Our Team
Our Team
Georgina O’ Brien “Owner of Buttercup Childcare & Early Years Educator”
Owner and manager of this childcare service. Georgina comes from a variety of experience in the Leisure Industry, from being manager in Fitzgerald’s Woodlands Health & Leisure Club, whilst also indulging in a Sports Therapy career and looking after many local GAA teams over the years including Limerick U21 Hurlers and Limerick Intermediate Footballers. Georgina is currently juggling managing the service and overseeing the administration of Buttercup Childcare business.
Native of Knocklong, now living in Garryspillane and working in Ballylanders.
Georgina’s qualifications include:
Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Studies Level 7. University of East London, (UEL).
Lámh (helping people to communicate) sign training
Always Children First (Foundation Training)
QQI Level 6 Special Needs Assisting (SNA)
(LINC) Leadership for Inclusion co-ordinator special purpose award.
Hanen Teacher Talk Programme (Speech and Language Development)
First Aid Responder (FAR)
Emergency First Responder (EFR)
Cardiac First Responder (CFR)
Manual Handling
Fire Safety
Hazard Analysis & Critical Control Point Food Safety (HACCAP)
Coronavirus COVID-19 Compliance Officer coursed based on up to date (on date of training) HSE, NSAI Guidelines & Government Return to Work Safely Protocol.
“The children make you feel needed and wanted, because when they place their trust in you there is a major satisfaction feeling comes with it.”
Georgina O’ Brien - Owner - Buttercup Childcare.
Georgina has worked in childcare since establishing the business in 2014 and her main role is overseeing the business, taking care of all the administration including registering children, applying funding, providing a safe work place for both staff and children, whilst ensuring that all families are receiving the best possible service for the best possible price.
Georgina, was drawn into childcare when she realised that she could leverage her expertise to continue help the community in another area. Saying “Since my involvement with children, I feel it is a very enjoyable area to work in. The children live in a bubble and if you get inside that bubble, you’ll find yourself with not a care in the world, the same as the children. When the children place their trust in you, they make you feel needed and wanted.”
- ‘Early Years Educator’ - Room Leader
qualifications include:
QQI Level 6 Early Childhood Care & Education
Special Needs Assisting (SNA)
Hanen Teacher Talk Programme (Speech and Language Development)
Children First (child protection)
First Aid Responder (FAR)
Manual Handling
Fire Safety and Hazard Analysis & Critical Control Point Food Safety (HACCAP)
Lámh (helping people to communicate)
The Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS)
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- Early Years Educator - Room Leader
Leanne O’ Brien - ‘Early Years Educator’ - Room Leader
Native of Hospital, Leanne started her journey in childcare in 2017 and completed a 4 year Bachelor of Arts degree. Leanne’s experience is with both preschool and school age children.
Leanne’s qualifications include:
Bachelor of Arts degree in Early Childhood Care and Education. Level 8.
Children First (child protection)
First Aid Responder (FAR)
Manual Handling
Hazard Analysis & Critical Control Point Food Safety (HACCAP)
Hanen Teacher Talk Programme (Speech and Language Development)
Leanne’s role involves the responsibility for the social and emotional well-being of the children in her care. Also for initiating age appropriate activities following the interests of the children. Observing each child’s individual needs and documenting short, medium and long term plans to ensure the child gets all the support required.
“I love working with children as every child is a unique bundle of energy and I enjoy supporting their learning and growth as they explore who they are and the world around them”.
Leanne O’ Brien - Early Years Educator - Room Leader.
Elaine Rea - ‘Early Years Educator’ - Childcare Assistant
Native of Glenroe, Elaine started working in childcare in 2015 and has over 7 years in the business. Elaine’s experience is in pre school & after school.
Elaine’s qualifications include:
Supervision in Childcare FETAC Level 6.
Always Children First (Foundation Training)
Hanan Teacher Talk Programme (Speech and Language Development)
First Aid Responder (FAR)
Manual Handling
Fire Safety
Hazard Analysis & Critical Control Point Food Safety (HACCAP)
(LINC) Leadership for Inclusion co-ordinator special purpose award.
Buntus Programme (Empowering childcare educators in introducing young people to sport and physical activity).
Elaine’s role includes the responsibility of Breakfast Club and escorting the children to primary school in the morning. Supervising preschool children whilst observing their individual needs. Elaine is a key worker with various groups of children, also responsible for preparing activities for school age children (SAC).
“I love working with children because I like to teach the children new skills while helping to build their confidence from an early age. While doing work experience in secondary school she realised childcare was the right occupation for her.”
Elaine Rea - Early Years Educator.
Trisha Peters - ‘Early Years Educator’ - Childcare Assistant
Native of Knocklong, now living in Ballybrien, Trisha started working in childcare in 2018 as a Special Needs Assistant (SNA) both in Primary and Secondary schools. Trisha went on to complete level 6 Early Childhood Care and Education and now holds a role of After School Leader in Buttercup Childcare.
Trisha’s qualifications include:
"Childcare has given me a meaningful career with an uplifting positive work environment and a sense of achievement at the end of every day".
Trisha Peters - Early Years Educator.
Childhood Care and Education Level 6
Special Needs Assisting (SNA) Level 5
Always Children First (Foundation Training)
First Aid Responder (FAR)
Manual Handling
Fire Safety
(LINC) Leadership for Inclusion co-ordinator special purpose award.
Hazard Analysis & Critical Control Point Food Safety (HACCAP)
Hanan Teacher Talk Programme (Speech and Language Development)
Trisha’s role includes the responsibility of our After School Service. She also fulfills and AIM support role, working in our ECCE room accommodating reduced adult:child ratios and supporting children with disabilities. Trisha is a key worker in a pre school room observing individual needs and is responsible for preparing activities for school age children (SAC).
Emma Frewen - “Early Years Educator” - SAC Room Leader
Native of Ballylanders, Emma has a long history of minding many children for both family & friends. Emma studied Early Childcare and Education while also working in scoil Cormac where she gained valuable experience working with children with special needs. Emma is very enthusiastic in her role and the children describe her as fun and approachable.
Emma’s qualifications include:
"As a childcare practitioner, I can play a key part in helping children develop essential skills and learn. Seeing a child’s face light up after I’ve helped them is an incredibly rewarding experience”.
Emma Frewen - Early Years Educator.
Early Childhood Care and Education Level 6
Always Children First (Foundation Training)
First Aid Responder (FAR)
Manual Handling
Fire Safety
Hazard Analysis & Critical Control Point Food Safety (HACCAP)
Emma’s role includes escorting the children to and from primary school at collection time. Supervising pre school children whilst observing their individual needs. Emma is a key worker with various groups of children, and is also responsible for co-ordinating age appropriate activities for school age children daily.
Jasmine Kiely - “Early Years Educator” - Childcare Assistant
Native of Hospital, Co. Limerick Jasmine has just completed her Level 6 Early Childhood Care and Education Qualification. Jasmine has a wonderful manner with children and has super patients working with children with disabilities. Jasmine likes to work both indoors and out striving to enhance variety within the environment each and every day.
Jasmine’s qualifications include:
Early Childhood Care and Education Level 6
Children First (child protection)
Patient moving and handling L6
Fire Safety
First Aid Responder (FAR)
Jasmine’s role includes the supervision and support in our afterschool homework hour. She also fulfills an AIM support role, working in our ECCE room accommodating reduced adult:child ratios and supporting children with disabilities.
“Working in childcare is a meaningful career. I love helping them when they want to experiment with new things and seeing how happy they have learnt how to do something new. I also love the way they ask questions and want to learn more every day”.
Jasmine Kiely - Early Years Educator.
Corrie Hove - “Early Years Educator” - Childcare Assistant
Native of Dunmore East, Co. Waterford, and currently residing in Glenbrohane for the past 18 years. Corrie has a natural ability to connect with children. She especially loves preparing and implementing art activities with the children. Corrie specialises in reading stories to inspire the children’s imaginations.
Corrie’s qualifications include:
Early Childhood Care and Education Level 6
Children First (child protection)
Manual Handling
Fire Safety
Hazard Analysis & Critical Control Point Food Safety (HACCAP)
Buntus Programme (Empowering childcare educators in introducing young people to sport and physical activity).
Corrie’s role includes supervising children throughout the day. Scaffolding their support in all activities. Corrie is a key worker for a group of children hence recording observations, detailing reports and recording attendance daily.
I feel very privileged to be able to contribute to the formative year of a child’s life. It brings me great joy to watch each child thrive and grow in confidence in their own unique and individual ways.
Corrie Hove - Early Years Educator.
Careers with Buttercup Childcare
Satisfaction is something that we all want from our jobs. Working with children offers the potential to find exactly that, especially if you love kids, there are plenty of possibilities. When it comes to careers involving children, the variety is wider than ever. We specialise in highly qualified staff and we aim to have a minimum of level 6 qualified Early Childhood Educators in all areas of our service. If you are interested in a career with Buttercup Childcare, Please forward your CV to ballypreschool@gmail.com