Aoibeann Walsh
Director ILCU
Aoibeann is a Director of Slieve Gullion Credit Union in South Armagh, and has held numerous roles in all the committees of the credit union. She is employed by Rural Support, the farm support charity for Northern Ireland.
What do you think is the greatest contribution that credit unions make?
Credit unions as community-driven financial institutions meet the needs and dreams of their members. They are unique in the social economic impact that they make to the lives of individuals, families, and communities. The purpose of a credit union is to serve its membership through the provision of credit and savings facilities. This extends to directly supporting the interests and endeavours of the local community through donations, sponsorships and engagements such as the national art and quiz competitions for their youth.
As an ILCU Board / Supervisory Committee member, what do you hope to achieve during your term?
I am honoured to serve as an ILCU Board member and hope that I represent the movement effectively during my term through my commitment, experience, and skills. I am particularly keen to support engagement in The Credit Union (Modernisation and Reform) Public Consultation currently open through The Department for the Economy in Northern Ireland and what comes next. I was born in 1985, the same year as The Credit Unions (Northern Ireland) Order, so the opportunity to shape the future of the credit union movement feels both important for each credit union and personal to me. Maximising this opportunity will support our all-island movement into the future
If you were Minister for the Economy in Stormont, what one change would you make?
I’d like to see greater recognition of the role of the volunteer within each credit union and the movement – it is only through the combined and collaborative efforts of volunteers and staff that credit unions deliver for their members. We must safeguard that.
Contact awalsh@creditunion.ie