Our Vision
Rainbows Ireland envisions a country where every child and young person experiencing bereavement or parental separation feels seen, heard, and supported. We want all children and young people in Ireland to have the opportunity to understand and express their grief, to develop resilience, and to feel less alone during times of loss—supported early, within their own communities, and at the point when it matters most.
How We Do This
Rainbows delivers its work through a nationally coordinated, locally delivered model. We partner with schools (primary and post-primary) and community organisations, equipping them with a proven peer support programme, comprehensive training, safeguarding frameworks, and high-quality resources. We provide ongoing guidance and oversight to ensure safe, consistent, and impactful delivery—so that children and young people can access trusted, early-intervention support in familiar settings across Ireland.
National Office Team
Our National Office leads programme development, quality assurance, partnerships, and national coordination.
- CEO | Geraldine Kelly
- Office Manager | Ilona Karsanova
- Training & Development Manager | Fiona Byrne
- Implementation & Practice Manager | Anne Staunton
- Administrators | Lorraine Ryan & Lorraine Tuohy
Our work is further supported by an Accountant, ensuring strong financial governance, and by specialist consultants, including IT support and a Data Protection Officer, who help maintain the integrity, security, and effectiveness of our systems.
Volunteer Trainers
A key strength of Rainbows is our team of 12 Volunteer Trainers, who deliver high-quality training nationwide.
They equip facilitators with the skills, confidence, and understanding needed to deliver the Rainbows programme with consistency, care, and fidelity to our model.
Volunteer Facilitators
We are proud of our Volunteer Facilitator Team (approx. 40), who work directly with children and young people in our Rainbows Stand-Alone sites.
Our current locations include:
Leixlip (Co. Kildare) • Castlebar (Co. Mayo) • Galway City & An Cheathrú Rua (Co. Galway) • Carlow Town (Co. Carlow)
We plan to re-establish additional centres in Kildare Town, Mullingar, and Letterkenny in Autumn 2026.
These sites are managed and supported by the National Office. Our facilitators create safe, trusted spaces where children and young people can share and process their experiences of grief and loss.
National Network of Rainbows Centres
Rainbows Ireland also works through a wide network of registered Rainbows Centres based in:
- Primary and post-primary schools
- Community and public settings
- Family Resource Centres
This network ensures that children and young people can access support locally, in familiar and accessible environments across the country.
Working Together
Together, our national team, volunteers, and partner centres form a strong, connected network—enabling Rainbows Ireland to deliver compassionate, high-quality support to children and young people throughout Ireland.
Rainbows Ireland respects and values the diversity of all children, young people, and families. We are committed to providing a service that is inclusive and free from discrimination—whether direct or indirect—on the grounds of gender, gender identity, marital or family status, sexual orientation, religion, political opinion, disability, age, race, or ethnic origin.
We recognise that every child and young person, regardless of their circumstances, has the right to have their experience of grief and loss acknowledged, and to be supported in expressing their thoughts, feelings, and emotions.
Rainbows Ireland also recognises that our peer support model may not meet the needs of every child. Some children and young people may require a higher level of support than we are equipped to provide, and in such cases, we are committed to ensuring that appropriate guidance towards alternative supports is considered.
Meet our Board
- Chair | Ray Watson
- Company Secretary | Gerard Keegan
- Treasurer | Clive Waldron
- Board Members | Paul Kenny, Cian Gleeson, Trevor Walsh, Helena Hughes, Philip Murphy, Joan Conlon, Jade Fitzgerald.
Legal Status
Company Limited by Guarantee
Registered Charity Number (RCN)
12507
Company Registration Office (CRO)
262410
Charities Regulator Authority (CRA)
20036768
Revenue (CHY Number)
8262410E
Insurance:
Rainbows Ireland maintains the following insurance cover:
- Public Liability
- Employers’ Liability
- Professional Indemnity
Auditors:
HSOC Consultants Limited
Chartered Accountants & Registered Auditors
Adelaide House
90 Upper George’s Street
Dún Laoghaire
Co. Dublin
Banking:
Bank of Ireland
Walkinstown
Dublin 12
Annual Reports:
2024 (pdf)
2023 (pdf)
2022 (pdf)
2021 (pdf)
2020 (pdf)
2019 (pdf)
2018 (pdf)
2017 (pdf)
