Letterkenny Chamber elects Greencastle's Claire McDonough as new president

Letterkenny Chamber of Commerce has elected Claire McDonough - Co-Owner of La Maison, Interior Design Studio - as its new president.

Letterkenny Chamber’s outgoing president Fionnuala Rabbitt handed over the Presidential Chain to incoming President Claire McDonough at the Letterkenny Chamber Annual General Meeting. Claire most recently served as Vice President and has served on the Chamber Council since 2017.

Originally from Greencastle, Claire has been living in Letterkenny since 1999. With a Masters in Local and Regional Development she worked in community development in Inishowen before joining Donegal County Council as a Community & Enterprise Development Officer.

Claire always had an interest in design of Interior and exterior environments and she and her business partner Anne opened La Maison in 2005. Over the next few years Claire trained as an Interior Designer in response to customer demand. La Maison now comprises and Interior Design studio, a comprehensive fabric library and a curtain manufacturing workshop working with clients from home and abroad on a wide range of personal and commercial projects.

Claire is married to Daragh and they have two children Grace and Finn. She said: “ “It is an honour for to be elected as Chamber President by my colleagues in the Chamber Council. I have really enjoyed my role on the Chamber Council over the last number of years working with colleagues in shaping the strategy and future of Letterkenny Chamber.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank Fionnuala Rabbitt for her hard work and dedication over the past 12 months. Fionnuala was faced with a health challenge during the year and yet she was still available for all the events during the year. I am committed to carrying out this role with the same enthusiasm, integrity and professionalism”.

Claire hopes to emulate the hard work of successive Past Presidents and continue to develop the relationships with key stakeholders across Donegal and to grow membership and member engagement.

“Having been a member of Letterkenny Chamber since opening our business I have experienced the support network at first hand and understand the important role,” she said. “The Chamber plays in the economic life and ambitions of Letterkenny and the wider North West region. Over this last year we have once again grown our membership, have delivered an exciting and successful calendar of events and member engagement is at an all time high. I hope to build on these achievements and continue to engage directly with members as much as possible.”

On handing over the Chain Fionnuala Rabbitt said: “It has been a real privilege for me to serve as Chamber President over the last year. I would like to wish Claire well in her role. We are delighted to welcome another female Chamber President in our 59 year history, we know Claire will be an asset to our Chamber going forward.”

Apart from a new President the Chamber also elected a new Chamber Council which as always consists of members from a wide variety of business sectors, who meet on a monthly basis and who are responsible for steering the policies, activities and initiatives of the Chamber.

Chamber Council 2024/25: President – Claire McDonough (La Maison); Past President – Fionnuala Rabbitt (Highland Radio); Phil Boyle (Twins Estates); Bernard Gallagher (CBM Signs); Shane Grant (PGIM); Annette Houston (FM Services Group); Chris Lynch (TCS); Michael Margey (ATU); Brian McCormick (Brian McCormick Sports); Gerard McCormick (Magees Pharmacy); Clare McNickle (Clare Clothing); Kristine Reynolds (Reynolds & Associates); Jimmy Stafford (Bank of Ireland); Karoline Sweeney (Castlegrove Country House Hotel); Leonard Watson (Watson Menswear) John Watson (Watson Hire);