Music Generation National Development Office

Rosaleen Molloy

National Director

Rosaleen Molloy was appointed the National Director of Music Generation in 2010 and has over 20 years’ experience of working in the field of music education in Ireland – as a secondary school teacher, a vocal and instrumental teacher, a choral and orchestral conductor, a workshop leader, a facilitator and trainer, and director of a wide range of ambitious music development programmes.

Previous strategic leadership roles include Project Director Arts in the Classroom Initiative (1996-1997), Founder/Director of County Wexford Children’s Choir Programme (1997-2002) and County Arts Officer, Wexford County Council (2002-2010).

A former student of Wexford School of Music and honours graduate of the Music and Education Departments of University College Cork, Rosaleen is also a skilled choral music education specialist and holds an Artist Teacher Diploma and Master Teacher Certificate from the Choral Music Experience Institute, USA. She was recently awarded a prestigious Fellowship from the Harvard Business School Alumni Club of Ireland to complete Harvard Business School Strategic Perspectives in Non-Profit Leadership programme.

A passionate advocate and dynamic leader for music education, she has pioneered, strategically designed and led numerous ground-breaking initiatives in music education and music development, which have combined innovative and unique approaches to performance, participation and partnership.

Cathriona Grange

Operations Manager

Cathriona is an experienced project and office manager with many years management experience in a variety of voluntary and private sector positions, including afterschool programmes, nursery services, child and family centres, and facilities management.

Cathriona spent almost 20 years working in Social Care roles which have included all age groups of children and young people.

Cathriona’s qualifications include a Diploma in Social Care from DIT (now TU Dublin), a Post Grad Diploma in Management (for Pastoral and Voluntary Services) from All Hallows College, in conjunction with DCU and DePaul University, Chicago, a NEBOSH certificate in Health and Safety Management, and a QQI Certificate in Project Management.

Cathriona is a member of Diva Voces choir, an award winning four-part female voice choir based in Dublin city, which now regularly performs on Culture Night as well as in various concerts and choral festivals.

Cathriona is also an amateur piano and guitar player, who started piano lessons at a young age and completed grade 8 piano with RIAM. Cathriona has a love of a variety of musical genres, in particular of musical theatre.

Paula Phelan

Head of Quality, Support and Development

Kildare native, Paula, completed her undergraduate BAmus degree in NUI Maynooth. She holds an MA Baroque Performance Practice from Queens University Belfast, an MA Arts Administration and Cultural Policy from University College Dublin, a Postgraduate Diploma in Education from NUI Maynooth and a Postgraduate Diploma in Early Childhood Music from Birmingham City University.

Previously Paula was General Manager of Irish Baroque Orchestra, a Post-Primary Teacher, Freelance Musician Educator, Programme Director of Music Generation Carlow and General Manager of Belvedere Youth Service. Paula brings with her a breadth of experience spanning the worlds of arts and corporate management, music education leadership and practice.

Helen Grant

Finance Manager

Helen Grant as Finance Manager is responsible for developing, maintaining effective accounting/budgeting procedures and producing management accounts/reports. Helen, who is CPA qualified has over ten years’ experience in Finance. Prior to joining Music Generation, Helen worked with various different companies, from service to manufacturing and from medium to large multinational corporations.

Anita Butler

Finance and Administration Officer

Anita Butler is Australian-Irish with a Bachelor Degree in English and Theatre Studies and a Postgraduate Diploma in Integrated Human Studies. Originally from the Southern Highlands of NSW, Australia she has enjoyed living in Dublin with her family for nearly a decade.

Anita has several years’ experience working in operations and as a project officer for the Australian Government, State Revenue Office of Victoria, where she was a key player in substantial modernisation of revenue collection processes. Anita has also volunteered in arts organisations such as Screen Hub and performed in the Melbourne Fringe Theatre Festival. Anita has been an office manager and worked in operations roles for several years in Ireland before working at Music Generation.

Anita has a great love of music, has played violin from a young age and performed in bands over the years. Music has made a hugely positive impact on Anita’s life and she is delighted to work in an organisation that helps children and young people experience the power and joy of music performance in their lives.

Aoife Ruth

Reporting and Analysis Manager

Aoife Ruth is a researcher, educator and qualified psychotherapist. She holds a BA (Hons) in Politics and Sociology, a HDip in Psychology, and an MSc in Integrative Psychotherapy. Her Master’s research focused on supporting musicians’ mental health and Aoife is passionate about working with musicians to develop personally and professionally. Her original research in these areas has attracted the interest of international performing arts medicine organisations as well as mental health charities in Ireland. She is a third-level lecturer and trainer and her classes encompass a range of psychological topics relevant to musicians and those working in the creative industries.


Aoife has over fifteen years’ experience working in the not-for-profit, charitable and public sectors - particularly in organisations with an equality focus - for instance, international development, adult education, and disability. In these roles, her work has involved monitoring and evaluation, tracking compliance, and setting up systems to report on the strategic and operational performance of organisations, among other things. Prior to taking up her role as Reporting and Analysis Manager with Music Generation, Aoife worked as a researcher in the public sector.


Aoife is a violinist/violist and keys player and has played with many rock, indie and folk bands over the years. She also has a keen interest in arranging and music for film and has contributed to soundtracks for nature documentaries (RTE’s A Wild Irish Year and BBC’s Wild Cuba: A Caribbean Journey) as well as feature films (Never Grow Old; Son).

Mairéad Duffy

QSD Manager

Mairéad Duffy graduated from the University of Ulster with a BMus Hons and a PGCE in Music Education. During her university years in Belfast she was a member of the Belfast Harp Orchestra, who recorded and toured with The Chieftains. She was the featured vocalist in many of these performances, performing at Milwaukee Irish Fest and Carnegie Hall. She won the Nancy Calthorpe Memorial Prize for Irish Harp and Voice at Dublin Feis Ceoil.

Mairéad has studied choral conducting with Dr Doreen Rao, holding an Artist Teacher Diploma in Choral Music Education with Choral Music Experience. She returned to Carnegie Hall in January 2016 with members of the Senior Choir of St. Patrick’s Academy, Dungannon to perform in Karl Jenkins’ The Peacemakers. She is a past chair of TOSINI-Teachers of Singing in Ireland and is in great demand as a vocal coach/leader and musical director. She is artistic and musical director of Gathered Voices, a community choir based in Dungannon, Co. Tyrone.

Following a successful fundit campaign and support from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland she released her debut album ‘Silver Tin House’ as a singer songwriter in 2016. Mairéad is currently on a career break from St. Patrick’s Academy where she has been Head of Music for the past twenty-four years. This career break has enabled her to become the Music Development Officer for Music Generation Cavan/Monaghan from January 2019 to December 2020. She has extended her career break to pursue the role of LMEP Support Manager with Music Generation National Development Office.

Helen Shyne

Strategic Communications and Marketing Manager

Helen Shyne has over 10 years experience working within music education in the UK and Ireland in areas such as finance, project management, education, quality, and marketing. Before joining Music Generation, she worked with BIMM Institute promoting third level music education nationally and internationally with a key mission to inspire and excite young people about a sustainable career in the creative arts.

Helen completed an MSc. in Digital Marketing & Data Analytics at Technological University Dublin and has a keen interest in insight-led market research. She has worked on a consultancy basis creating successful campaigns for companies within B2C, B2B, not-for-profit, hospitality and e-commerce sectors.

Helen continues to teach piano and music theory and holds a BA(Hons) in Music from Trinity College Dublin where she specialised in composition under Donnacha Dennehy. She loves ballet and modern dance and is looking forward to the return of live events. She’s excited to be part of the Music Generation team as it continues to create and develop innovative musical experiences for children and young people.

Paul Markey

Administration Officer

Paul Markey holds a BA (Hons) in Applied Music (specialism in composition) and a Level 7 Higher Certificate in Digital Marketing. Before joining Music Generation National Development Office he held the role of Administrator with Music Generation Cavan / Monaghan, assisting in the establishment of performance music education programmes in the region.

Previous to this, Paul was co-founder and co-director of an arts events organisation based in Co. Monaghan which created and managed a series of initiatives such a multi-disciplinary arts festival, concerts, arts exhibitions, poetry readings, an artist’s representative body and fundraising for local charitable causes - all in a community setting.

Paul is an accomplished bassist and songwriter who currently works with several original artists, musical societies and wedding bands. He is passionate about promoting performance music education and creating performance opportunities for children and young people in all genres of music.

Rebecca Murphy

Communications & Marketing Officer

Rebecca Murphy has over 12 years of experience in music education in the fields of teaching, event & programme management and digital marketing. Immersed in Music Generation since 2012, she taught violin in primary schools with Music Generation Wicklow and worked as Hubs Manager and Digital Coordinator in Music Generation South Dublin since 2015. Passionate about music education, she has created a Department of Education approved online, summer music course for primary school teachers in partnership with Mayo Education Centre.


Since 2015, Rebecca has held digital marketing roles for South Dublin County Council Arts Office, Cruinniú na nÓg, Culture Night & Indie-pop musician Cat Dowling.


She was the Programme Manager for the 2021 Local Live Performance Support Scheme for South Dublin County which supported & promoted live outdoor events in Tallaght Stadium, Rathfarnham Castle Park and 44 other local venues/locations.


Rebecca studied Digital Marketing at Griffith College, Dublin and looks forward to bringing her skills in digital strategy, content creation and SEO to her new role as Communications and Marketing Officer with Music Generation’s National Development Office.