Our Story
We’re Aoife and Áine, identical twin sisters and the founders of Emerge.
Our journey began when our cousin Aaron was diagnosed with autism. Watching him grow and experience the world inspired us to learn more and sparked a passion that has shaped both our careers.
Since then, we have dedicated our professional lives to supporting autistic children and their families. After completing our undergraduate degrees, we pursued Master’s degrees in Early Intervention and Applied Behaviour Analysis, gaining experience across schools, home-based programmes, specialist services, multidisciplinary teams and international settings.
As we worked with more families, we recognised that many autistic children continued to need support long after one-to-one therapies had ended. While they had made excellent progress, many still found friendships, emotional regulation, confidence and navigating the social world challenging. There were very few services designed to bridge this gap.
We also saw how overwhelming a new diagnosis could be for families. Parents often struggled to find balanced, practical information that recognised their child’s strengths as well as their challenges. We wanted to create a service where children felt understood, friendships could flourish and parents felt genuinely supported.
That vision became Emerge.
Today, Emerge provides expert-led, relationship-focused group programmes where autistic children can build confidence, develop meaningful friendships and strengthen everyday social and emotional skills in carefully matched groups. Since becoming mothers ourselves, our appreciation for the trust families place in us has only grown, and it continues to shape everything we do.
Aine O’Carroll, Co-Founder & Child Development Specialist
Áine holds an Honours Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Care and Education from Mary Immaculate College and a Master's Degree in Applied Behaviour Analysis from Queen's University Belfast, with over 14 years of experience supporting autistic children and their families.
Her experience spans home-based intervention, educational settings and specialist autism services. Throughout her career, Áine has remained committed to providing compassionate, individualised support that respects each child's unique strengths, interests and way of experiencing the world. Her practice has evolved through years of clinical experience, ongoing professional development, listening to families and learning from autistic individuals themselves.
Today, Áine's approach is firmly neuroaffirming, child-led and relationship-focused. She believes meaningful progress is built through connection, emotional safety and genuine engagement. Her work has always been centred on helping children develop confidence, meaningful relationships and everyday life skills in ways that are respectful, enjoyable and tailored to each child's individual needs.
Áine co-founded Emerge Intervention alongside her sister, Aoife. Following the birth of her daughter in March, she continues to contribute to Emerge behind the scenes, supporting the ongoing clinical development, strategic direction and day-to-day operations of the service.
Aoife holds a Bachelor's Degree in Social Care, with a focus on Special Education and Disabilities, and a Master's Degree in Education (Early Intervention) from Trinity College Dublin. She has over 13 years of experience supporting autistic children and their families across a wide range of settings in both Ireland and internationally.
Her experience spans a range of roles, including working as a Home Tutor under the Department of Education, before becoming a Special Educational Needs Coordinator in an international school in Vietnam, where she supported children, families and teachers within mainstream settings.
She later worked in Australia as a Behaviour Therapist as part of a multidisciplinary team supporting autistic children with a wide range of strengths and needs. Following this, Aoife worked privately with families, providing individual support and guidance around assessments, diagnosis and appropriate supports.
Through this work, she saw a clear gap in the support available to families and went on to co-found Emerge Intervention.
Through meeting and working alongside hundreds of families, Aoife became increasingly aware of how overwhelming the early stages of an autism journey can feel. She is passionate about ensuring parents have access to clear, evidence-informed guidance and a supportive professional who will listen without judgement. She believes families should feel empowered, informed and confident as they navigate their child's individual journey.
As co-founder of Emerge Intervention, Aoife now focuses on the continued growth and development of the service, helping to shape its vision while ensuring families continue to receive the high standard of care and support that Emerge is known for. She remains closely involved with families and is always committed to creating a welcoming, supportive environment where both children and parents feel understood, valued and heard.
Aoife O'Carroll, Co-Founder & Early Intervention Specialist
Kelly Moynihan, Lead Group Facilitator
Kelly holds an undergraduate degree in Psychology and Sociology from the University of Limerick and a Master's Degree in Behaviour Analysis from the University of Galway. She has extensive experience supporting autistic children and their families across a range of settings, both individually and in small groups.
Her professional background includes working within a Family Resource Centre, where she supported children with additional needs and those from disadvantaged backgrounds through individual interventions, therapeutic group programmes and mindfulness-based activities that promoted emotional regulation and wellbeing. Kelly also played a key role in developing sensory spaces, helping to secure funding and create environments that supported children's sensory and emotional needs.
Kelly previously worked as a home tutor, partnering closely with families to provide individualised support within the home. These experiences have given her a deep appreciation of the importance of building strong relationships with both children and parents and tailoring support to each family's unique needs.
As Lead Clinician at Emerge Intervention, Kelly leads our group sessions with warmth, enthusiasm and genuine compassion. She has always believed in following each child's lead, recognising that every child has their own interests, strengths and unique way of experiencing the world.
Kelly's approach is neuroaffirming, child-led and relationship-focused. She believes meaningful progress comes through connection, trust and genuine engagement, rather than expecting children to fit into rigid programmes or one-size-fits-all approaches. By building on each child's natural interests and motivations, she creates opportunities for children to develop confidence, meaningful friendships and everyday life skills in ways that are enjoyable, respectful and authentic.
Kelly is equally passionate about supporting parents. She values open, honest communication and believes families should feel listened to, respected and involved throughout their child's journey. Her calm, approachable nature and ability to build trusting relationships with both children and parents make her an invaluable member of the Emerge team.