Seán Ó Coinn is from Mullaghbawn in County Armagh, where he lives with his wife Áine.
Seán has worked as a presenter on BBC Radio Ulster, as a teacher of Irish at secondary level and as a researcher at Queen’s University Belfast for the Northern Ireland Place Names Scheme. Seán was also a Project Manager with on the Tí Chulainn cultural centre in Mullaghbawn and an examinations’ translator with the NI Council for Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment. He spent 10 years as Chief Executive Officer for Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta, the organisation for the promotion of Irish-medium education in Northern Ireland. He was one of the founders of Naíscoil & Bunscoil Ard Mhacha. He was appointed as Deputy CEO/Director of Education Services in Foras na Gaeilge in September 2011 and as CEO of Foras na Gaeilge in December 2016.
Edel Ní Chorráin grew up in Garrison in County Fermanagh. She is a graduate of the University of Ireland, Galway (BA in Irish and Mathematics). She attended Queen’s University Belfast, where she gained a Post Graduate Degree in Education and a M.Sc. in Education Multimedia.
Edel has spent periods teaching in Coláiste Feirste in Belfast, in Coláiste Chineál Eoghain in County Donegal and as an Assistant Editor with Foras na Gaeilge. She was appointed as Education Manager for Irish-medium Education, Post-primary, with the Council for Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) in 2012 and during that period she was responsible for providing resources to the Irish-medium post-primary sector in the north, including online resources. Edel was appointed Deputy Chief Executive & Director of Education Services in august 2017.
Shane Ó hEidhin was born and raised in Dublin. He attended Scoil Lorcáin, Monkstown and Coláiste Eoin, Booterstown. He has a first class honours Business Degree from DCU (Finance & German) and an MSc in Quantitative Finance from Smurfit Business School.
Shane is a qualified professional accountant and tax consultant (FCCA & AITI). Prior to his appointment with Foras na Gaeilge, he had more than a decade of experience with PwC as a senior manager where he advised some of the largest companies in Ireland and internationally. He also had the opportunity to work as a manager with Microsoft (on secondment from PwC) during that time. Shane now has all elements of corporate affairs in Foras na Gaeilge under his remit, including finance, HR, communications and IT.
Breandán has been with Foras na Gaeilge since it’s foundation in 1999 and has been working in the Irish language sector since 1994. During his time with Foras na Gaeilge and it’s predecessor Bord na Gaeilge, Breandán has held a wide range of portfolio’s. Starting off in ÁIS, the specialist book distribution division, Breandán has held roles in Business Development, Communications, Media Relations and Technology before returning to ÁIS as Programme Manager in 2011 where he remained until his appointment to the role of Director earlier this year. Is his role as Director of Development Services Breandán will oversee the development and implementation of policy and strategy in the areas of Community and Business development, Media, the Arts and in the Public Sector. He will also direct Foras na Gaeilge’s Language Planning Unit and Colmcille, in addition to serving as a member of the senior management team. Breandán is also the Foras na Gaeilge representative on the Governments Irish Language Services Advisory Committee.
Pól Deeds is from Belfast and lives in the west of the city with his family. He attended St. Mary’s School of the Christian Brothers and later the University of Ulster, Coleraine. It was there in 2000 that he received an honors degree in Humanities, with Irish as his main subject, as well as a PhD in Irish Studies in 2005. He obtained a Diploma in Management and Strategic Leadership in 2018.
On leaving the university, Pól started working with An Droichead in South Belfast, where he was the head of the Irish language project for almost twenty years. As chief executive there Pól was managing four senior officers and many innovative initiatives were set up in the field of education during his time there: the education program is now the widest provision of classes in the city.
Under Póil’s direction, the Irish language project in South Belfast has grown considerably, and for some time An Droichead has been the largest community-based Irish language organization in the country in terms of employment and turnover. He also has a great desire to encourage interest in the Irish language among communities that have not traditionally been associated with it and was a pioneer in promoting reconciliation while working in South Belfast.