Music Generation National Development Office

Rosaleen Molloy

National Director

Rosaleen Molloy is the National Director of Music Generation and has over 25 years’ experience working in the arts and cultural sector in Ireland across local government, non-profit and social entrepreneurship arenas. Rosaleen was appointed the first National Director to Music Generation in 2010. During that time, she has led the organisation from start-up and scaled it into a successful and sustainable multi-million-euro national programme that gives thousands of children and young people access to music education. She has extensive experience of brokering successful strategic partnerships across philanthropy (U2, The Ireland Funds, Bank of America, Stavros Niarchos Foundation), central government (Department of Education, The Arts Council, Creative Ireland) local statutory agencies (Education and Training Boards, Local Authorities) and local communities.


Previous strategic leadership roles include Wexford County Council Arts Officer, Director of County Wexford Education & Cultural Programmes and Director of Arts in the Classroom. An honours graduate of the Music and Education Departments of University College Cork, Rosaleen was the first Irish person to be awarded Artist Teacher and Master Teacher Certification from the Choral Music Experience Institute, USA. A lifelong learner, recent professional development initiatives include Harvard Business School Fellowship in Non-Profit Leadership and MSc Pathway from UCD Smurfit Business School. Rosaleen was recently appointed by the Minister for Culture to the Culture Ireland Expert Advisory Group.

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.

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.

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

Quality, Support and Development 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.

Stephen McFarlane

Quality, Support and Development Manager

Stephen joined Music Generation in March 2022 and will be providing support and guidance for Music Generation Development Officers and LMEPs on implementing the Quality Framework at local level.


Stephen has worked as a post primary music teacher in Limerick for nearly 11 years and has a keen interest in pedagogical practice and optimising students' learning in music. This interest was further developed in his work as a Music Advisor for Junior Cycle for Teachers where his role was to support and provide guidance on the new Junior Cycle music specification with teachers nationally through the design and development of professional learning experience for teachers. In addition to this, Stephen also worked on the Professional Development Service for Teachers Music Team as a Music Associate, designing, and supporting professional learning experiences for music teachers nationwide including Ukulele Workshops and many Digital Learning Technologies workshops.


With his interest in pedagogical practice and jazz, Stephen has led and developed workshops as part of the Limerick Jazz Workshop team. His passion for music education and the role of music technology also led to Stephen being invited in as guest lecturer in the MA in Music programmes in both Mary Immaculate College and University of Limerick.


Together with a colleague, Stephen created, designed, and led out the LEC INSPIRE Programme in order to support teachers in developing their digital skills and use of digital learning technologies to support student learning in both a primary and post primary context.


Professionally Stephen holds a BA in Jazz Performance from Newpark Music Centre (now DCU Jazz Department) and a Post Graduate Diploma in Music Education from the University of Limerick. As a guitarist Stephen continues to perform as a musician favouring jazz, rock and funk styles and performing some of his own compositions too. He has performed with several established Irish artists and features on some of their recordings over the years.


Stephen believes that both music and technology can empower people to lead more creative lives. He can often be found tinkering with devices, cables, and wires in computers labs or in music performance spaces. He holds an Apple Distinguished Educator badge, Apple Teacher, Moodle Certified Educator and Google Educator Level 1,2 Certifications.


Working with Music Generation very much aligns with Stephen's own values around music education programmes that are of very high quality, open to all and encourage the personal development of individuals and their associated communities.