Norah Gibbons – RIP

The Board and staff of Early Childhood Ireland offer our deepest condolences to the family, friends and former colleagues of Norah Gibbons who sadly passed away yesterday.

Norah spent her career in a variety of roles, all of which were dedicated to improving the lives of children. She spent many years as a social worker in the UK and Ireland before becoming Director of Advocacy with Barnardos from 2005-2012. Norah was a member of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse; she chaired the Roscommon Child Abuse Inquiry and co-chaired the Independent Review Group on Child Deaths.  Norah was the first Chairperson of Tusla, the Child and Family Agency and was also a member of the Acknowledgement Forum of the Historical Abuse Inquiry in Northern Ireland.

In 2019, the Minister for Justice appointed Norah to lead the independent study of the State’s response to familicide and domestic homicide, work which is still ongoing. A great friend to all children’s organisations on the island of Ireland and beyond, everyone at Early Childhood Ireland will miss Norah’s private support and enormous public leadership on our issues. May she rest in peace.