Elaine D’Alton – Chairperson

Elaine is originally from Dublin and now resides in County Clare. She has a long standing interest in meditation and in 2013 she began to volunteer with the Sunyata Buddhist Centre. Elaine has a strong affiliation to the Theravadan Thai Forest tradition of Buddhism and the methods used in this tradition has assisted her in developing her own Meditation and Mindfulness practice. Elaine joined the Board of Trustees in 2014. She manages retreats for visiting Monastics, teaches the Beginners Meditation Class and is the current Chairperson of the Centre.

 

 

 

 

Heike Griffin – Company Secretary

Heike was born in Germany and her wish for a more quiet and peaceful life brought her to rural Ireland in 1985. She became interested in meditation in her twenties. In 2012 she began visiting Sunyata Buddhist Centre and sitting retreats in the Thai Forest tradition at Sunyata as well as other centres. Heike has been helping at Sunyata in various roles since 2013, ie managing retreats, administration, and leading retreats. She joined the Board of Trustees in 2014.

 

 

 

 

Jason McCormack

Jason Mc Cormack first came to Sunyata in 2016 and has kept returning ever since, he moved to Clare from his home parish in county Wicklow and is delighted to be a Sangha member of Sunyata. At first he came to Sunyata for the food but then he stayed for the Dhamma. He wishes all beings freedom from suffering and is deeply inspired and grateful for all those past, present and future who have kept Sunyata sowing the seeds of Dhamma on the Emerald Isle!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Phil Brown – Treasurer

With roots in the Isle of Man, but growing up in a town in England, Phil is a country boy at heart who has been living in the Clare countryside for over 30 years. He began meditating when he was 17 (inspired by the Beatles!), and his interest in Buddhism soon followed. Since the mid-1990s Phil has frequented on Wednesday evenings the site of what would become Sunyata to chant, meditate, listen to a Dhamma talk and share a cup of tea. He still likes to do this. After such a long, though sometimes occasional, involvement with Sunyata Phil joined the Board of Trustees in 2024.




 

 

 

 

Sarah-Jane Burton

Sarah-Jane has been involved with Sunyata since attending the first family camp with her kids in 2014.  She is a qualified MBSR teacher and Meditation Mentor.  She has dedicated her life to being of service to the Dharma and during her free time enjoys spending time with her family, meditating, sea-swimming and being in nature.



 

 

 

 

​Anna Majchrzak

Born in Poland, Anna has been residing in Ireland since 2005, with Wicklow becoming home in 2009. A visit to Sunyata in 2018 established a profound connection. Recognizing the blessings of the monastic presence, she embraced Sunyata as her primary place of practice in Ireland, finding joy in serving at retreats and supporting the sangha.