Originally from: Shankill, Dublin

Craig O'Halloran brings a wealth of professional experience and a passion for fostering community to his new role. Craig is a Design Manager at the world's most influential architecture and design firm, Gensler. In addition to co-managing a workplace studio, he leads the firm's Professional Services Practice Area for the region. Craig's work has taken him all over the world, with his contribution to the repositioning of Chicago's Willis Tower as a standout career highlight.

Hailing from Shankill, Dublin and a DIT Bolton Street alum, Craig arrived in Chicago in 2016 via London. You will find him all around Chicago trying out the latest restaurants and bars as well as playing and watching anything sport related.

Outgoing President Ruairí Barnwell stated, “I could not be more confident in the future of Ireland Network Chicago with Craig on board as our new President. There are so many exciting things on the horizon and with the support of our Executive Committee, Advisory Board, newly-appointed Treasurer Laura Clancy, and Executive Director Margaret Rose Keating, Craig is the perfect candidate to lead Ireland Network’s mission and vision for the next two years.”

Craig's commitment to Ireland Network Chicago is fueled by his dedication to strengthening connections within the Irish community. Under his leadership, the network aims to continue its mission of making connections, supporting community, and celebrating Irish culture and heritage in Chicago - the crossroads of Irish America.

Originally from: Glen Ellyn, IL

Meghan Lee has been on the Ireland Network committee since 2021, focusing on branding development and membership growth. Over the years, she has been involved with Chicago's Irish-American non-profit community in a variety of roles, including President of the Young Irish Fellowship Club, Volunteer and Graphic Designer for the Irish American Heritage Center, Graphic Designer for the Irish Fellowship Club, and Steering Committee/Gala Chair for The Ireland Funds-Chicago Young Leaders. She is passionate about donating her time and talent to organizations whose missions align with her values, and about making long-lasting connections with people in the Irish-American community of Chicago. 

Professionally, Meghan is Creative Director for the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago, where she oversees all creative work across the Y’s brand, campaigns, and marketing and communications. She has more than 20 years experience as a graphic designer, and brings a well-rounded and strategic approach to branding. Over her career, she has designed for B2B and B2C clients including Vaughan Hospitality Group and the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, as well as financial services, real estate, and healthcare industries. Meghan’s branding expertise is executed in projects such as logo design, identity development, brochures, advertising, direct mail, newsletters and website design, and shares her experience to help raise awareness and grow the Ireland Network. 

Originally from: Listowel, County Kerry

Julianne is the Director for Business Development at Invest Northern Ireland. Her role involves working closely with companies in the Chicago area and across the Midwest that are considering setting up an office in the UK or Europe, to complement their existing US operations.

Julianne grew up in Listowel, County Kerry but also has strong ties to County Roscommon.  Her husband, Martin, is also from Listowel and they moved to Chicago together in 2017. Julianne attended Trinity College Dublin and Queen’s University, Belfast.

Julianne is mom to Layla (4) and Adelina (2) and spends all her time outside of work at playparks, ice skate lessons, swim and gymnastics. Bringing her little girls back to Ireland to see family is very important to Julianne and they get back to Ireland at least 3 times a year.

Originally from: Dundalk, Co Louth

Dean Arrowsmith hails from Dundalk, Co Louth (via Cavan) currently works at Chicago Fire FC in Major League Soccer as Manager of Soccer In The Community. With 17 years experience in the professional sports industry that began with his hometown club Dundalk FC, he has become a leader in building programming that utilizes sport to impact local communities and create club/community relations.

Dean is also a keen mental health advocate and fundraiser and in 2020, founded Head In The Game, a mental health sports advocacy group which has gained international recognition. Dean now resides in North Riverside with his wife Emily and Daughter Fiadh. In his spare time, Dean is a keen runner and often uses his running to raise funds for parental bereavement causes in memory of his first daughter, Charli Mae.

Originally from: Dublin

Rebecca Clarke is thrilled to join the Executive Committee for the Ireland Network Chicago and contribute to the organization’s mission of fostering meaningful connections across the Irish-American community. Originally from Leopardstown in Dublin, Ireland, Rebecca moved to the states 12 years ago and found a home in the beautiful Windy City. 

Professionally, Rebecca is a Senior Manager at Accenture, where she specializes in marketing transformation and generative AI. She partners with global clients to reinvent how marketing teams operate through emerging technologies, data-driven strategies, and human-centered innovation. Rebecca earned her MSc from the Business School at Trinity College, Dublin and has spent her career at the intersection of technology, creativity, and business growth.

Outside of work, Rebecca enjoys exploring Chicago’s culinary scene, finding the best martini in the city, lakefront walks, brunch with friends and spending time with her beloved dog. She also has a keen interest in wellness, fashion, and travel. 

Originally hailing from the suburbs of Boston, Kerrianne has found her home in Chicago. Her mother is from Ferbane, Offaly and her father is from Lettergesh, Galway. She is a proud dual citizen and is grateful to have spent many childhood summers in Connemara and tries to visit as often as possible. 

Kerrianne attended the University of Notre Dame, earning an undergraduate degree in Accountancy with a minor in Irish language and literature in 2018 and completing a master’s degree in accountancy with an emphasis in taxation in 2019. Although she was lucky enough to study Irish in the Donegal Gaeltacht and complete an internship at the National Folklore Collection at UCD - she regrettably admits that her Irish is now very rusty. 

She now works at EY as a tax accountant - specializing in private client services with an emphasis in individual, trust and partnership taxation. 

Originally from: Crossgar, Co. Down

Originally from Crossgar, Co. Down, Ellen made the move to Chicago in 2021 and quickly found a home within its vibrant Irish community. A proud alumna of Queen’s University Belfast, she holds a degree in Food Science as well as a Master’s in Marketing. 

Ellen works at EverPass, where she helps bring live sports and entertainment to businesses in fresh, impactful ways. She enjoys blending strategy with creativity to build connections between brands and their customers.

Ellen is passionate about fostering a friendly space for Irish expats and friends of Ireland in the city. Whether connecting people, sharing stories, or celebrating Irish culture, she’s proud to help create a sense of home - even from across the Atlantic.

 

Originally from Belfast, Co. Antrim

From Belfast, Co. Antrim with family ties to Co. Derry and Co. Fermanagh, Rory grew up in Dubai, U.A.E. He moved to the U.S. in 2009 to attend the University of Notre Dame before moving to Chicago in 2013 to attend Loyola University Chicago School of Law. A member of the Ireland Network since 2013, he joined the Executive Committee in 2020. He is an attorney in the General Counsel’s Office of RSM US LLP specializing in Privacy, AI and Cybersecurity law. A rugby man, Rory played for the University of Notre Dame and continues to spend his summers playing for their alumni 7’s team the Krakens. Rory frequently travels back to Ireland to spend time with his family and attend Ireland and Ulster rugby matches.

 

Originally from: Co. Mayo, Ireland

Originally from County Mayo, Ireland, Frank Cosgrave relocated to the US in 2013. As an Account Manager at EOS IT Solutions, he has demonstrated a high level of technical sales expertise and a strong commitment to securing optimal deals for his global customers. Frank's experience in IT sales and negotiation, combined with his adept problem-solving skills, ensures clients consistently achieve the best possible outcomes.

His perspective, shaped by both his Irish heritage and his professional journey, adds a unique and beneficial dimension to his contributions. Frank lives in La Grange with his wife Jane and their two children, Mia and Darragh.

Kristen Field is thrilled to be active in the Chicago Irish American community including serving on the Executive Committee of The Ireland Network Chicago, as a member of Old St. Patrick's Church & Crossroads Marathoner. Through her Southside Irish roots, Kristen also spent time serving on the board of the Young Irish Fellowship Club and the Ireland Funds Young Leaders Board. 

Professionally, Kristen currently serves as the Executive Director of Friends of Prentice committed to superior healthcare spanning the full spectrum of a woman’s life. Through her extensive work in community engagement & public service, Kristen's clients have included EA to Sipi Metals CEO, New Coast Foundation, Lincoln Park Community Services, The Women's Justice Institute, serving as the Chief of Staff to Lifeway Foods CEO & as Director of Expansion for Step Up. Previously, Kristen worked as Director of Finance & Campaign Manager for an Aldermanic Election in Chicago's 38th Ward. Kristen also served the U.S. national non-profit, Step Up as Senior Manager for Member Programs working extensively in strategic partnerships, fundraising, events, community relations, professional development, all while supporting high school girls from under-resourced communities become confident, college bound, & career-focused. As a graduate student, she partnered as outreach/development intern at a HIV/AIDS clinic in Nairobi, Kenya, completed The Program for Management: Community & Voluntary Services at All Hallows College in Dublin & conducted her Capstone volunteering/researching in Haiti post 2010 earthquake. Kristen began her career as an Educational Leadership Consultant for Delta Zeta.

Kristen holds a MS in Public Service Management from DePaul University, Non-Profit Certificate from University of Notre Dame, & BS in Political Science & Pre-Law from Eastern Illinois University. Kristen’s passion is social justice & advocates for peace, healthcare, & equality especially concerning women, children & refugees. In late 2020, Kristen was named 26 Most Influential Chicagoans for her extensive contributions to the community. 

 

Originally from: Dublin

Proudly from the northside of Dublin, John is the youngest of six children. After completing a degree in Business Studies from the Institute of Art, Design and Technology (IADT) in Dun Laoghaire, he moved to America in 2007. 
 
 Following stints in Public Relations and Marketing, John landed in healthcare advertising working for Boston-based LehmanMillet which eventually rebranded as Precision AQ. Throughout his 14-year career at Precision John held roles in digital strategy, general management and omnichannel activation. 
 
 In 2025, John transitioned client side taking on the role of VP of Marketing at Elephas. A Madison, WI based oncology diagnostic company developing a predictive platform for cancer treatment. 
 
 A two-time member of IN Chicago since 2016, John lives in Lake View and is excited to help the IN Executive Committee in multiple areas to drive membership and support the Irish community throughout Chicago. 

 

Originally from: Arranmore Island

Caroleann Gallagher is a seasoned personal injury attorney and a Partner at the Law Firm of Coogan Gallagher. Originally from Arranmore Island, off the coast of Donegal, she brings a global legal perspective and over two decades of experience to her work. Her practice focuses on medical malpractice, nursing home abuse, trucking and construction accidents, and serious workplace injuries.

Caroleann earned her law degree from the National University of Ireland – Galway and was admitted as a Solicitor to The Law Society of Ireland in 2004. After moving to Chicago in 2009, she passed the Illinois Bar in 2011 and has been practicing in the state ever since.

She currently serves as the Vice President of the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois and will ascend to President of the Organization in 2026 . Caroleann has been elected to the Board of Manager of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association and serves on several committees within the Illinois State Bar Association, including the Women in the Law Committee and the Judicial Evaluation Committee. Caroleann is also the founding member of Women’s Irish Network Chicago (WINC), a networking community for Irish and Irish American professionals, which she has chaired since 2023

Deeply rooted in the Irish American community, Caroleann lives on Chicago’s Northwest Side with her Limerick born husband Patrick and their two daughters. Caroleann and her family are very involved in promoting GAA in Chicago and she currently serves as the Public Relations Officer of Chicago Celtics Youth Gaelic Football Club, Limerick-Chicago Youth Hurling Club, and the Chicago Youth GAA Board.

 

Darren hails from the seaside town of Warrenpoint in County Down, nestled between the Mourne Mountains and Carlingford Lough. With family roots in Newtownhamilton, South Armagh, he proudly supports both counties in their Ulster and All-Ireland GAA Championship runs.

He moved to the U.S. in 2006 after graduating from Queen’s University Belfast with a degree in Business Information Technology. He started out in Washington, DC, working in technology for nearly eight years before being dragged to Chicagoland by his Evanstonian wife, Bevitt. They now live in Evanston with their two daughters, Lila and Mollie.

He is the Co-owner and CTO of 3Advance, a digital agency that primarily partners with nonprofits and startups. Outside of work, Darren plays football (the soccer kind) a couple of times a week and coaches his youngest daughter’s AYSO U8 team. He’s also a passionate Gaelic football supporter and remains proud of his sporting peak—playing for County Down’s U12 team.

 

Originally from: Southside of Chicago

Connor is a lifelong Chicagoan who enjoys celebrating his Irish heritage through volunteer organizations like the Ireland Network. He currently lives in the Pilsen neighborhood, but spends plenty of time in Beverly, where he grew up and many of his friends and family call home. Connor has worked in the special event/hospitality industry for over 15 years, playing a part in many of Chicago's largest and premier events including the Chicago Marathon, Taste of Chicago, Lollapalooza, and the Cub’s and Blackhawk’s victory parades/rallies. Currently, he serves as the Deputy Director of Media Logistics on the Venue Operations team for Democratic National Convention Committee. 

 

Erin McCarthy is an associate professor of history at Columbia College Chicago with areas of expertise in sport history and oral history. This summer, she starts a year-long fellowship with the HistoryMakers, the largest digital repository of African-American oral histories, headquartered here in Chicago. McCarthy was born on the Southside (St. Philip Neri), and she and her husband, Ray, live in Wilmette where they raised their now grown daughter, JJ.

As an undergrad at the University of Illinois, Champaign, she spent her junior year studying abroad at Trinity College, Dublin; she received her doctorate from Loyola University Chicago. She can’t count the times she’s been to Ireland and has been a member of INC since 2023. Favorite event? The IN Ball, of course!

Originally from Co. Clare, Denise grew up with regular visits from her many Irish-American relatives in Chicago. Now, more than a decade into living in Chicago herself, she’s proud to be part of a community that celebrates those same traditions of connection and cultural pride.

Professionally, Denise is an Associate Director on the Consumer team at Yelp, where she leads initiatives that help people discover and connect with great local businesses. Her work blends strategy, technology, and AI to drive user engagement and business growth. She holds an MSc in Marketing from NUI Galway and a Bachelor of Business from GMIT.

A passionate advocate for mentorship and helping others navigate opportunity, Denise is excited to contribute to the Ireland Network Chicago and support its mission of fostering meaningful relationships across the Irish community.

 

Originally from: Derry, N. Ireland

Cahir O'Doherty is the Director of Digital Marketing & Channel Strategy at Ricoh, overseeing web development teams across North America. He brings nearly two decades of experience in digital marketing and technology to his role.

He earned an honors degree from the University of Liverpool and a Master of Science from the University of Ulster. Originally from Derry, Ireland, Cahir has lived in Chicago since 2016. In his free time, he enjoys life in Beverly with his wife Meghan and their three young boys.

Originally from: East Dundee, IL 

David is thrilled to be nominated to the Ireland Network Chicago Executive Committee for 2024-2025.  

David is the grandson of Robert & Patricia Flood.  They first introduced him to Ireland in the summer of 1997 where he traveled to the Emerald Isle with his grandparents and mother Colleen for the very first time.  It was on that trip where the love affair officially began. 

In 2001, David attended the Institute of Public Administration in Dublin, Ireland for a semester where he studied Irish politics and had an internship with John Perry, TD for Fine Gael party. 

Professionally, David is an Enterprise Sales Director at Everest Transportation Systems where he specializes in providing carrier capacity for drayage moves and full truckload shipments throughout the US and Canada.  He has held this role for almost 20 years with 3 different organizations during that time period.

During the summer months, you can catch David at Wrigley Field cheering on his beloved Cubs team or at a city street fest taking in the beautiful Chicago summer weather. He loves to travel and spend time with his 2 nephews and niece. 

Originally from: Vancouver, BC Canada

Ashley Summers-Baker is a Program Manager, Sales Force Effectiveness and a National Enterprise Resource Group leader at BMO US. Raised in Vancouver, BC Canada, Ashley has family in Strabane, County Tyrone and obtained Irish citizenship in 2007.

Prior to joining BMO US, Ashley enjoyed a global career in music performance, composition and education. She completed a Masters in Music from Indiana University in 2012 and moved to Chicago shortly after, where she expanded her focus to non-profit program management and continued teaching. She joined Ireland Network Chicago's Executive Committee in 2024 and has immensely enjoyed the opportunity to engage with our Irish community through thought-provoking events and unforgettable celebrations.

Ashley currently resides with husband Chris and their miniature schnauzer, Úna, in Roscoe Village.