Governance

Sarah Thornton, Chair

I’m Artistic Director of Collective Encounters, a UK based arts organisation specialising in Theatre for Social Change. My background is in bringing professional artists together with young people and communities, using the arts to explore their ideas and create exciting performances that reach new audiences. My son has been a member of Cloughjordan Circus Club for 7 years and I have seen their excellent creative process, nurturing support, ambitious projects and outstanding performances first hand. I was so impressed that I joined the board in 2015 and am currently Chairperson, supporting the team to grow the organisation strategically and extend their outreach work.

Jenny Fox

I am Jenny. I work as a visual artist, primarily an abstract painter. My son has been a member of circus for 6 years and still loves it, he is now on the Peer Tutor programme. Circus is one of the few things that has held his enthusiasm and his engagement, it has been a pleasure to watch him grow. I’ve even taken part in Jo’s adult classes and am now a master of static trapeze, I mean novice not master, always get those two mixed up. I became a member of Cloughjordan Circus Board about 2 years ago because The Circus Club is a fantastic asset to the region, and I wanted to contribute in some way.

Martin Maguire

I’m originally from Dublin and have been living in Cloughjordan since 2007. I have worked in theatre and performance as a writer, actor, director, teacher and adjudicator in Ireland, Scotland, Belgium, France, USA and Sri Lanka. I’ve performed in many venues around the country and taken roles in many popular tv series.
I am a former member and former chair of Castaway Actors Agency. I have been associated with the Gaiety School of Acting for more than twenty five years and I’m a former reader for the Abbey Theatre. In 2018 I set up Theatre on The Edge in Cloughjordan, which has produced two original pieces of work with social and political themes, working with a mixture of local performers, professional and amateur.

For the last three years I have been working with writers and actors in The Source theatre in Thurles on a series of projects with a view to developing new talent and building towards producing full productions of indigenous theatre.

I am a former board member and chair of Cloughjordan Ecovillage and I’m a current board member of the Cloughjordan Ecovillage Service company.

Suzanne O’Brien

Member of Cloughjordan Circus Club Board 2011- Sept 2021.

My name is Suzanne O’Brien and I am proud to be part of Cloughjordan Circus Club and a member of the board as treasurer. I have been connected with the club since it’s start in 2010, 3 of our 4 children have been participants and my eldest is part of the peer tutor programme.

I come from a sporting background and I like that circus is so physical and encourages a team spirit. It’s a prefect way of mixing a physical activity with creativity. The biggest life lesson children learn in circus is the acceptance that things don’t always work out but you don’t give up, you simply pick yourself up, take a breath and try again.

Hi, I’m Margo and I am delighted to be a board member of the Cloughjordan Circus Club since May 2019. My work is community based and I see the principles of community development threaded through the everyday work of the Circus: inclusion, equality, respect for diversity, empowerment and active participation. The young people’s voices are integral to every process and decision as CJ Circus evolves and grows. I joined the board because I see CJ Circus has a valuable role in our community and offers something else and different which can be very special for our young people.

I first became involved when 2 of my children became members. Through the years they were involved they got to participate in many shows, attempted many and mastered some of the creative circus skills with lots of laughter. One highlight was a trip to Belfast to the Festival of Fools a few years ago and I got to go as a volunteer, it was full of fun and laughter.

Cloughjordan Circus Club gave many benefits to my girls by offering activities that are physical, social (well beyond the years of being a member), and fun plus I saw them gain confidence and belief in their abilities in a creative way.

Linda Austin

Hi I’m Linda Austin. As a member of Cloughjordan Circus board my involvement includes overseeing child protection. My daughter has been a member of Cloughjordan Circus since it started ten years ago and continues to benefit the social interaction that it brings.

I am a Tipperary native and Chartered Accountant by profession having trained with PwC in Canada before moving to London in 1999 to pursue a career in banking.

Areas of expertise are financial control, risk management and corporate governance.

I currently split my time between Dublin and Tipperary. I joined the board of Cloughjordan Circus Club in 2022 as Treasurer.

I’m Fiona Nolan, a mother of 2 adult sons and I worked for more than 20 years as a community artist, arts consultant and trainer, in particular in Dublin’s Sherriff St with the Balcony Belles, in Fatima Mansions and Dolphin House. More recently I also worked as a community development worker and ran the Counselling service in Silver Arch FRC in Nenagh.

I know the value of the arts in empowering people and developing the creativity that can give individuals and communities a whole new perspective and energy for life. This was my own experience and I have seen this demonstrated many times.

For this reason, I’m delighted to have joined the Board of the Cloughjordan Circus Club. Cloughjordan is very lucky to have a resource of this quality that develops the confidence, skill and connection to community that the Circus Club provides.

Former board roles include Calypso Theatre Company (Human Rights based theatre company), Actors Centre, Dublin and Ecovillage Chairperson and Board member.