Meet the Friends of Donegal Giving

I’m Nicola and I’ve been creating content for over five years and now manage social media accounts for a range of businesses.

What started as a hobby has grown into a career that I absolutely love - creating content that connects and inspires.

A mum to six wonderful children (aged 8 to 16), I also run a busy farm and home that’s always open and welcoming to everyone.

I’m a real ‘people person’ (probably thanks to my 25 years in hairdressing!) and love cooking, entertaining, and having friends and family around the table.

Contact Nicola: nicolabaldrick@hotmail.co.uk | Instagram

Kevin, known as The Wild Atlantic Traveller, is a content creator based in Donegal with a passion for nature and wandering. A father to two wonderful children who often accompany him on his adventures, Kevin started his travel journey during the pandemic to explore and showcase the Wild Atlantic Way, inspiring others to get out and experience the great outdoors.

He loves to hike, kayak, and explore new and old destinations, always highlighting incredible accommodations, outdoor activities, and eateries along the way. Kevin has worked alongside some of the best hotels, eateries, and adventure companies throughout his journey, sharing these experiences with his audience.

Having worked in the hospitality sector for many years, he understands the importance of inspiring people to book and explore. In recent times, his adventures have taken him beyond Ireland to Milan, Venice, France, and parts of the States, with the goal of encouraging his audience to seek out the best experiences for themselves.

All the stunning photos of Donegal featured throughout this initiative were generously donated by Kevin.

Contact Kevin : thewildatlantictraveller@outlook.com | 083 042 0884

Caroline Faulkner Consulting

Caroline brings 35 years of global leadership experience in Fortune 50 companies, having held C-suite roles including CEO, CIO, COO, and SVP for customer service across pharmaceutical, technology, and financial industries. Recognised as one of Computerworld's Top 100 IT Premier Leaders in 2014, she has built and led teams from startups to over 1,400 employees, successfully merged businesses, transformed customer experiences, and delivered millions in operational savings.

Today, Caroline combines her strategic leadership expertise with therapeutic hypnotherapy training to help clients uncover and overcome limiting beliefs, reduce stress, and unlock their potential. She enables leaders, teams, and individuals to perform at their best, both professionally and personally.

Passionate about mentoring young female leaders and guiding Gen Z professionals, Caroline is also a keynote speaker and motivational presenter. She delivers bespoke sessions that blend insights from high-level corporate leadership with the principles of personal growth and mindset transformation, helping people and organisations achieve lasting, sustainable results in a world where the human mind remains the ultimate differentiator.

Contact Caroline : carolinefaulkner29@gmail.com | 0873524526 | LinkedIn

Made up Mummy

Sarah is a proud mum of three and works as a Special Needs Assistant. She has always had a passion for people, positivity, and making a difference in her community. Many know her as madeupmummy on Instagram, where she shares her love of fashion, beauty, and real everyday life. Her content is all about keeping it genuine and relatable - celebrating the small joys as well as the challenges we all face.

Donegal will always be home for Sarah. She loves everything about it - the warmth of the people, the craic, the pub culture, and the sense of community you find here. Becoming an ambassador for this organisation means a lot, because it allows her to combine her love for Donegal with her commitment to supporting others. She truly believes that when we look out for one another, we make our communities stronger - and she's proud to play even a small part in that.

Contact Sarah : sarahterry2719@hotmail.com | 086 210 1683 | Instagram

An Grianán Theatre

Richie Crawford is the Business Development and Marketing Manager at An Grianán Theatre. He graduated from LYIT in 2010 with a Bachelor of Business in Marketing and has over 18 years of experience in the retail sector, having previously worked as a Creative Director and fashion & bridal buyer.

With a love of the creative industry and a passion for promoting Donegal, Richie has shot, styled, and directed multiple campaigns throughout the county that have been used across social and marketing platforms. He has also styled various celebrities for TV and commercial projects. Career highlights include winning the Draper's Independent Window Of The Year Award 2021, with highly commended mentions in 2020, 2022, and 2023.

Richie has a strong background in marketing, visual merchandising, digital photography, and event management, which enable him to create and communicate compelling stories. He is also a fully trained retail trainer with excellent communication skills.

Richie had this to say about the Donegal Giving event: "I am delighted to have the theatre hosting the first Donegal Giving event. The theatre is a community hub and an ideal location to bring the concept of Donegal Giving to life. When Evelyn first spoke to me about the concept of Donegal Giving I was immediately sold. Donegal is a truly unique county with so much to offer and this event will be the beginning of something special."

Contact Richard : richard@angrianan.com | 087 982 5566 | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok

Moss Marketing

A digital marketing practitioner, educator and podcaster who is passionate about Donegal and everything it has to give. Marie has been using social media and digital marketing personally and professionally to promote all things Donegal and beyond for many years. Marie's special area of interest has always been to champion the small business community. Donegal is dotted with talented, creative and hardworking entrepreneurs and organisations.

Helping people to get their messaging fine-tuned, off the ground and into the digital era is Marie's passion and mentoring budding creatives and businesses is something she has given - and continues to give - to help our county thrive despite our unique challenges (which also contribute to our unique grit!)

Highlighting and supporting many of the people, places and products that make Donegal special is a big part of Marie's podcasting platform with 'No Other Craic? Podcast' Marie is proud to be part of the Donegal Giving initiative to further strengthen the generous, nurturing spirit in our county. Ní neart go cur le chéile.

Contact Marie : marie@mossmarketing.ie | 087 641 6290 | Facebook

Karen Murphy is a Speech and Drama educator and communications coach with over two decades of experience inspiring confidence and creativity in learners of all ages. Through Karen Murphy Speech & Drama, she empowers people to find and use their voice - in schools, community groups, and creative settings across Donegal, Dublin, Northern Ireland, and beyond.

Karen’s work reflects the Donegal Giving ethos of sharing time, wisdom, experience, and support. She gives her time generously to community workshops, youth theatre, women’s groups, and schools - using drama as a tool for connection, confidence, and self-expression.

Her approach is rooted in kindness and encouragement, helping others not only to perform, but to flourish.

Contact Karen : info@karenmurphyspeechanddrama.ie | 086 604 3040 | Website | Facebook

Niamh Shields is a digital marketing and PR professional, educator and founder of Dooey Digital. A big believer in people supporting people, Niamh is passionate about storytelling, sharing knowledge and championing the brilliant people, businesses and communities around her. Through her work and teaching, she loves helping others find their confidence, share their ideas and recognise what they have to offer. Niamh is delighted to support Donegal Giving and its celebration of kindness, connection and giving back.

Contact Niamh: niamh@dooeydigital.com | Website | Instagram | Facebook

Pat Gallagher from Dungloe - Donegal Giving Ambassador.

Pat brings something we value very much at Donegal Giving: years of knowledge, wisdom, community experience and a genuine commitment to giving back.

A long-standing community activist, Pat is a former Chairman of Dungloe Town Development and has been involved with the Community Alert Committee, Mary From Dungloe International Arts Festival and Letterkenny Folk Festival. He is also an ardent supporter of the Donegal Camino, Cancer Care West project and a strong advocate for Donegal tourism.

Pat represents exactly what we mean when we talk about the giving of wisdom and experience. The knowledge built up over a lifetime in business, community and voluntary life is something worth sharing and passing on.

Christen Grant works with Zeus Industrial Products and joins Donegal Giving as our Youth Ambassador. Her own career began with a TY internship with Evelyn McMarketing in 2016, followed by university and the opportunities and advice she received from people along the way. Having recently returned to Donegal to take up a new role, Christen wants to encourage young people to recognise opportunities, support each other and understand the difference giving can make. She will bring the voice of a new generation to Donegal Giving, helping to build a culture of giving and a legacy for those who come next.

Contact Christen : christengrant14@gmail.com | Instagram

Inishowen Development Partnership

Ana McColgan is an experienced enterprise and social enterprise professional with more than 25 years’ experience working across business development, tourism, training, skills development and community-focused programmes in Ireland, Northern Ireland and internationally.

Currently working as Social Enterprise Officer with Inishowen Development Partnership, based in Buncrana, Ana is passionate about supporting the people, businesses and community organisations that make Donegal a strong, resilient and ambitious place to live and work.

Throughout her career, she has developed and managed major industry and development programmes, built cross-border and national partnerships, supported organisations through training and mentoring, and worked with businesses and communities to turn ideas into practical action. Her experience spans strategic planning, project and funding management, stakeholder engagement, cross-border collaboration, mentoring, volunteering and event development.

As a Donegal Giving Ambassador, Ana wants to champion a broader idea of giving:

“I am delighted to become a Donegal Giving Ambassador. Donegal has an extraordinary wealth of people, skills, experience and community spirit. For me, giving is about recognising that wealth and encouraging all of us (individuals, businesses and organisations) to think about what we can contribute. Sometimes the most valuable thing we can give is our time, our knowledge, a connection or simply our support.”

Contact Ana : www.inishowen.ie

Mayor of Donegal Town

Anna Gallagher is Mayor of Donegal Town, a proud mother of three and deeply passionate about the people and community she is privileged to call home. Widowed, Anna found great strength and purpose through community involvement and is committed to giving back to the town that supported her so generously throughout her life.

She works with children with additional needs at Creevy National School and is passionate about inclusion, opportunity and creating a better quality of life for everyone. Through her role as Mayor, Anna supports and fundraises for local charities while championing the many clubs, groups and organisations at the heart of the community.

Anna believes it is the kindness, connection and generosity of its people that make Donegal such a special place to call home. She looks forward to supporting and building on the great work Donegal Giving has achieved since its formation.

Contact Anna : donegaltownmayor@gmail.com | 087 696 2411