Meet the Team

Below is a short introduction to our team.  We aim to ensure that you have a great holiday, an enjoyable learning experience where all your learning goals are met and get a real insight into Ireland and its way of life.  We love learning and growing with every student who walks through our door.

We look forward to meeting you.

Gina Witherow

Director

Gina Witherow is the Director/Owner of Donegal English Language School (DELS).

Gina’s love for languages started early when her Mother opened DELS in 1989. The buzz of meeting students of various European nationalities throughout her childhood was an overriding reason for her taking over the school in 2007. She has over 25 years of experience in the tourism & marketing industry and 15 years in teaching English.  Gina holds a European Languages & Business degree and CELTA in teaching English.  When not working, Gina enjoys spending time with her family, a bit of surfing, swimming, cycling or going for a walk with her dog, Mika. Gina is passionate about nature and sustainability and is very involved in her local community.

One of DELS’s core values is actively engaging all students, staff, and the local community in developing a sustainable environment. This value fosters and encourages best practices and emphasises the importance of preparing and empowering individuals to become responsible for contributing to a sustainable future.

Daniel Browne

General Manager

Daniel is a member of the family that has successfully grown Donegal English Language School (DELS)  to its current success. A local to Bundoran, he is passionate about the area, its history, culture and adventure sports.

Before joining DELS, Daniel worked as a journalist and broadcaster in media before running the commercial operations of newspaper and radio station groups.

He has also worked in Renewable Energy Investment across forestry, wind farming and port infrastructure projects.

Daniel is a keen surfer, hiker and lover of the outdoors and nature, a passion he loves sharing with students worldwide.

Teachers

Eleanor Kerrigan

B.A(Hons) French and Spanish, UU Coleraine, MA TESOL, UU Coleraine

Academic Manager 

Eleanor is from Northern Ireland and has taught English since she completed her MA TESOL in 2012.  She’d describe herself as warm, friendly, and enthusiastic. Outside the classroom, Eleanor enjoys spending time with her animals (she lives on a farm), cooking, reading, and hanging out with her children. She became a teacher because she loves languages, travelling, and helping people to understand her native language and culture. The most rewarding part of teaching is connecting people with the language and people from other cultures. She feels her students all have a story, and we can learn so much from each other. In the classroom, Eleanor believes in preparing students for real-life situations, so she focuses a lot on communicative activities and uses authentic materials wherever possible. 

Fiona Mc Cabe

B.A(Hons)English and History, UCD,  Certificate in Psychology, Cert TEFL

Fiona holds a degree in English and History and a TEFL qualification.  Before joining DELS  in 2008, Fiona worked as an English teacher in Dublin for 14 years.  Fiona enjoys nothing more than walking her dog, Tilly, in her free time.

Dónall Ó Mearáin

B.A. in History and Geography (NUI)

Donall is from Bundoran and was born in Belfast.  He is curious, conscientious and honest.  He first started teaching English so that he could travel.  What he enjoys most about teaching is the banter with the students and seeing the ‘eureka’ moments.  His hobbies include books, films, chess, music and languages.  He feels that the things he has learnt from his students and colleagues have been his main influences and the things that have shaped his career.  Becoming a tutor on a teacher-training course also helped him reassess his whole approach.  He is proud of his work with young refugees and remembers a rewarding moment with a student who started learning English from scratch yet managed to produce an excellent essay after a few months of hard work.  A fun fact about Donall is that he grew up speaking Irish and English at home, so he is completely bilingual. 

Mel Heron

B.A(Hons) Communications & IT, Middlesex University

Accounts Manager

Mel has worked with DELS for over 10 years, she’s now the Accounts Manager.

Mel’s previous experience has been in London working as a marketing manager before settling back in Bundoran.  She loves the outdoors and is a keen hiker and also likes to go sailing in her spare time.

Mark Witherow

Kitchen Manager

Married to Gina, the school Director, Mark is responsible for the catering of all residential students.  Having worked for many years in the hospitality industry around the world, Mark moved back to Donegal in 2003 to pursue his career in food and his love for surfing.