Trainers

Some of our trainers

Patrick Barry (Dip.Arch, M.Sc. MRIAI, Dip. Project Man), is an architect with twenty years experience in architectural practice in France, Germany South America, working with leading architectural practices in Ireland on residential, mixed use, social housing, healthcare and education. He holds a Masters in Environmental Design of Buildings from University of Cardiff, and has completed masters level studies in Leadership in Strategic Sustainability, He is a Certified European passive house designer, qualified BER assessor, BREEAM education and healthcare assessor. He has worked independently providing consultancy to Architectural practices on sustainable construction over the past five years. He is currently delivering training under Green Works programme in Green building and sustainable construction. Initiated Irish Green Building Council in 2010.

Victor Branagan (M.Sc. M.B.S.) is the Director of the Green Business School within Green Works and brings years of experience of both education and sustainability to the School. With a Masters in Strategic Leadership towards Sustainability from a Swedish University and a Masters degree in Entrepreneurship Management from the University of Limerick he combines the academic background with over 25 years of self-employment, to make these courses both interesting and practical. He is an associate member of the Institute of Management Consultants and Advisers.

Féile Butler (Member R.I.A.I.) has lived and worked as an architect in Dublin, London, Sydney, Adelaide and Queenstown, New Zealand. Her experience in the southern hemisphere exposed her to a vast range of alternative materials and building technologies, which in turn sparked her interest in sustainable design. On her return to Ireland, she worked with leading sustainable architecture practice, Colin Bell Architects, for 4 years.  She gained her Conservation Architect Grade III Accreditation from the R.I.A.I. in 2009.

In 2005, Féile and Colin Ritchie trained in the art of cob building with the Cob Cottage Company. The following year, they attended the School of Natural Building in Coquille, Oregon, run by Cob Cottage. In 2008, they embarked on building their own 130m² hybrid cob-and-timber-frame home.

Colm Bryne is Manager of Green Works in Kilkenny, powered by Glas Learning and holds a Technician Certificate in Electronics, a Diploma in Technical Sales and Marketing, and an Advanced Certificate in Renewable Energy from the Tipperary Institute in Thurles. He also holds various renewable energy product related training certificates and the Building Energy Rating certificate. As Managing Director of GLAS Renewable Energy Solutions, Colm is responsible for the day to day, financial, technical, sales and administrative management of the Glas renewable energy portfolio of products and services. He has significant experience in training including the FETAC Renewable Energy Systems course, the FETAC Green Building course, Biomass Product training for wood fuel solutions, pellet chip and log boilers, solar technical training, and various courses and workshops on renewable energy and greening the home on behalf of ‘Future Proof Kilkenny,’ part of the transition town movement.

Sharon Eastwood is Manager of Green Works in Sligo, powered by Woodrow Sustainable Solutions.  Sharon is a biologist with a Masters from Kings College, University of London 1992.  Sharon is a dynamic, engaging staff member with a fresh approach to teaching engaging the student in the process of learning.  She is an experienced educator with over 17 years working with politicians, communities and businesses as well as private contractors on environmental activities including sustainable development and environmental policy.  Having worked in Australia, England, USA and Ireland she can bring a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to the Sligo Hub of Green Works.

Evan Finegan is an Architectural Technician, with a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Technology from Waterford Institute of Technology. He is also a registered Architectural Technician Member with the Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland and a registered Domestic BER assessor with the SEAI.  His experiences in sustainability and energy conservation have included involvement in the detailed design and construction process of Cork's first certified Passive House. He specialises in Building Energy Ratings, detailing to eliminate thermal bridges and detailing to maintain air tightness, thermal modeling to assist thermal bridge calculation and analysis, use of Passive House Planning Package (PHPP 2007) and passive house detailing. 

Evan has worked with one of Europe's largest timber frame manufacturers from 2004-2006 and provides a broad knowledge in timber frame construction and timber structures. He has also served on the Committee of the Irish Architectural Technology Graduates Network (IATGN) at regional level, from 2007-2009, assisting the committees progress toward establishing a professional body to represent Architectural Technicians and Architectural Technologists in Ireland.

Gavin Harte (MSc) holds a Masters degree in sustainable development. He has been a high profile spokesperson on environmental and sustainability issues in Ireland for many years.  With assistance from the EPA, ENFO, COMHAR and DCENR Gavin currently provides Education for Sustainable Development to third level colleges and local authorities throughout Ireland.

He was the founder of Ireland’s first eco-village in Cloughjordan Co Tipperary. He has worked as an educator, a TV presenter, a musician and as the national director of An Taisce. With RTE he presented the very popular travel series "Across the Line", backpacking overland from Dublin to Australia on a budget of just £25 a day.

Gavin is developing Energy Smart Community buying clubs with the City of Dublin Energy Management Agency to help homeowners to improve the energy performance of their homes together their neighbours in the Dublin area.
Gavin's website

Órla Keane (BA Interior Design, Msc Sustainable Development) is an interior designer and visual merchandiser with a focus on Green Design. She has worked as an interior designer and sustainability consultant with Paul Keogh Architects in Dublin and is currently the Visual Coordinator in the Creative Department in Arnotts, Dublin. Her BA in Interior Design led her to pursue an Msc in Sustainable Development, with her thesis focused on Green Interior Design. Noticing the abundance of information and training available on sustainable building and construction, Órla identified that there was huge lack of information on sustainable design available specifically for interior designers. She now lectures in Green Interior Design and also Visual Merchandising, for various third level education institutions and professional training organisations.

Archie O’Donnell specialises in developing innovative construction techniques to deliver buildings of exceptional thermal comfort performance at conventional costs. He was technical adviser on a number of cutting edge projects including Ireland first Passivhaus mixed use scheme, Foxrock Vets and  a landmark passive house renovation in Rathdrum Wicklow, which is energy plus. This scheme was featured in the September issue of Construct Ireland.  Archie has conducted Air tightness testing on numerous commercial buildings and schools and hundreds of houses. The Rathdrum renovation achieved 0.98 air changes per hour at storm pressure. He has tested houses which have achieved results as low as 0.22m³(hr.m²).

Devyn Olson-Sawyer (LEED-AP), has a background in administration, training, and marketing, with experience working in the Architecture/ Engineering/Construction field both in Ireland and in the States. She is a LEED-accredited professional with the US Green Building council, with knowledge of sustainable building methods and strategies, and currently manages programmes and training for the National Irish Centre for Energy Rating. She is a founding director of the Irish Green Building Council.

Colin Ritchie is a carpenter by trade, having completed his apprenticeship in 1987. Originally from Scotland, he moved to Ireland 1999. He has also worked in Australia and New Zealand. While renovating old stone cottages, he became interested in natural-edged woodwork. He is a connoisseur of trees and collects windfall trees from the surrounding region to provide him with his raw materials. He is a true craftsman when it comes to wood.

In collaboration with his wife, Féile Butler (see profile above), he began building their 130m² cob-and-timber-frame house in 2008. During the construction of the house, Colin made many of the components from scratch: milling up windfall trees to make door frames, door leafs, window boards, stairs, kitchen units; mixing cob; making earth plasters. He is an expert at sourcing and salvaging materials, often for little or no cost.  Colin has many years experience in training and has a wealth of practical skills to back up his technical knowledge.

Brian Rochford is an Architectural Technician and registered Building Energy Rating Assessor and certified Passive House Designer, with almost 25 years experience gained in Ireland, the UK and Australia on varying project types including domestic, industrial, healthcare, office, retail, community multi use and broadcasting.

Fintan Smyth (RIAI Tech), is an Architectural Technician, registered building energy rating assessor, certified passive house designer, and is particularly motivated in regard to Environmental Design. He has been involved with energy audits, retrofit design analysis, and passive house evaluation. Fintan has completed training in Sustainable Energy Ireland’s Building Energy Rating programme for both commercial and domestic buildings.


Will Woodrow, (MSc Arch; IEEM) is a highly experienced and enthusiastic environmentalist and sustainability expert with more than 25 years experience in this sector and is director of Eco Tourism School with Green Works.  This made a firm basis for the establishment of Will’s own Irish company in 2004, Woodrow Sustainable Solutions. 

Woodrow Sustainable Solutions had designed and delivered biodiversity training for local authorities, the public and for specific communities across Ireland. For example, 14 separate Irish local authorities have received specialist week-long biodiversity training comprising both general awareness and targetted technical training for the different functions of the councils.  The company, led by Will, has also written and delivered a suit of environmental awareness courses in Ireland covering issues such as energy, water, waste, sustainable living, land use and biodiversity.  Many of these courses have gained accreditation and are in use by colleges.  Membership of the Institute of Ecological & Environmental Management (IEEM) means that Woodrow Sustainable Solutions adheres to codes of practice and guidelines to ensure a high quality of work in this area.  Will Woodrow is also an official assessor for ÉASCA (Environmental and Sustainable Construction Association).