Our Board

Donncha Ó Treasaigh was the first principal of Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh, and led the development of the school from thirty one students in 2006 to nearly seven hundred students in 2019.

Donncha was appointed as Director of Schools with the Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board in May 2019.

Donncha is a native of Cappamore, and attended St. Fintan’s C.B.S., Doon, Co. Limerick.

He graduated from Mary Immaculate College/University of Limerick in 1998 (Honours Degree in Gaeilge & Geography) and completed the Higher Diploma in Education in NUI Maynooth.  In 2000, he graduated with a postgraduate degree in ICT from NUI Maynooth.  He received a Masters in Education (First Class Honours) at Mary Immaculate College in 2020.

He earned significant acclaim in the field of ICT and was involved at National level in several programmes relating to teachers’ professional development.  He was an editor for the NCTE / PDST Technology in Education team on various publications.

He was a member of the Management committee of the Limerick Education Centre and delivered courses to both Primary and Post-Primary teachers through the Education Centre network between 1999 and 2016.

He has considerable experience in management and education leadership.

·         He was Chairperson of the Limerick Principals and Deputy Principals Association for three years between 2011 and 2014.

·         He was Chairperson of NAPD Region 6 (Limerick, Clare & Kerry) between 2012 and 2016.

·         He was also the ETB Sectoral Representative for NAPD Region 6

·         He is Secretary of the ETBI sub-committee on ETB All-Irish Post Primary Colleges

·         He is a Member of the Limerick Education Centre (formerly Treasurer and twice as  Chairperson)

·         He is a Member of the Hunt Museum Board of Directors

·         He led the process in the appointment of Chairperson of the Hunt Museum in 2015, with the former Secretary General of the Department of Finance, Mr. John Moran assuming the role.

·         He is a Member of the national executive of NAPD since November 2015.

·         He chaired the NAPD ICT Committee for three years.

·         He is an Apple Distinguished Educator, Apple Education Trainer and Apple Strategic Planning Consultant.

·         He is a member of the Department of Education and Skills Implementation Advisory Group, established by the Minister for Education and Skills, Richard Bruton TD for the Digital Strategy in Schools Initiative.

·         He was appointed as a Board Member of the Plassey Campus Centre in April 2019 by the Governing Authority of the University of Limerick.

LinkedIn

John Field currently serves as the Director of Finance at University of Limerick, a position he has held since 2009. He was also a manager for the international accountancy firm Ernst & Young from 1993 – 1999.

LinkedIn

Justyna Cwojdzinska is the founder and current director of the Polish Arts Festival. She was previously involved in The Irish Polish Cultural & Business Association (IPCBA) from 2005 – 2010, an organisation in which she served as elected chairperson from 2007 – 2009. Justyna works closely with the Polish Embassy in Dublin promoting Polish culture and intercultural exchange between Ireland and Poland. For the past 11 years of PAF she has managed to present over 100 Polish artists to the Irish audience. During 11th PAF Justyna presented her one person show Nameless in Belltable that was greatly received in Limerick, Dublin and Poland.

LinkedIn

Dr Joe O’Connell currently teaches Education Legislation and Governance on the MA programme in Christian Leadership in Education in Mary Immaculate College, Limerick. He has served as a post-primary school principal, was founding director of St Senan’s Education office supporting the Boards of Management of the Catholic dioceses of Limerick, Kerry and Killaloe and also served as director of Limerick Education Centre. He also currently supports organisations such as the Centre for School Leadership (CSL) the IPPN (The Irish Primary Principals Network), NAPD (National Association of Principals and Deputies), the JMB (Joint Managerial Body) and the ETBI (Education and Training Boards of Ireland).

LinkedIn

Gordon Daly is Director of Service for Social Development in Limerick City & County Council with responsibility for Community Development, Tourism, Culture, Sport, Libraries, Gallery, Museum and Urban & Village Renewal. Gordon has worked in Local Government for over 20 years including as Chief Planner for both Offaly County Council and Clare County Council. He is a Past President and Fellow of the Irish Planning Institute.

Elaine O’Malley

Elaine O’Malley has been associated with the Hunt Museum since 1993 where she was a Docent Guide and researcher. She was a member of the Friends of the Hunt Museum committee and acted as honorary secretary. She is a director and the Chair of the Board of Directors of the Hunt Museum Trust.  She is also a director of the board of Burrenbeo Trust.

Elaine holds a masters degree in Local History and a university certificate in the History of Art and Design from the University of Limerick (UL), a diploma in the history of European Painting from Trinity College, Dublin, and a diploma in Archaeology from NUI Galway. She taught Local History and Art History at UL and is an experienced public lecturer.

Elaine works as an independent lecturer and researcher.

Kerstin Mey was born and educated in Berlin, Germany. She studied for an MA equivalent in Art, and German language and literature at Humboldt University and completed a PhD in Art Theory and Aesthetics there. Before joining University of Limerick, which she currently heads up as Interim President, she held academic positions in universities in Germany and the UK. Her own research is concerned with contemporary and 20th century visual arts and she has a special interest in sculpture and art in public; art as research and the relationship between creative practice, documentation and archives.

Amongst others, Kerstin Mey was Vice-Chair of CHEAD (Council for Higher Education in Art and Design, UK), a member of the Austrian Science Board and of the Supervisory Board of the European Foundation for Press and Media Freedom. She currently serves on a number of Boards of cultural organisations in Ireland including the Hunt Museum, the Irish Chamber Orchestra, the Irish Areal Creation Centre as well as EVA

Eugene Hayes is currently the owner and director of Midwest Corporate Services Limited. He previously worked for Ulster Bank in a career that spanned 32 years.

LinkedIn

LinkedIn

An LSAD graduate, Aileen Galvin is Managing Director of Sync & Swim, the creative marketing and strategic communications agency working in arts, culture and heritage, festivals, entertainment and events, and the tourism and hospitality sectors. Her clients include the National Gallery of Ireland; MoLI – Museum of Literature Ireland; Landmark Productions; The Dean Arts Studio, Dublin; Creative Places; Music Network; Dublin City Arts Office and many more. She curates the art collections for Press Up Hospitality Group. Aileen was Director of Public Engagement & Strategy for the national St. Patrick’s Festival. In 2022, Aileen received an Irish Times Theatre Award and a Writers Guild Award for services to the arts as part of the NCFA National Steering Committee.

LinkedIn

A Grade I Accredited Conservation Architect, Aoife specialises in building conservation and sustainability. Currently Head of Operations at the National Museum of Ireland at Collins Barracks. Formerly with the Office of Public Works as a Senior Conservation Architect.

LinkedIn

Denis is a Managing Partner at BDO Limerick, formerly Director of Taxation Services at Grant Thornton. A graduate of University College Dublin, University College Cork, and the Irish Taxation Institute.

LinkedIn

Catriona is a Radio Presenter on Limerick’s Live 95FM. She worked as a print journalist with the Limerick Post for over 20 years, and has also lectured at Limerick College of Further Education (LCFE).