About rabble.coop
We're a small tech cooperative based in Belfast. We support social-purpose organisations to achieve sophistication in their use of technology and better realise their goals. We bring programming and development expertise to each project, as well as decades of experience in social justice organising, policy analysis, teaching and facilitation, journalism and project management.
Members
Dessie Donnelly
Dessie is a seasoned trade union and social justice organiser. Before co-founding rabble.coop with Ruairí in 2021, he worked with SEIU in the USA, as well as UNISON and Participation and Practice of Rights (PPR) in Ireland.
Alarmed by social movements’ growing reliance on Big Tech, a trend that intensified during the Covid lockdowns, Dessie spearheaded PPR’s transformation into a human rights organisation that championed free software and digital rights. In 2020, he took a sabbatical to explore how technology could enhance strategies for social change, earning a Diploma in Software Engineering alongside qualifications in computer networks and server management.
At rabble.coop, Dessie identifies and develops ethical software alternatives to Big Tech products, ensuring their services align with the values of their partners. He also specialises in data, helping clients collect and analyse information to craft impactful campaigns. Additionally, Dessie offers consultancy to organisations seeking to harness technology more effectively.
Based in Ireland, he remains dedicated to empowering social movements through innovative and ethical tech solutions.
Ruairí Mc Cann
Ruairí is the lead developer at rabble.coop, where he designs and builds websites and apps, seamlessly aligning client needs with robust software and elegant design. He also creates training materials and resources, empowering social movements and campaigning organisations by making technology more accessible.
Ruairí’s passion for free software began in his teens, sparked by the sense of liberation he felt when he replaced Windows with Linux on his first laptop.
Originally from Belfast, he studied journalism before spending 15 years in Paris as a literature and drama teacher. In 2021, he co-founded rabble.coop with Dessie, combining his love for technology with his commitment to social change.
Ruairí has always been inspired by technology’s power to break down barriers to information, from platforms like Wikileaks challenging state secrecy to the rise of online self-publishing disrupting traditional media. In 2020, he left teaching to fully dedicate himself to software development.
Nathalie Caleyron
Nath is the creative force behind rabble.coop’s visual identity, crafting artwork, logos, icon sets, and illustrations that bring their projects to life.
A dedicated trade union organiser with UNISON in Ireland, Nath is also an accomplished artist and printmaker. Since 2020, she has been a member of Seacourt Print Workshop, honing her craft. Through her Etsy shop, she supports causes close to her heart, such as Palestinian liberation.
Nath’s distinctive artistic style adds a unique flair to every rabble.coop project, ensuring their clients’ impactful work is presented to the world with beauty and professionalism.
Based in Belfast, Nath combines her passion for art and social justice to create visuals that inspire and resonate.