Marie McDonnell joined An Óige in the 1960’s and since then has been active in the Association on many levels. She co-ordinates the Weekly Hillwalking activities and is Treasurer of the Photographic Group which runs our Annual successful Photographic Exhibition in the National Botanic Gardens. She is also on the Environmental Conservation Committee and serves the Board in her role as Company Secretary.

Philip worked for many years as a warehouse operative and currently acts a carer to his elderly father. Joining An Óige in the 1990’s, he is an avid hillwalker with a great interest in natural history. He joined and became secretary of the An Óige Environmental Conservation group in 2004 and has acted as a one of its representatives on the An Óige National Council for the past four years. In December 2016 Philip was co-opted to the Board of An Óige.

Lawrence got involved in An Oige – Youth Hostels many moons ago and used youth hostels in India with youth clubs in high school and college. He hitch hiked with brother and high school buddy back June 1996 from Cork to Galway using An Oige Hostels with college discount partnered with the ISIC (International Student Identity Card). Born in Kuwait now naturalised Irish national after 26 years in September 2020, travelled around middle east – Bahrain, Dubai, Oman, Kuwait, Iraq (by ship in 1990 from port Um Qasr Iraq to Mumbai), Cyprus, Jerusalem, India, YHA UK hostels in college with buddies on weekend breaks, El Capitan Yosemite, Hostel International in DC USA, Canada, Slovakia, France, Germany and few road trips. He enjoys traveling, swimming, cycling, hiking, walking, exploring new places, museums, heritage sites on his weekends in Ireland or around the globe. I love Howth head, Enniskerry Wicklow, the Ring of Kerry(Cahersiveen) and Inch in Donegal.

Lawrence did Business Studies in Griffith College Dublin and Post Graduate Diploma in Internet Systems in Dublin Institute of Technology. After college he travelled on various projects with Embassies, promoting Hotel offers, Business blogs in Oman Daily Observer in Oman, Dubai and Dublin. During his day time job is an Analyst for a small finance company in Dublin for the last 13 years and helps out in various roles within the company. He helps out with Volunteer coordinators group and manages the Volunteer database.Lawrence has been Volunteer director of local property management company in Dublin 15. He also volunteer’s facilitator with local Foroige Club in Dublin 15 since January 2019, he volunteers as steward with event volunteers the odd weekend in Dublin. He hopes to do road trip from Dublin to Singapore using HI family hostels along the way.