Every successful entrepreneur and business owner reaches a crossroads where wealth becomes more than personal achievement. It becomes opportunity. The Philanthropy Ireland Podcast explores the profound question that keeps many of these awake at night: How can success create lasting change beyond my lifetime?

Join us for intimate conversations with business leaders who've discovered that giving isn't just about writing cheques, it's about writing the next chapter of their life's story. Through candid interviews, you'll hear how philanthropy has transformed Irish communities and enriched the lives of the givers themselves in ways they never anticipated.

Coming this September to Apple, Spotify and YouTube.

How do you go from founding one of Europe’s most disruptive airlines to transforming Ireland’s approach to giving? 

In this episode, Dr. Dec Ryan—first CEO of Ryanair and founder of the One Foundation—talks candidly about what drove him to philanthropy, the lessons he learned from both failure and success, and why he believes Irish giving needs to be bolder, smarter, and less afraid to break a few eggs. 

From mental health to migrant rights to rural bookshops, Dec shares the stories behind his biggest projects, his no-nonsense philosophy on charity, and what really matters when you want to make an impact.

If you’ve ever wondered what real, purposeful giving looks like—or what’s holding it back—this is the episode for you.

THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT

• What sparked Dec Ryan’s shift from Ryanair to philanthropy
• Why the One Foundation chose a “spend-down” approach
• How personal experience shaped their mental health giving
• What Ireland gets wrong (and right) about supporting migrants
• Lessons learned from failures, and how to actually make an impact

GUEST DETAILS

Dec founded The One Foundation in 2004. He was inspired by Dale Carnegie and Chuck Feeney, especially the latter’s concept of “giving while living”. The One Foundation was named after the U2 song “One” which contains the lyric “We carry each other”. Dr Ryan is also the founder and Managing Partner of Irelandia Aviation which has built 5 low-cost carriers to date incluidng Ryanair.

MORE INFORMATION

Looking to learn more about the power of strategic giving and effecting real change? Visit https://www.philanthropy.ie/ to learn more.
The Philanthropy Ireland Podcast is produced by DustPod.io

QUOTES

• I’m not mad on the word philanthropy—love the word giving. – Dr Dec Ryan
• Sometimes when you throw 50 grand at a charity, it floods them… You think they’re able for it, and sometimes they’re not. – Dr Dec Ryan
• One of the best measures of success is that they don’t need us anymore. – Dr Dec Ryan
• If people got 10% of the crack I got out of the crew, you’d do it every day. – Dr Dec Ryan
• You have to break a few eggs along the way. Failure isn’t frustrating—it’s just part of the process. – Dr Dec Ryan

KEYWORDS

#Philanthropy #GivingBack #MentalHealth #IrishCharity #Impact #SocialChange #Leadership

Fresh from selling his business for €150 million, James Murphy faced a life-changing question: what do you do with wealth that feels like “too much to keep”? 

In this candid conversation, James shares how he and his family turned a business exit into the Life’s Too Good Foundation, a structured approach to giving that has supported projects from consent education in Irish universities to girls’ entrepreneurship in Malawi and climate action in the West of Ireland. 

Blending business discipline with deep social purpose, James reveals what he’s learned about impact, family, and why structured philanthropy matters more than ever.

THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT

• Turning a €150m business exit into a force for good.
• Why James Murphy believes structured giving matters more than one-off donations.
• How family values and legacy shape the Life’s Too Good Foundation.
• The business mindset Murphy brings to philanthropy — structure, due diligence, and strategy.
• Stories from flagship projects: consent education in Galway, girls’ empowerment in Malawi, and climate action in the West of Ireland.
• Balancing wealth, responsibility, and humility while keeping a low profile.
• Advice for anyone considering philanthropy — from exits to everyday giving.

GUEST DETAILS

James Murphy is the Founder and CEO of Lifes2good, having set-up the company in 1997. Born in Galway, he attended St. Jarlath’s College in Tuam and then attained a B. Comm in NUIG before qualifying as a Chartered Accountant in 1986. James then moved to Brussels where he worked for Coopers & Lybrand. He returned to Ireland in 1991 to join BMR-Slendertone where he built the brand, and then he sold out his participation in 1997 to start up Lifes2good.

Under James leadership, Lifes2good has grown from a small distribution company to a global enterprise. James made the company’s first acquisition in the UK in 2003. In 2007 he acquired the Viviscal brand when this business had a turnover of €700k. The company continued to grow with further expansion throughout Europe and the US. Lifes2good grew the business worldwide with offices in Ireland, UK, USA, Canada, Australia and Portugal. The Viviscal business grew to €50m in 2016 and in January 2017, Lifes2good successfully sold the Viviscal brand to the US Conglomerate Church & Dwight for €150m.

James is a believer in lifelong learning. He has attended the Leadership 4 Growth programme at Stanford University in California and he continues to follow Business Development programmes in the IMI. He was one of the finalists in the Ernst &Young Entrepreneur of the Year programme in 2013.

James has supported worthy causes in Galway down through the years and visited Kenya in 2005 and supported small local businesses in Nairobi slums. He set up Lifes2good Foundation in 2017.  The main sectoral focus of the Foundation is on vulnerable women and children but he also has an interest in supporting organisations working in active and vibrant communities that can positively impact on the society around them. The main geographical focus of the Foundation is on Galway / West of Ireland and two developing countries.

MORE INFORMATION

Looking to learn more about the power of strategic giving and effecting real change? Visit https://www.philanthropy.ie/ to learn more.

The Philanthropy Ireland Podcast is produced by DustPod.io 

QUOTES

•  "I just felt that that was far too much money for me personally to have and to keep and to invest." – James Murphy
•  "Everybody talks about an overnight success. It was an overnight success in 10 years– James Murphy 
•  "We've just far too much wealth and we need to start giving it away and doing something really different." – James Murphy
•  "You want the best people, you have to pay them properly — charity is no different." – James Murphy
•  "We don’t just bring funds, we bring structure, reporting, and due diligence — that comes from business." – James Murphy
•  "It’s not all about passing wealth on. What matters is showing the next generation how to do good with it." – James Murphy

KEYWORDS

#Philanthropy #GivingBack #Impact #WealthWithPurpose #StructuredGiving #FamilyLegacy #SocialImpact #BusinessForGood #JamesMurphy #LifeTooGoodFoundation

In this episode, Vincent Wall speaks with Maeve Cavanagh, CEO of the Tomar Trust, about the remarkable philanthropic journey started by her late father, Tom Cavanagh. Maeve shares how the Trust was built on a simple vision of “levelling the playing field” in education, rural communities, integration, and the arts — and why Tomar’s funding was always intended to be the “icing on the cake,” complementing rather than replacing other supports.

As the Trust approaches its planned sunset in 2026/27, Maeve reflects on its impact, from transformative school initiatives to creative arts projects that changed young lives. She also offers candid insights on family dynamics, the challenges of governance, and the evolving culture of philanthropy in Ireland. Above all, Maeve emphasises that real legacy is found not in buildings, but in people — and in the opportunities philanthropy makes possible.

 
THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT

•  The origins of the Tomar Trust and Tom Cavanagh’s vision of “levelling the playing field”
•  Why the Trust always aimed to be the “icing on the cake,” not a replacement for other funding
•  How family dynamics shaped Maeve’s path to chairing the Trust
•  The four pillars of Tomar’s giving: education, rural communities, integration, and the arts
•  What it means for a trust to enter “sunset mode” and plan its wind-down
•  Memorable stories of impact, from school workshops to creative arts initiatives
•  The challenges of governance, compliance, and balancing risk in philanthropy
•  Why Maeve believes true legacy is about people, not buildings

GUEST DETAILS
 

The Tomar Trust is a philanthropic trust that aims to contribute to strengthening Irish society over 10 years 2016-2026. Established in 1994 the Tomar Trust has been supporting community and voluntary activity in rural Ireland, particularly North Cork, West Waterford, Clare and Donegal and disadvantaged communities in Cork City. The Trust aims to deepen its commitment to rural Ireland, to the building of strong communities and resilient young people, and aims to address some of the big issues facing Ireland today and investing in the solutions to solve them.

MORE INFORMATION

Looking to learn more about the power of strategic giving and effecting real change? Visit https://www.philanthropy.ie/ to learn more.

The Philanthropy Ireland Podcast is produced by DustPod.io.

QUOTES

• We’ve always said there’s no room in philanthropy for any bit of ego. Everybody has to play their part. – Maeve Cavanagh
• Tomar was never about replacing funding — we were always the icing on the cake. – Maeve Cavanagh
• It’s often the projects where we’ve given the least amount of money that have had the most benefit. – Maeve Cavanagh
• Real legacy isn’t in buildings — it’s in people, and in the opportunities they’re given. – Maeve Cavanagh
• Never underestimate the impact you will have. Philanthropy enables transformation, and it does achieve that. – Maeve Cavanagh

Are young people in your community struggling to build resilience and find their direction after the disruption of recent years? Many secondary school students today face unprecedented challenges - from educational gaps to mental health concerns - leaving parents, educators, and community leaders searching for effective ways to support the next generation's development.

Imagine a community where every young person has access to the tools, mentorship, and opportunities they need to thrive. Picture teenagers who are not only academically supported but also equipped with life skills, resilience, and a sense of purpose - young people who understand their potential to make a positive impact and are empowered to become the changemakers and philanthropists of tomorrow.

Louise McElvaney and Sean McDaid, co-founders of the 5Ten Trust in Donegal, have created exactly this kind of transformative community program. Louise brings extensive HR expertise in organizational development, while Sean leverages deep community connections built over years of local engagement. 

Together, they've developed innovative approaches including peer tutoring, targeted workshops, and their groundbreaking "Pay It Forward" initiative that's turning young people into active contributors to their communities - even during the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT

• Why a global pandemic became the unexpected opportunity to transform youth mental health support in one Irish community
• How two friends turned mutual respect into a powerful formula for launching successful community initiatives
• The "Pay It Forward" strategy that transforms teenage bursary recipients into active community changemakers
• Real examples: How former students are now running social media campaigns and funding community gardens
• The proven framework for building resilience and life skills that you can adapt for your own community's young people

GUEST DETAILS

In 2020 we Co-founded 5Ten Trust, a charity set up to help young people further their education and development ambitions, by enabling them to remove barriers. 

The trust sponsors numerous education initiatives with education providers to develop resilience and address mental health challenges among children and young people in the North or Ireland.

QUOTES

• We're trying to influence them to pay it forward, for a better word of the future, with their time, talent and perhaps funding. - Louise McElvaney
• For the children, It's about giving them the confidence that they are enough, that they are capable of anything that they set their mind to. - Louise McElvaney
• if we can change someone's life early on, and instill in them the power that small changes can make in their lives, hopefully it has long, lasting and huge consequences for the community.– Sean McDaid
• We touch on hundreds of kids to help build resilience, to help them with life skills, to help them with what they're going to do next. – Louise McElvanery
• If you're wanting to help children deal with anxiety, resilience and build them into better people, you have to start somewhere. So just just start small.. – Sean McDaid

KEYWORDS

#Philanthropy Ireland, #5Ten Trust, #bursaries, #mental health, #secondary school children, #Donegal

When Ed Dunne sold Nua Healthcare after 20+ years building it into a successful social care business, he didn't just write checks to charities he got into the weeds. 

The Síol Foundation (meaning "seed") provides business models teaching organizations self-sufficiency, like Sensational Kids charging half-price for therapy services instead of giving everything free, becoming sustainable from day one without needing donations. 

From Moldova institutional care reform to co-founding Dídean challenging direct provision by housing migrant children in communities (not hotels) with 70-year-old toilet cleaners at music festivals to proactive young fathers needing support, Ed's ADHD-driven passion focuses on karma, seeing people behind problems, raising four children to recognise others' struggles, and believing money without structure often fails while €10,000 teaching self-sufficiency beats €100,000 creating dependency—all while avoiding charity registration burdens by working through Community Foundation Ireland's donor-advised structure.

THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT

• Gaisce President's Award sparked lifelong commitment to community development volunteering
• Síol Foundation provides seed capital teaching organizations self-sufficiency over dependency
• Sensational Kids became sustainable charging half-price rather than free services
• Dídean challenges direct provision system humanely supporting migrant children families
• Mountrath Bridgerdean Convent transformed into self-sustaining community hub gym workspace

GUEST DETAILS

Ed Dunne is a philanthropist, social entrepreneur, and successful businessman whose giving journey began through Gaisce (the President's Award) as a young person. 

After founding and building Nua Healthcare into a successful social care business over 20+ years (fully exiting in 2020), Ed established the Síol Foundation (Irish for "seed") to provide seed capital and business models helping organizations become self-sufficient rather than donation-dependent. 

His hands-on approach has supported projects ranging from €500 to over €1 million—from Sensational Kids (half-price therapy services sustainable from day one) to Moldova's institutional care reform, the Tala Fund supporting his hometown, and transforming Mountrath's Bridgerdean Convent into a €1 million self-sustaining community hub. 

In 2019, he co-founded Dídean (Irish for "shelter"), challenging Ireland's direct provision system by housing migrant children and families in community settings across four counties with social care support, achieving high integration rates. 

Working through Community Foundation Ireland's donor-advised structure, Ed deploys personal and family funds based on passion rather than distant check-writing, believing in karma, teaching self-sufficiency over dependency, and raising his four children to see people's struggles regardless of status—exemplified by his festival moment watching a 70-year-old toilet cleaner and wanting his legacy to be children who actually see people.

CONNECT WITH ED: 

• Síol Foundation through Community Foundation Ireland
• Dídean: Supporting migrant children and families
• Mountrath Bridgerdean Convent community project

MORE INFORMATION

Looking to learn more about the power of strategic giving and effecting real change? Visit https://www.philanthropy.ie/ to learn more.

The Philanthropy Ireland Podcast is produced by DustPod.io.

QUOTES

• That's where you'd have people saying, Look well, no, I'm sure look bad. Leave us alone. Go away. Just write a check. And that's not what I do. - Ed Dunne
• I don't particularly like donating at a distance. I don't like just giving people money and then off they go. Money isn't always the answer in projects. It doesn't always fix things. - Ed Dunne
• We sponsored all of the salaries for the year, but from day one, they were able to build those services out to people at half price. They never needed a penny to fund their salaries because the order book on the clinical services was just full. - Ed Dunne
• Whatever everybody thinks a migrant is, a 19 year old boy from a particular place coming over here to take jobs—on the most part, a significant number of these people are children and children with complex needs.. If you ask any Irish person, do you think it's okay for a child to grow up in a hotel all their life, they will go, No, - Ed Dunne

KEYWORDS

#SocialEntrepreneurship #StrategicGiving #SelfSufficiency #DirectProvisionReform #CommunityDevelopment

Rural communities across Ireland are facing a quiet crisis as young talent migrates to major cities, leaving behind a void of energy and economic stagnation. This drain of vitality threatens the very fabric of local towns, resulting in vacant shops and a loss of the communal spirit that once defined these regions.

The solution lies in leveraging entrepreneurial expertise and resources to build modern, sustainable industries that encourage the next generation to stay, work, and play locally. This episode explores how innovation hubs, collaborative funding, and mentorship can revitalise a county by creating future-proof jobs and vibrant social spaces.

Our guest is Ed Murphy, a serial entrepreneur and community philanthropist who successfully scaled and exited major franchise businesses like Home Instead and Snap Print & Design. With decades of experience in business building, he now focuses his energy on pro bono leadership and strategic investment in County Wexford’s economic and social future.

THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT

Combatting talent drain in rural Ireland
Establishing Green Tech HQ innovation hub
Mentoring local businesses to scale jobs
Collaborating with Rethink Ireland for impact
Defining the concept of "having enough"

GUEST DETAILS

Ed Murphy is a serial entrepreneur and the current President of the County Wexford Chamber of Commerce. After a successful career building and scaling major franchises including Home Instead, Snap Print & Design, and CEX, he transitioned into full-time philanthropy and community activism. 

His main skills lie in business scaling, strategic mentoring, and fostering innovation within the green energy and sustainability sectors.

Connect with Ed:

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ed-murphy-038822189/
Company: https://www.greentechhq.com/

MORE INFORMATION

Looking to learn more about the power of strategic giving and effecting real change? Visit https://www.philanthropy.ie/ to learn more.

The Philanthropy Ireland Podcast is produced by DustPod.io.

QUOTES

"If someone ends up doing philanthropy, probably it's always been part of their nature." – Ed Murphy

"I think often... people are not pulled aside and told, by the way, you probably have enough." – Ed Murphy

"The biggest risk in life is not taking a risk at all." – Ed Murphy

KEYWORDS

#RuralRegeneration #SocialImpact #SustainableEnterprise #CommunityPhilanthropy #WexfordBusiness

The move from successful family business to structured family giving presents unique challenges for continuity and strategy across generations. For the Quinn family, the sale of the Superquinn supermarket group created a new imperative to formalise their deep-rooted tradition of community support into a sustainable philanthropic model. This journey required a shift from local, sporadic donations to a targeted, investment-led approach focusing on long-term impact.

This episode explores the evolution of the Quinn Family Foundation, discussing how to establish core focus areas, the necessity of professional administration, and the vital process of engaging successive generations in decision-making and project evaluation. The conversation uncovers how their business-led ethos informs their giving and the importance of seeing charitable work live on the ground.

Joining us is Eamonn Quinn, a highly experienced retail marketeer, board member, and investor in retail technology. Eamonn is a Trustee of the Quinn Family Foundation, providing a candid look into the mechanics of multi-generational, high-impact family philanthropy in Ireland.

THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT

Early charity work embedded in Superquinn
Establishing three core pillars of giving
Managing large, multi-generational family trust
The necessity of engaging and seeing impact
Practical advice for starting a family trust

GUEST DETAILS

Eamonn Quinn is a Trustee of the Quinn Family Foundation. He is a highly experienced retail marketeer, an investor in retail-orientated technology companies, and was the former Deputy Chairman of the Superquinn Supermarket Group. Eamonn brings a keen business sensibility to measuring the effectiveness and impact of the Foundation's philanthropic ventures.

Connect with Eamonn:
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/eamonndquinn
Company: kelsius.com

MORE INFORMATION

Looking to learn more about the power of strategic giving and effecting real change? Visit https://www.philanthropy.ie/ to learn more.

The Philanthropy Ireland Podcast is produced by DustPod.io.

QUOTES

In the early days, my father would have been very anti spending money on administration, because we know it should all go to the charity, but you really find that you do have to spend some money to get the best value for what you're doing - Eamonn Quinn

We ended up really with, I suppose, three pillars in terms of what we want to do. So the first one was income generation for the very poor. Originally, that was Africa. ... And then I suppose entrepreneurship. I suppose social entrepreneurship is more so, and enough access to education... - Eamonn Quinn 

We also try and do multi annual donations. So just giving somebody a check year one and nothing the next year isn't a great idea. So we try to do it for at minimum two to three years at least. - Eamonn Quinn 

KEYWORDS

Philanthropy Ireland, Quinn Family Foundation, Fergal Quinn, social entrepreneurship, income generation, education access, family collaboration, multi-generational trust, impact measurement, community support

Navigating the landscape of corporate social responsibility can be challenging for successful public companies seeking to make a lasting environmental and societal impact. 

A clear rationale must make sense to shareholders, ensuring charitable giving is not merely a "tick the box" exercise. This episode delves into the strategic creation of a landmark corporate foundation in Ireland, the NTR corporate foundation, and explores the deployment of catalytic capital toward climate change and social enterprises. 

It also examines the governance challenges of passive spend-down models and the core philosophical difference between capital-driven decisions and need-driven philanthropy. 

Joining host Vincent Wall is senior business leader and investor Jim Barry, who brings decades of experience from his tenure as CEO of NTR, a transport, logistics, and waste company, and his senior investment role at BlackRock.

THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT

Irish culture's influence on early giving
NTR Foundation's climate change objectives
Challenges of passive spend-down model
Need is the driver for social enterprises
Structuring your personal giving strategy

GUEST DETAILS

Jim Barry is a senior business leader and investor, most recently serving almost 12 years at BlackRock, where he was the Chief Investment Officer (CIO) of BlackRock Alternative Investors (BAI), overseeing its $330bn alternative asset business. 

His core skills include accountability for investment performance and strategy across the BAI platform and building BlackRock's leading Real Assets business. 

Previously, he was CEO of NTR plc for 11 years, transforming the company into a major renewable energy infrastructure owner and operator, an experience that led to the establishment of the NTR corporate foundation.

Connect with Jim:
linkedin.com/in/jim-barry-5aba02245

MORE INFORMATION

Looking to learn more about the power of strategic giving and effecting real change? 

Visit https://www.philanthropy.ie/ to learn more.

The Philanthropy Ireland Podcast is produced by DustPod.io.

QUOTES

I do believe, as public companies and private enterprise, more generally, you need to be accepted and approved by society charitable giving… - Jim Barry

Supporting other social enterprises can be a good way of building your connectivity with society. - Jim Barry

I think if you're going to go to that effort, you need to have a very clear, medium, long term strategy as to what you're going to do. - Jim Barry

KEYWORDS #CorporatePhilanthropy #NTRFoundation #SocialEnterprise #IrelandFunds #StrategicGiving