a pilot Heat Recovery Ventilation (HRV) system running on his farm. Cathal is serving his first term as a director on the Board elected in 2009 and is a curernt member of the Investment sub committee. He is married to Martina with six children (two boys and four girls), and his hobbies include GAA and reading.

Peter Connolly

Board Member

Peter Connolly's career in the mushroom business began in 1982. He has been involved with all aspects of Cornalaragh Mushrooms Ltd. including packaging, quality, employment agreements and investments. This is Peter's first term as a director with CMP. He lives in Cornalaragh, Monaghan and is married to Kathleen and they have 3 children (and two grandchildren). In his spare time he enjoys hill climbing, golf and soccer.

Tom Sweeney

Board Member

Tom Sweeney started his mushroom production business in 1999  with 5 standard tunnels and built 3 large tunnels in 2005, in 2006 he raised his original 5 tunnels to the same standard and added an additional tunnel in 2010.  He was a member of Tipperary Mushroom growers organisation.  In addition to his mushroom business he runs a calf to beef farming enterprise and a funeral business.  Tom is serving his first term as a director on the Board.  He is married to Eleanor and they have 4 children and his main hobby is GAA.