About Us
Giving a hand-up, not a hand-out.
Mission Statement
Bóthar is the Irish international charity that enables families and communities worldwide to overcome hunger and poverty and to restore the environment in a sustainable way, specialising in improved livestock production and support-related training.
Ailish O'Reilly
As Chief Executive Officer of Bóthar, Ailish O’Reilly leads the organisation’s day-to-day operations and oversees the implementation of its strategic plan. With 1.5 years’ experience in the CEO role, Ailish brings a strong focus on impact, integrity, and sustainable development.
She has six years of hands-on experience living and working alongside rural communities in southern Haiti and holds an MA in Development. Ailish also brings over nineteen years of project and senior management experience across both the private and charitable sectors, combining practical field insight with strategic leadership to guide Bóthar’s mission forward.
Mark Finnegan
Our Project Support Administrator Mark Finnegan joined Bóthar in early 2025, after graduating from UL with a Degree in Political Science and International Relations. He gained invaluable work experience during his studies, having carried out a placement with Irish Aid as part of UL’s Cooperative Education Programme. It was this experience which inspired him to pursue a career in the development sector. Since joining Bóthar, Mark has supported a successful shipment to Kosovo and provides ongoing assistance to partners including projects in Malawi and Tanzania.
Our Vision
Bóthar helps rural families earn an income by giving them the gift of livestock, take for example an Irish dairy cow. Irish dairy cows produce up to 20 litres of milk per day whereas a local cow will produce about 4 litres. With high milk yields, families can take what they need for their own use and sell the rest. With this income they can buy additional food stuffs, buy medicine when they are sick and send their children to school. Over time, they become self-sufficient and pass-on the first female calf to another family in their community, so the original gift continues to give.
