Anne Barber is the owner and manager of Butterslip, an award winning gift shop in Kilkenny. Originally from Fermoy, Co. Cork, Anne is a graduate of Trinity College Dublin and the Michael Smurfitt Graduate School of Business at UCD.

After a career in marketing and event management, punctuated by several bouts of travelling, Anne launched her business, Butterslip in 2005 in Kilkenny city centre. In 2007 the shop moved to a larger premises and has grown from strength to strength. The shop has received extensive coverage in the national press and in 2012 won the Irish Times Best Shop in Ireland Award.
Having grown up in a family retail business, Anne is passionate about city centre retailing and working to maintain a vibrant city centre for everyone to enjoy.

Brian Keyes is the Editorial Operations Director at Iconic Newspapers Ltd. . A graduate of College of Commerce Rathmines, he is a native of Goresbridge and lives in Kilkenny City.  Brian has extensive media experience, having edited two regional newspapers. He has worked at a number of newspaper titles throughout his 25-year career including the Kilkenny People, and was Editorial Director with Johnston Press Ireland.

Deborah Broaders, Tirlán

Honorary Secretary

With more than 20 years in comms roles, Sally is an experienced public relations consultant with expertise in communications across multiple sectors, including non-profit organisations, community groups, tech, retail, hospitality, and tourism.
Sally has enjoyed a long relationship with the Kilkenny Chamber, having worked on the Kilkenny Business Awards for 10 years. Career highlights include developing a craft tourism experience and attending ‘Meitheal’, appearing on the QVC home shopping channel and finalising in the Blog Awards Ireland.

Sally is client-focused and passionate about telling their stories.

Colin Ahern is a native of County Limerick and has been living in Kilkenny with his family since 2006. He has been a Hotel General Manager for over 15 years, working in 4 and 5-star hotels in Ireland, Northern Ireland, and mainland Europe and he has been General Manager of the Kilkenny Ormonde Hotel since 2009. A graduate of TCD and DIT, Cathal Brugha Street, Colin is completing a Diploma in HR Strategy at the IMI.

Colin is a current board member of Kilkenny Tourism, BITA, and Trail Kilkenny and is a member of the IBEC Regional Executive Committee in the South East. He has previously served on National Council of the Irish Hotels Federation and was Chairman of Kilkenny Tourism from 2013-2016.

Gary Graham is originally from Rathfarnham in Dublin, Educated in St Marys College CSSP Rathmines, came to Kilkenny in 1982/83 and did the ICES in Thomastown. He went to College of Marketing and Design in Parnell Square. He served his time in the shoe trade in Limerick, before returning to the family business in Dublin working with his father. Gary opened his first concession in 1989 at the Monster House in Kilkenny and then opened his first branch of Graham Shoes in 1992 on High Street follow by Friary St in 1994, Carlow in 1997, Naas in 2004 and Clonmel in 2007, He now has 7 stores employing 30 people and runs the company with his brother Steve and sister Jenny. Gary is married with 4 children and was co-opted onto the board of the chamber in 2011.

Tom O’Connor was Managing Partner of O’Neill Foley for over 20 years. He joined the practice in 1978 having previously worked with BDO Binder Hamlyn (now BDO Simpson Xavier) in Dublin. Tom has extensive experience in advising clients in the agricultural, retail, leisure, property, manufacturing and healthcare sectors. He also has a proven track record in delivering value for clients. As Managing Partner, he was responsible for increasing the size of the practice to a position whereby it is now the largest independent firm of accountants in the South East of Ireland and employs over 40 staff. Tom now runs his own business and management consultancy, Poto Consulting Ltd.  He is the longest serving member of the Board going back to the eighties.