Meet Our Team

Lucie Cunningham

Founder & CEO, THE HomeShare

Lucie Cunningham is the Founder and CEO of THE HomeShare, Ireland's leading professionally managed Homeshare organisation. An award-winning social entrepreneur, Lucie was recognised as AIBF Social Entrepreneur of the Year 2025 in recognition of her innovative work transforming how Ireland supports older people to age well while creating affordable housing opportunities for younger generations.

With more than 25 years' experience across healthcare, homecare and community services in both Ireland and the UK, Lucie has dedicated her career to helping people navigate some of life's most significant challenges. She is deeply passionate about empowering older people to remain living safely, independently and with dignity in their own homes for as long as possible, while also supporting families to navigate the practical and emotional complexities that often accompany ageing, illness, disability and changing housing needs.

Lucie began her nursing studies at Middlesex University in London before building a career grounded in compassionate, person-centred care. Following a six-year career break working as long-haul cabin crew with British Airways, she returned to healthcare with a unique blend of clinical expertise, communication skills and a strong commitment to delivering exceptional experiences for the people she supports.

Inspired by the belief that one simple idea could simultaneously address loneliness, housing shortages and pressures on health services, Lucie founded THE HomeShare in 2017. Under her leadership, the organisation has facilitated hundreds of Homeshare arrangements across Ireland, received multiple national awards, and has become a recognised voice in discussions on ageing, housing and preventative healthcare. Lucie has also successfully championed the inclusion of professionally managed Homesharing within Irish Government policy, helping position Ireland as an international leader in recognising Homesharing as part of the solution to demographic and housing challenges.

A respected speaker and advocate, Lucie regularly engages with Government departments, the HSE, local authorities, universities and community organisations to promote innovative, preventative approaches that enable people to age well in the communities they know and love. Her vision extends beyond Homesharing—she believes everyone should have the opportunity to live with independence, purpose, connection and choice throughout later life.

Lucie also serves on the Board of Homeshare International, contributing to the global development of Homeshare programmes and sharing best practice with organisations around the world. She remains committed to developing practical, evidence-based solutions that strengthen communities, support families and make better use of Ireland's existing homes.

Antoinette O'Reilly is the Homeshare Manager at THE HomeShare, where she has played a key role in supporting the continued growth and development of Ireland's leading professionally managed Homeshare service. Over the past two years, Antoinette has helped facilitate successful Homeshare arrangements, supporting older people, adults living with disabilities, their families and accommodation seekers through every stage of the Homeshare journey.

Antoinette brings a wealth of experience across customer service, social care and community support. After studying Law and Business, she began her career in banking, where she developed strong relationship management, communication and customer care skills while working across a variety of departments.

Following several successful years in banking, Antoinette took time to raise her family before volunteering as a parenting coach. Inspired by her passion for supporting people, she returned to education to study Community and Social Care, followed by Applied Social Studies, where she developed a particular interest in supporting older adults and people living with intellectual disabilities.

Prior to joining THE HomeShare, Antoinette worked in day services supporting adults with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities, gaining valuable experience in person-centred care, advocacy and promoting independence.

At THE HomeShare, Antoinette is recognised for her calm, compassionate and professional approach. She is passionate about creating meaningful, safe and sustainable Homeshare arrangements that enable people to continue living independently in their own homes while improving quality of life for everyone involved.

Antoinette has a particular interest in safeguarding, relationship building and empowering individuals to make informed choices about their future. She believes trust, empathy and open communication are the foundations of every successful Homeshare arrangement and is committed to ensuring every Householder, Sharer and family feels supported throughout their Homeshare experience.

Thomas Suter has been a valued member of THE HomeShare team for over two years, bringing a unique combination of operational experience, business insight and a strong commitment to social innovation. Having supported THE HomeShare in various capacities since its establishment in 2017, Thomas has developed a deep understanding of the organisation's mission and the transformative impact professionally managed Homesharing can have on individuals, families and communities.

Thomas began his career as a professionally trained chef, working in several prestigious five-star hotels, where he developed exceptional organisational, communication and customer service skills within fast-paced, high-performance environments. He later expanded his expertise by studying International Business and Spanish, gaining a broader understanding of global business, entrepreneurship and cross-cultural collaboration.

As a young Irish professional who has experienced the realities of Ireland's housing challenges firsthand, Thomas is passionate about developing practical solutions that benefit both older people wishing to remain living independently and younger generations seeking affordable accommodation. He believes Homesharing is one of Ireland's most effective yet underutilised community-based solutions, addressing housing, social isolation and healthy ageing through a single, person-centred model.

Within THE HomeShare, Thomas supports a range of strategic and operational initiatives, contributing to organisational development, business growth and the continued expansion of Homeshare services nationwide. His combination of commercial awareness, innovative thinking and strong belief in social enterprise continues to help shape the future direction of the organisation.

Thomas is committed to helping build stronger, more connected communities and believes that innovative, intergenerational approaches such as Homesharing can play a significant role in addressing some of Ireland's most pressing social challenges.

Ciara Hegarty is THE HomeShare's Munster Homeshare Consultant and has been supporting and growing the organisation's Homeshare community across Munster for over five years. Drawing on more than 20 years of experience as a Senior Physiotherapist in both Ireland and the UK, Ciara brings extensive clinical expertise and a deep commitment to helping people remain living independently in their own homes.

Throughout her healthcare career, Ciara has developed specialist expertise in the care of older people, intellectual disabilities, rehabilitation, falls prevention and crisis intervention. Much of her work has been community-based, supporting individuals to regain confidence and independence following illness or hospital admission, while helping them maintain their mobility, wellbeing and quality of life.

Over the past five years with THE HomeShare, Ciara has successfully managed and developed Homeshare arrangements throughout Munster, working closely with older people, adults living with disabilities, families, healthcare professionals and accommodation seekers. She has facilitated numerous successful Homeshare arrangements, ensuring every match is carefully assessed, person-centred and designed to promote safety, independence and meaningful companionship.

Ciara is a passionate advocate for preventative, community-based approaches that enable people to age well in the homes and communities they know and love. She believes professionally managed Homesharing provides not only practical day-to-day support and companionship but also invaluable reassurance for families, helping to reduce loneliness, improve wellbeing and delay the need for more intensive health and social care services.

Known for her compassionate, approachable and collaborative style, Ciara is committed to empowering individuals to make informed choices about how they live, ensuring every person she supports feels respected, connected and able to live as independently as possible.

Geraldine Kubernat is THE HomeShare's Connacht Homeshare Consultant and has been an integral member of the organisation for over five years. Drawing on more than 30 years of experience as a Senior Occupational Therapist, Geraldine brings a wealth of clinical knowledge, compassion and practical expertise to supporting Homeshare arrangements across the west of Ireland.

Having worked throughout both Ireland and the UK, Geraldine has extensive experience across care of older people, physical disability, rehabilitation and mental health. Much of her career has been community-based, supporting individuals to maximise their independence, remain safely in their own homes and continue living fulfilling lives within their local communities.

Throughout her career, Geraldine has seen first-hand that while most people wish to remain living at home for as long as possible, many also experience loneliness, social isolation and increasing challenges in managing everyday life. This understanding fuels her passion for Homesharing as a preventative, person-centred solution that promotes independence, companionship and wellbeing.

As Connacht Homeshare Consultant, Geraldine works closely with householders, families, healthcare professionals and accommodation seekers to develop safe, successful and sustainable Homeshare arrangements. Her clinical background enables her to carefully assess individual needs while ensuring each match is tailored to support independence, dignity and quality of life.

Geraldine is highly regarded for her warm, empathetic and thoughtful approach. She is passionate about empowering people to make informed choices about how and where they live, believing that with the right support, many more people can continue to enjoy the comfort, familiarity and security of their own home for years to come.

Rayra Fonseca is THE HomeShare's Digital Innovation and Systems Lead, combining expertise in IT, web development and digital marketing with more than three years of first-hand experience as a Homesharer. Her unique combination of technical knowledge and lived experience enables her to develop digital solutions that genuinely reflect the needs of both householders and sharers.

Since joining THE HomeShare, Rayra has played a pivotal role in transforming the organisation's digital infrastructure. She led the complete redevelopment of THE HomeShare website, creating the modern, accessible and user-friendly platform that visitors experience today. The new website has significantly improved the user journey, making it easier for people to understand Homesharing, access information and engage with the service.

Beyond the website, Rayra has designed and implemented a range of digital systems and automations that streamline day-to-day operations, improve efficiency and support the organisation's continued national growth. Her work behind the scenes has helped create a scalable digital infrastructure that enables THE HomeShare team to deliver a high-quality, responsive service while continuing to expand across Ireland.

Having experienced Homesharing personally, Rayra understands the life-changing impact that safe, professionally managed Homeshare arrangements can have. This perspective informs everything she creates, ensuring technology is always used to strengthen human connection rather than replace it.

Rayra is passionate about using innovation to solve real-world challenges and believes digital technology should make services more accessible, intuitive and person-centred. Her creativity, technical expertise and commitment to continuous improvement continue to play an important role in shaping the future of THE HomeShare and ensuring the organisation remains at the forefront of social innovation.