History & Our Team
Our Story
Insolvency Resolution Service (IRS) Ireland is a dedicated personal insolvency practice helping people deal with serious debt, mortgage arrears, creditor pressure and the risk of losing their home.
We understand that financial difficulty can feel overwhelming. Many people come to us after months or years of worry, missed payments, letters from creditors, court documents or failed attempts to agree a solution directly with their lender. Our role is to take the pressure off, explain your options clearly and help you find a realistic way forward.
IRS Ireland was founded in 2013 by Denise and Mitchell O’Brien in Dungarvan, Co. Waterford, at the very beginning of Ireland’s personal insolvency system. It was one of the first dedicated personal insolvency practices in the country and has been involved in helping individuals and families through the process for more than a decade.
The practice has also been involved in many important firsts in Irish personal insolvency. Mitchell O’Brien was the first Personal Insolvency Practitioner authorised by the Insolvency Service of Ireland. IRS Ireland was involved in the first Protective Certificate for a Personal Insolvency Arrangement, the first court-approved Personal Insolvency Arrangement, and Ireland’s first accelerated PIAs.
In 2026, IRS Ireland merged with Dublin practice McNamara & Associates, founded by Cathal McNamara. Cathal has originally trained with Mitchell at the beginning of his personal insolvency career. This brought together two experienced personal insolvency teams and created a larger nationwide practice with offices in Dungarvan and Dublin.
Today, IRS Ireland is one of the largest dedicated personal insolvency practices in the country. The practice combines deep experience, practical financial knowledge and a compassionate approach to helping people resolve unmanageable debt.
We work with clients across Ireland who may be facing mortgage arrears, unsecured debts, judgment mortgages, Revenue debt, legal proceedings, bankruptcy concerns or pressure from creditors. Every case is different, so we take time to understand your full financial position before advising on the options available.
Where appropriate, we can help clients explore formal debt solutions such as a Personal Insolvency Arrangement, Debt Settlement Arrangement or Bankruptcy. We also help clients understand alternatives such as mortgage restructure, voluntary sale, mortgage-to-rent or other practical arrangements, depending on their circumstances.
Our aim is simple: to help you understand what your options are, and what steps can be taken next.
We believe debt advice should be clear, respectful and practical. You will not be judged. You will not be rushed. You will be given honest advice in plain English, so you can make informed decisions about your future.
At IRS Ireland, we work to find debt solutions that are realistic for you and acceptable to your creditors, with the goal of helping you return to long-term financial stability.
Our Team
Mitchell O'Brien PIP
Co-Founder & Personal Insolvency Practitioner
Mitchell O’Brien is Ireland’s first and most experienced Personal Insolvency Practitioner.
Together with Denise O’Brien, Mitchell founded IRS Ireland in Dungarvan, Co. Waterford, as one of the first dedicated personal insolvency practices in the country. He has helped shape the personal insolvency system in Ireland from the very beginning and has been involved in many important firsts, including the first Protective Certificate and the first court-approved Personal Insolvency Arrangement.
For clients, Mitchell brings deep experience, calm advice and a practical understanding of what it takes to deal with serious debt problems. His focus has always been on helping people find a workable way forward and avoid bankruptcy where possible.
Mitchell has also contributed to a number of national working groups connected with personal insolvency and debt solutions. He features regularly in national print media and radio.
Cathal McNamara PIP
Personal Insolvency Practitioner
Cathal originally trained with Mitchell O’Brien before founding McNamara & Associates, a dedicated personal insolvency practice based in Swords, Co. Dublin.
In 2026, McNamara & Associates merged with IRS Ireland, bringing together the Dublin and Dungarvan teams to create one of Ireland’s largest dedicated personal insolvency practices.
For clients, Cathal brings practical experience, clear advice and a calm understanding of what it takes to deal with serious debt problems. His focus is on helping people understand their options, engage with creditors and find a workable way forward.
Cathal’s approach is straightforward and respectful. He works with clients to find realistic, fair and sustainable solutions, with the aim of helping them return to long-term financial stability.
In 2026, Cathal was elected to the committee of the Association of Personal Insolvency Practitioners, the representative body for Personal Insolvency Practitioners in Ireland.
Alan O'Kennedy PIP
Personal Insolvency Practitioner
Alan O’Kennedy is a qualified Personal Insolvency Practitioner with over six years’ experience helping individuals and families in financial difficulty.
Alan has a strong accounting and financial background, which helps him carefully review each client’s position and identify practical debt solutions. He has experience in debt restructuring, Personal Insolvency Arrangements and other statutory insolvency options.
Alan is known for his clear, steady and supportive approach. He understands that financial difficulty can be stressful and overwhelming, and he works with clients to make the process easier to understand. His focus is on finding realistic solutions that can help people regain financial stability and peace of mind.
Irene Feeney McNamara
Practice Manager
Irene Feeney McNamara is Practice Manager at IRS Ireland.
Irene helps oversee the day-to-day running of the practice and supports the team in delivering a clear, organised and responsive service to clients. Her role includes helping to coordinate client communications, case administration, our bespoke case management system, internal processes and practice operations across the Dublin and Dungarvan offices.
For clients, Irene’s focus is on making the process feel as straightforward and supported as possible. She understands that contacting a personal insolvency practice can be a difficult first step, and she helps ensure that clients are treated with care, respect and understanding from the beginning.
Lizzy Ryan LLB, BCJ
Case Manager
Lizzy Ryan is a member of the Case Management Team at IRS Ireland. She works closely with the Personal Insolvency Practitioners to support clients through each stage of the personal insolvency process.
Lizzy helps manage cases from the early stages, including Protective Certificate applications, the preparation of Personal Insolvency Arrangement proposals and the progression of court review cases where required.
Before joining IRS Ireland, Lizzy qualified and practised as both a Solicitor and a Barrister in New Zealand. Her legal background helps her guide cases carefully and clearly, while keeping the client’s position and next steps at the centre of the process.
Lizzy’s role is to help ensure that clients are supported, informed and kept moving forward throughout their case.
Lina Kazlauskiene
Senior Case Processor
Lina Kazlauskiene is a Senior Case Processor at IRS Ireland.
Lina works closely with clients, creditors and the Personal Insolvency Practitioners to help prepare and progress cases. Her role includes gathering information, reviewing documents and helping to build a clear picture of each client’s financial position.
Lina understands that every client’s situation is different. Some people are dealing with mortgage arrears, others with unsecured debts, court proceedings or long-term financial pressure. Lina helps ensure that the details are carefully prepared so that the right solution can be considered.
Her work is an important part of helping clients move from uncertainty towards a structured plan for recovery.
Stanislav Tertychyni
Case Processor
Stan Tertychyni is a Case Processor at IRS Ireland and is often one of the first people clients speak with when starting the process.
Stan helps clients gather and organise the financial information needed by the Personal Insolvency Practitioners. This includes reviewing documents, preparing case information and making sure the details are accurate and complete.
Accuracy is very important in personal insolvency, as the information may be used for creditor proposals and court applications. Stan’s role is to help avoid delays and make the process as smooth as possible for clients.
Stan enjoys supporting clients from the early stages of their case and helping them take the first steps towards long-term financial stability.
