Meet The CIS Team

We have a small Trustee and staff team that are dedicated to ensuring that the society is run well and delivers effective services.

Set up in 1993, the Coventry Irish Society provides a range of services to all generations of the Irish

community in Coventry and the surrounding areas.


We have a long tradition of helping the most vulnerable members of the Irish Community in Coventry,

and our aim is to provide a culturally sensitive service that gets the necessary help, support

and advice to as many Irish people as possible.

Trustee Board & Staff

Trustee Board


The Society has a committed and valued Trustee Board of five highly experienced individuals.


Rory Ryan, Chair

Rory is a regional manager for a large utility company who was a trustee for three years before becoming Chair in June 2019. He is third Generation Irish and is proud of his roots and equally determined to bring the younger generations into the involvement of the Society. 


Jo Addleton, Treasurer 

Jo is a retired businesswoman running a successful small business in Coventry for many years. A Trustee since 2012, he is actively involved in the business planning and future development of the Society. 


Kate McCarthy, Secretary

Kate is a senior Social Work Manager with Warwickshire Social Services. She was CIS Chair for 8 years until 2015 and hence brings great voluntary sector experience. She is noted for her communication and public speaking skills and is hugely positive about her Irish heritage. 


Kay Forrest, Trustee

Kay is a retired nurse that worked for the NHS for 40 years. She was heavily involved in the Coventry Irish Festival until its closure in 2008, and has been the lead organiser of the Coventry St. Patrick's Festival since 2003. She has huge experience as a Society Trustee, and was chair from 2001 before stepping down in 2019.


Elizabeth Flannelly, Trustee

Elizabeth is a successful businesswoman and owner of Flannelly’s Irish Club. She has co-led our Summer Ball and supports the Society’s events bringing a wealth of experience to the Charity. 


Michael Fitzgerald, Trustee

Michael is third Generation Irish and well known for his work with ‘Coventry Comhaltas’. He is also the officer for the Comhaltas Midlands Region and was the main organiser of the recent National Festival held in Coventry for the City of Culture 2021. Michael is determined to bring the Irish community together in Coventry and bring back a thriving Irish Festival in the city.

Staff Team


The Society has a dedicated team of staff without whom our services would not be possible.


Simon McCarthy, CEO

Simon is a welfare graduate with 25-years experience in Social Welfare including Social Services, Education and 15 years with the Coventry Irish Society.


Prior to his management role, he supported 350 Irish Survivors to access compensation from the Irish Redress Board. 


Kiera Forrest, PA to the Manager

Kiera is third Generation Irish and joined the Society in July 2018. She possesses excellent administrative skills and has quickly initiated some new services for CIS including an online Irish Passport Service Facility.


Kiera’s role includes finance systems, service

databases, marketing, and social media.


Nikita Smith, Case Worker

Nikita is third Generation Irish and lived in Newry, Country Down for five years from the age of nineteen. She is very passionate about her Irish Heritage and enjoys Irish dancing and listening to Irish music.


Nikita's role includes passport applications, benefits, and general welfare advice.

Help & Support

Find out more about the services that the Society provides, and how you can directly support us in our important and much needed work.

Coventry Irish Society. Charity Registration No. 1150290

A Company Limited by Guarantee and Registered in England and Wales No. 8235510

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