Irish Reflexologists' Institute Board Members (2025-2026)

Deirdre Murray qualified as a Reflexologist in 1997 and runs Deirdre Murray Holistic, a private holistic practice, and IRI Course Provider just outside Sligo town. With a background and degree in Business, she trained extensively in many holistic disciplines, including Aromatherapy & Massage, Reiki, Shiatsu, Cranio-Sacral Therapy, Moxibustion, Cupping, and many Reflexology specialities including, Advanced, Cancer Care, Pregnancy, Maternity, Fertility, Menopause, Neurological, ID, Thai, Foot Reading, and the Manzanares Method. She has also worked extensively with hospice and palliative care as a volunteer and private practice. With over 28 years as a practitioner her extensive training and experience has greatly enhanced her knowledge and work. Being passionate about reflexology training and passing on her holistic wisdom to others, she opened a holistic training centre in 2007 offering accredited Diploma, Certificate and CPD courses. Her school is also an affiliated Course Provider aligned to the Irish Reflexologists’ Institute.

In 2009 she founded the Sligo Reflexology Network offering supports and training to Reflexologists. With over 35 active members she hosts network meetings at her school.

Deirdre was a member of the IRI Schools Committee from 2007-2012. She then joined the Board of the IRI in 2016 and held the posts of Network, CPD and Educational Director until 2021. She is a member of the IRI Executive and was selected as Chairperson in 2021 and holds that post to date. She was heavily involved in the restructuring of the IRI since 2020 and the alignment of a training Affiliation to safeguard and preserve the integrity of professional reflexology training in Ireland.

Deirdre has a great interest in family research often spending more time with the dead than the living. She enjoys the outdoor life including wild camping, cycling, walking, and scuba diving, She comes from a talented musical family, participates in choral work and recently started learning the ukulele. She regularly practices meditation, yoga and pilates.

Martina Barrett is a pioneer in the area of Holistic Therapies. She has been a full time practitioner of Reflexology and a range of Therapies since  1985. Martina is renowned for her knowledge as a therapist and an educator, having trained or being involved with the training of many of the Therapists particularly in the West of Ireland. Her College had FETAC/QQI, ITEC and ABC Awarding recognition. She has acted as examiner for Aromatherapy, Reflexology and in the position of External Authenticator for QQI.  She has represented Ireland and the IRI at major European and World Conferences. Currently, Martinas focuses on outreach programmes in the Community, Post graduate work for Therapists and of course her clients. For over 30 years she has also managed the successful Holistic Therapy Centre Kachina, in Castlebar. 

She holds qualifications in / or has studied;  Meditation & Mindfulness Training, Spiritual Mentorship,  Psycho-synthesis and The Transpersonal, Reflexology, Aromatherapy, Counselling, Spiritual Psycho-therapeutics & Colour Therapy, Kinesiology, plus.  She was a founder member of the original Irish Reflexologist Institute in 1987 and after many years rejoined the board currently in the position of Finance Director. 

Anne’s academic background is in science – from which she graduated with a degree in Chemistry (B.Sc. Hons. awarded by NUI).

Employed for over ten years in the Pharma sector, Anne initially worked in Research & Development and a number of years later moved into Quality Control.  While on a career break, she had time to pursue her interest in Natural Health and Wellness, which initially led her to qualify as a Reflexologist and later as an Anatomy & Physiology Tutor (certified by ITEC).

When an opportunity presented to pursue a nutrition course, it seemed like the next logical step and she qualified with a Diploma in Clinical Nutrition (awarded by Stonebridge College).

Always keen to expand her knowledge of different therapies, she qualified as a Biomagnetic Pair Therapist (certified by the Goiz Institute) in 2018.

Fergus began his training in holistic and complementary therapies in 2005. He has trained and gained extensive experience in the variety of complementary therapies. He strongly believes in the many benefits and  value of a holistic approach to health, wellbeing and healing. Working with clients through the medium of complementary therapies is a great privilege  and  he is very grateful for the opportunities, awareness and learning that he has gained from every individual that he has worked with since he began he training. Fergus  is passionate about providing complementary  therapies to a high standard in a relaxed caring and holistic approach. Fergus recognizes the uniqueness of each individual and therefore each therapies should be tailored specifically to meet the needs of  person and where the are at on the day. 

Fergus qualified as a reflexologist in 2018 and joined the IRI initially as a student member and later as a full member. He appreciates the huge amount of work and dedication that the IRI invest supporting  and representing members interests,  promoting  Reflexology both nationally and internationally, ensuring high standards of education, training and professionalism and so much more! 

Fergus was elected to the board of directors in 2024 and has taken up the mantle of membership director. He is delighted  to be part of such a capable and dedicated team  of therapists. Fergus hopes to represent members interests, and aspires to foster the sense of community  and support among members.