About the ISAA
The Irish South African Association (ISAA) exists to facilitate social contact between Irish people, those of Irish descent and anyone who has an interest in the Irish and Ireland.
Everyone is welcome to join the Association (you don’t have to be Irish) and to attend our many functions. Our main event of the year is held on St Patrick’s day, but we hold many other events including a golf day, quiz evenings, Irish food and wine pairings, films with an Irish interest, and many more.
There are currently three chapters of the association in South Africa: Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban. Download the ISAA Constitution HERE.
The Irish South African Association gratefully acknowledges the on-going support of the Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin and the Embassy of Ireland in Pretoria.
Our Cape Town Chapter
Clare Timoney Nel - Chairperson
Kevin McEvoy - Treasurer
Born in Cape Town. Kevin’s father’s family is from County Tipperary and his mother’s family from County Kilkenny. Kevin is a retired accountant and is involved in his family’s business.
Micaela DeFreitas - Secretary
Ashleigh Hayward - Committee Member
Fr. Dick O’Riordan - Spiritual
Born at Monard, Whitechurch, County Cork. Fr. Dick has lived and worked as a Priest in Cape Town since 1967, with occasional sprints across the borders of South Africa.
Will Carter - Kindred Societies
Will’s Irish heritage can be traced back to ancestors from the Vales of Antrim, but his forbears were Scots. Born in Cape Town he has a strong interest in creative writing, good literature & Celtic music. Will is an active officer in the world’s oldest Christian Order of Chivalry and his passion is spending meditation time in rainforests around the globe.
Zoe Asmal - Committee Member
Holly Hayes - Committee Member
Our Gauteng Chapter
Helen Greene - Chairperson
Helen lives in Johannesburg with her husband John, a fellow Dub, and their two children, Trixie and Oscar. She works in Risk Strategy at a South African bank. In her spare time, Helen practices MMA, enjoys wine tasting and is passionate about sustainability. Helen is the ISAA-Gauteng resident MC for our annual St. Patrick’s Day event.
Breda Kenealy - Secretary
Breda is from Dublin. She spent 7 years in Zambia before coming to South Africa in 1976. She has been involved with various Irish Associations for the past 40 years. Breda is one of the founder members of the Irish South African Association.
Jacqui Barnes - Committee Member
Jacqui is South African born, tracing her Irish ancestry back a few generations, to Tipperary. She is proud of her Irish heritage and has a strong interest in building the ties between Ireland and SA. Jacqui is a marketing and strategy professional, currently working for public health and education causes across Africa.
Eion O’Driscoll - Treasurer
Rosemary Yates - Committee Advisor
Our Durban Chapter
Raymond (Ray) McNulty - Chairperson Durban
Born in Killala, Co Mayo. Came to South Africa in 1969 and has been here on and off since. Lives in Westville with his wife Helen. Four children. Almost-retired metalworker. Been a member of the Irish Association for many years, became more active in the past three years. Has been known to tell an almost-true story, and is still trying to figure out what he wants to be when he grows up.
Patricia McCracken - Vice Chairperson
Ronnie Clarke - Treasurer
Born in Belfast, lived in County Down until moving to South Africa in 1975 for the start of TV (TV engineer); widower of 2nd generation Irish Kathleen; joined Irish Friendship Society (precursor of the ISAA); elected Treasurer when ISAA was formed.