An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta was founded under the provisions of Article 31 of the Education Act of 1998 following a campaign led by Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge, Gaelscoileanna & Eagraíocht na Scoileanna Gaeltachta to establish a structure to cater for the educational needs of Gaeltacht schools and of Gaelscoileanna. There are functions also in Article 31 relating to the teaching of Irish in the country’s other schools.

The Comhairle’s role relates to both primary and post-primary education and the three main areas of work are:

• The provision of teaching resources
• The provision of support services
• Research

The Comhairle members – parents, teachers and other experts – were appointed in March 2002. Muireann Ní Mhóráin was appointed Chief Executive in 2002 and Jacqueline Ní Fhearghusa was appointed Chief Executive in 2022.

Cathnia Ó Muircheartaigh – Chairperson
Jacqueline Ní Fhearghusa – Chief Executive

Our Mission Statement

The Team

Executive

Jacqueline Ní Fhearghusa
Jacqueline was appointed as CEO on the 14 March 2022. Jacqueline worked as a Post Primary Irish Inspector for nearly twenty years and she formed part of the team of inspectors working with the Gaeltacht Education Unit since its inception in 2017. She also has evaluation experience in the following areas: Social Personal and Health Education (SPHE), DEIS, Transition Year, Child Protection and Youthreach. Before joining the Inspectorate Jacqueline worked as the director of Gaelscoileanna (known as Gaeloideachas since 2016). Jacqueline also spent some time working with the organisation Glór na nGael and has extensive experience of language communities all over Ireland. She has obtained qualifications in Irish, French, Education, Business, Translation, Conflict Resolution and Corporate Governance.

Pádraig Ó Beaglaoich
Pádraig was appointed as Deputy CEO in October 2022. Prior to that Pádraig worked as an Education Officer (Post-Primary) with COGG from 2016 to 2022. In 2011 he was awarded a Postgraduate Diploma in Education and spent the next 5 years teaching at post-primary level. He has also worked as an freelance Irish translator. He has a keen interest in how technology is developing and how it can be applied to Irish. In 2016 he was awarded a Professional Diploma in Digital Marketing and Strategy. He was awarded an MSc in Education and Training Management in 2020.

Research

Pól Ó Cainín
Appointed Research and Publications Assistant in 2005, having previously spent 6 years as Research Assistant in Institiúid Teangeolaíochta Éireann. Having been awarded a doctoral degree by the University of Ulster in 2005, he was a member of the team working on the Collins Gem Irish English dictionary.

Executive Officers

Aisling Nic Craith (on career break)
Aisling was appointed Higher Executive Officer in January 2018. She spent over five years working in the Finance Department of Foras na Gaeilge. Prior to that, she worked as Executive Officer with COGG from 2003 – 2012. She secured an MSc degree in Business and Information Technology in Dublin City University. Aisling spent eight years working in the tourism sector after spending years abroad.

Steph Uí Choinne
Steph was appointed as Executive Officer with COGG in April 2019.  She graduated from the University of Ulster, Coleraine with a degree in Irish and spent several years working as an Irish language translator.  She spent a year working with the Irish Language Broadcast Fund in Belfast before taking up a position in the Chief Executive’s office of Foras na Gaeilge for almost 11 years.

Brigid de Búrca
Brigid was appointed as Executive Officer in June 2023. She is on secondment from the Department of Social Protection where she commenced working in September 2016. From July 2010 to September 2016, she worked as a translator’s assistant in the Irish language unit of the General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union. In 2008, she graduated with a degree in Irish and French from St. Patrick’s College, a college of Dublin City University.

Education Officers

Education Officer (Digital)

Frank Ó Tormaigh
Frank was appointed Education Officer (Digital) in March 2020. In 2008 he was awarded with Higher Diploma in Primary Education and spent 12 years teaching at primary level. He spent the last of those two years as Assistant Principal 1 in Gaelscoil Eiscir Riada, Lucan. In 2017 he graduated with a Masters degree in Digital Learning from Dublin City University where he also spent 2 years as a part-time lecturer with the SEIG department. Frank has also worked as a part-time lecturer in Digital Education for the B. Oid. programme in Marino. He holds a Professional Diploma in Social Media for the Public Services and a Professional Diploma in Innovation in the Public Service. He led a cluster group as part of the Schools Excellence Fund for 2 years.

Gaeltacht Education Policy

Micheál S. MacDonnacha
Micheál was appointed Education Officer for Gaeltacht Education Policy by COGG in 2017. He is seconded from Scoil Mhic Dara, An Cheathrú Rua, Co. Galway. He worked as an Irish and DEIS Advisor with the Primary Curriculum Support Programme and the Primary Development Support Team from 2006 – 2014. He is member of various Boards of Management in Gaeltacht areas and he is elected to the Board of Gaeloideachas. He is the chairperson of Chomhairle Raidió na Gaeltachta. He is also a member of the INTO standing committee.

Toirdealbhach Ó Lionáird
Toirdealbhach was appointed Post-Primary Officer in January 2023. Toirdealbhach is on secondment from Coláiste Ghobnatan, Ballyvourney, Co. Cork, where he worked as a French and English teacher, as Principal from 2017-2022 and Deputy Principal from 2012-2017. He has worked as a director in charge of undergraduate and postgraduate at third level. He attained Postgraduate Diplomas in School Planning and School Leadership. He attained a Masters in All-Irish and Gaeltacht Education in Coláiste Mhuire gan Smál in 2020. He is currently working on a doctorate which investigates: The Impact of Gaeltacht Education Policy on the experience, identity and role of the post-primary Gaeltacht principal.

Post-Primary Education Officers

Aoife Ní Shéaghdha
Aoife was appointed as Post-Primary Education Officer with COGG in January 2023. She has over 20 years of experience working in the field of third level education in the teaching of Irish (UoG, UCC) and pursuing research in the field of language planning and all-Irish and Gaeltacht education (eg. Current State of Gaeltacht Schools 2004 and Good Practices in All-Irish Education 2017). Before that, she spent five years working in Scotland as a researcher/journalist with BBC Alba. She was one of the researchers of the major Gaeltacht study for the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (2007) – The Comprehensive Linguistic Study on the Use of Irish in the Gaeltacht. She spent five years working as an Irish manager/tutor in Dún Chíomháin, Gaeltacht Centre UCC, located in Ballyferriter, Gaeltacht Chorca Dhuibhne. 

Dr. Róisín Ní Mhulláin
Róisín was appointed Post-Primary Education officer in January 2023. She spent fifteen years in St. Angela’s College, Sligo, as a lecturer dealing with teachers and with post-graduate students and has experience as a director of thesis and research and as a tutor in school placements. Before that, she spent a period working as a primary school teacher in Gaelscoil Eoghain Uí Thuairisc, Carlow and she spent various periods as an Irish teacher dealing with complete beginners, primary school and secondary school learners, and adult learners. She has attained various qualifications in teaching and in translation. She has an M.A. in Modern Irish and she has a PhD in Young Irish literature.

Primary Education Officers

Tríona Nic Fhinn
Tríona Nic Fhinn was appointed as Education Officer (STEM) with COGG in August 2023. She attained a Bachelor of Arts in 2002 and a Postgraduate Certificate in Education from St Mary’s College, Belfast, in 2003. She then spent 11 years working as a teacher. During this time, she attained a Masters in Science (Leadership and Management) from Leeds Beckett University. She worked with the Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST) as well, on the primary school STEM team designing and facilitating professional development for primary school teachers in Mathematics, Science and STEM. She also spent time working as a School Placement Tutor for the Marino Institute of Education. At the moment, she is working on a Masters in  Education Studies (Primary Mathematics Education).

Bríd Ní Dhonnchadha
Bríd Ní Dhonnchadha was appointed Primary School Education Officer with COGG in August 2023. She is a primary school teacher seconded from Gaelscoil Raifteirí in Castlebar, Co. Mayo. She attained a Bachelor’s degree in Education in Coláiste Phádraig and she has experience as a primary school teacher in various contexts in the education system. After attaining a Higher Diploma in Business Studies, she spent a period working in the television sector. Bríd worked with the Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST) as a Literary Advisor. She spent eighteen years working in continuous professional development for teachers with a particular emphasis on providing support to teachers and school leaders in the areas of language and literacy. She is a former Irish tutor with Hibernia College. She is interested in every aspect of teaching Irish and teaching through Irish.

CLIL Education Officer

Caitlín Ní Ruanaidh
Caitlín Ní Ruanaidh was appointed as CLIL Education Officer in April 2024. She is a post-primary school teacher with 15 years of experience in various settings in the education system across the whole island.
She is currently on secondment from Coláiste Feirste in Belfast, where she worked as a history teacher and school manager since 2018. In her role as school manager, Caitlín was the Head of the History Department, a Learning Leader, and a teacher-tutor for newly qualified teachers.
She has attained a vast range of qualifications, including a BA from the University of Galway, a Postgraduate Certificate in Applied Communcations from the Academy of Irish-Language University Education, PGCE from Ulster University, and TICO from St. Mary’s University College.
In 2023, Caitlín completed a Masters in Education from St. Mary’s University College, Belfast, where her thesis focused on CLIL and the integration of the Irish language in subject-based practice.

Communications and Marketing Officer

Bláthnaid Uí Fhátharta
Bláthnaid Uí Fhátharta was appointed as COGG’s Communications and Marketing Officer in September, 2024. She is a secondary school teacher of Irish and French on secondment from Coláiste Cholmcille, Indreabhán. She has over twenty years experience teaching in various full-immersion Irish and English contexts. She earned a Higher Diploma in Applied Communications, a Higher Diploma in Education and a Postgraduate Certificate in Translation from University College Galway. She is currently working on a thesis as part of her MA in Translation Studies.
She spent seven years working as an Irish language advisor on the Irish team and then as a professional learning leader with the teacher support services (Junior Cycle for Teachers, JCT and Oide) supporting teachers and school leaders in Gaelcholáistí and Gaeltacht Schools with Junior Cycle implementation. She also acted as the JCT Coordinator on the Department of Education’s CLIL/FCÁT pilot project for a year.

Council Members

The members of the current Comhairle (parents, teachers and other educationalists) were appointed for a new term of office ending March 2022. The role of An Chomhairle is to enact the provisions of Article 31 of the Education Act (1998).

Minutes of COGG Meetings

Available here.