You were born and raised in Dublin, what are the best things about the county?

I love Dublin. I love how diverse the different areas are. There's an abundance of things to do and see, from the bustling city to the beautiful coastline to the rugged mountains.

Where did you learn your Irish?

Although I was not raised with Irish, I have always had a keen interest in the language and the culture that surrounds it. I was fortunate that my parents sent me to the Gaeltacht every summer as a teenager. This gave me the opportunity to nurture my language skills and my love for our heritage. I continued to study Irish at university.

You graduated from Dublin City University with a degree in Journalism and Irish. You subsequently completed two diplomas in Digital Marketing and Strategy, and in Technology Commercialisation. Tell us about your learning journey.

I benefited a lot from the course in Journalism and Irish at Dublin City University. Not only did it inspire me to improve my language ability, but I also gained a valuable understanding of the publishing sector, multimedia and communications. These skills helped me forge a career in marketing for myself after leaving university.

The marketing sector changes very quickly, particularly social media and artificial intelligence.

I think it's important to keep up with those changes to make a powerful impact in marketing. I have completed several courses since graduating from my undergraduate degree, including a postgraduate course in Technology Commercialisation, a Diploma in Digital Marketing and a Professional Diploma in Artificial Intelligence for marketing.

You started with Gaelchultúr as a Sales and Marketing Manager and you are now the Deputy Commercial Director. Tell us about your professional development.

Travel opportunities were what I wanted most when I finished university. I was fortunate to find marketing opportunities in the tourism sector. I spent time living in London working with Tourism Ireland before taking on a marketing manager role with an international travel company. This role involved a lot of travel and was a great opportunity to get to know European cities.

My oldest daughter was born in 2020. At that point I decided to find a job that matched my own values. I started working with Gaelchultúr later that year.

I am very committed to my work with Gaelchultúr. We have made many developments over the last few years, from designing new sites to inventing unique contemporary courses. I was appointed as the college's Deputy Commercial Director in January 2025.

How do you keep your skills up to date?

It is important to be knowledgeable and ahead of emerging trends when dealing with marketing and e-commerce.

I am a curious person and enjoy taking training courses when I have the opportunity. I believe there are many learning opportunities for us beyond the traditional classroom as well. I am always open and committed to learning new things, especially from colleagues, news and podcasts.

How did Gaelchultúr come into being?

Gaelchultúr was established in 2004. Initially, there was a plan to establish an Irish language centre in Dublin. That idea was unsuccessful, and the company went in a different direction. Now, we are the largest provider of Irish-medium courses in the world and the first Irish-medium third-level institution.

How has the company developed over the years?

Gaelchultúr started out offering on-site evening classes in Temple Bar. Offering classes to the public sector began soon after, and we have since grown and developed considerably. In addition to the wide range of general courses we offer online and on-site, we also offer folklore and specialist courses aimed at specific sectors and professionals.

We are also now a third-level college, offering a postgraduate course in translation and other QQI-accredited courses.

We offer self-directed courses through our e-learning site, ranganna.com, and offer numerous publications for learners and teachers alike.

What are the benefits of Gaelchultúr courses?

Gaelchultúr is committed to providing the best Irish language courses and resources for learners worldwide. We are therefore proud that 94% of our learners stated that they were more confident speaking the language after taking a course with us.

We provide learning opportunities for all learners, from absolute beginners to fluent speakers looking to achieve accuracy in grammar. In addition to the live courses we offer, we give learners access to additional e-learning resources through our website ranganna.com, allowing them to improve and build confidence beyond the classroom.

Gaelchultúr courses are taken by people from all over the world, and when you enrol on a course with us, you become a member of this dynamic network.

Since 2010 Gaelchultúr has been providing Irish language courses to people working in the public sector. Has there been any change in the number of attendees after the Official Languages (Amendment) Act 2021?

Certainly! The demand for professionals with Irish is higher than ever since the implementation of the Official Languages (Amendment) Act 2021. Employers are actively seeking candidates who can communicate effectively in both Irish and English. This makes bilingualism a valuable resource in today's job market. People now understand the value of Irish as a language of communication in professional life and are investing in themselves to enhance these valuable language skills.

How can people that are working in the public sector register for a Gaelchultúr course?

I would encourage anyone interested in increasing their language skills to take a look at Gaelchultúr's website to get a better understanding of the different training opportunities we offer.

If anyone is interested in learning more about the wide range of courses offered at Gaelchultúr, simply contact us at fios@gaelchultur.com to discuss the programme and registration process.

What's the best advice you've ever received?

Do your best. No matter what your task is, try to complete it to the highest standard you can.

Accept advice and suggestions from others. There is no wise man without fault and no one is too skilled or senior to learn something new. Welcome feedback and advice from your team.

How do you relax after a day's work? 

I don't live far from the sea. The beach is definitely one of the things that relaxes me the most when I'm feeling under pressure. I swim in the sea as often as possible, or if it's too wild, as it's been lately, I go for a walk by the beach.

What is your favorite word or phrase in Irish?

I love the phrase maireann croí éadrom i bhfad / a light heart lives a long time, and I try to remind myself of it when I'm stressed.